I’m a little slow on my film viewing but there is a film I saw the other night that deserves greater recognition.
Released in 2002, “The Magdalene Sisters” depicts horrific, barbaric acts perpetrated under the guise of godliness upon innocent young women in Ireland. Acts committed by representatives of the highest moral authority in the country, the Catholic Church.
Yes, the Catholic Church, the organization responsible for other acts of barbarity commited under the guise of maintaining morals, is again the culprit
I do not wish to give away many details but do remember to view the documentary, “Sex In A Cold Climate,” that accompanies the film on this DVD. In its compactness, it is actually more affecting and harrowing than the film itself as actual victims are interviewed and the viewer clearly sees how so many lives were irreparably damaged through the warped, devilish actions to instill ‘holiness.’
I do want to stress that I am not Catholic-bashing here. I devoutly support believers and their right to worship, the same as I support secularists. I do not support evil nor the attempts to minimize or cover up such.
This is directed at the counterfeit who abuse position, authority and power in order to harm others. Those whose actions demonstrate values different from those they vocalize.
Note to Cardinal-now Pope Joseph Ratzinger and even the Catholic League, which bashed this film at the time of its release: don’t even bother with confession and a few heartfelt Hail Marys–not that you were even considering such. For these mortal sins, try organizational sackcloth and ashes for a very long time. As the leader of a group hellbent on instructing others of the path to righteousness, well, take the twin planks out of your own blinded eyes. And knock off the recent riffs about banning gays from the priesthood because you have forsaken the necessary gravitas required to even issue such utterances. The planning and efforts undertaken to disguise your pedophiles will always be inexplicable and indefensible. Yours is like any organization where the entity itself becomes more important than the needs of the members. In effect, your primary reaction to the unveiling of so much sexual abuse is behaviorally akin to that of a corporation–the foremost intent being damage control and limiting fiscal responsibility–not on healing.
For shame.
May your God have mercy on you.
