Hand of God (2007) [N/A]
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Written by:
Joe Cultrera
Directed by:
Joe Cultrera
Release Date:
April 3, 2007
Original Title:
Hand of God
Genres:
Documentary
Production Countries:
United States of America
Ratings / Certifications:
N/A
Runtime: 90
In recent decades, more than 10,000 children reportedly were sexually abused by Catholic priests in the US. From behind the headlines, filmmaker Joe Cultrera tells the very personal story of how the crisis affected his family. It is the intimate story of how his brother, Paul, was molested in the 1960s by a priest who also reportedly abused nearly 100 other children. In an emotional film, the Cultrera family tells their story of faith betrayed.
Just saw this for the first time, and thought it was well done. I was raised a Catholic, but stopped going to mass in my early 20s. I later converted to the Episcopal Church ("Catholic Lite" as it is sometimes known) in my 30s, when our children were born. I like the Episcopal Church very much because it has all the trappings of the RCC, but does not seem to be a cesspool of mean nuns or (at least I've never seen it) child-abusing priests. I can very much relate to this documentary, as it is 100% right in how the RCC indoctrinates children from a very young age about how they have the monopoly on virtue, and how you have no chance at salvation without them, even though there is not one word in the Bible to support such an idea. I must add, however, that it took me a long time to get past that "One True Church" mantra we would hear in Sunday school. The RCC is a very well-established institution that preys on naïve and dependent people. Walking away from it is not easy.I believe that is how the abuse starts. The RCC parishioners (mostly working class) learn to be obedient to the Church and clergy. From there, it's easy for clergy with the tendency for pedophilia and ill intent to find their victims.I myself never experienced such abuse (thank God), but there WAS a priest in my parish who years later was charged with abusing several boys. Once at around age 14 or so, I was at a party with family and some other parishioners, and this priest happened to be there. At one point, he playfully poked me in the belly and say "Hey, good-looking!". It was a harmless gesture, but upon reflection, it was not surprising to learn years later that this same priest would be charged with sexually abusing minors.I very much like how this documentary revealed this ugly story, and I very much hope and pray the main subject of this documentary finds peace with himself.
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