In the Spotlight



The Academy Award judges may not have been very broadminded in their film nominations in regard to color, but they certainly got it right in awarding the Best Picture honor to "Spotlight." Although it is hard to view the horrible results of the Catholic Church's cover-up of priest sexual abuse in the Boston archdiocese, it is necessary for people to know the truth. The journalists who investigated the scandal were undaunted when they were attacked and they overcame attempts by powerful men to silence them. As a result of their coverage, Cardinal Law resigned as archbishop of Boston in December 2002, and the team was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2003. The movie is important for everyone to see and get angry enough to make sure this never happens again, not only in the Catholic Church, but in other institutions, in families, and in other religious groups. Victims and their families deserve to be vindicated by this honest and fearless film. "Spotlight" has a message to send to all who want to hide the horror of child abuse in our world. Only when we "demand complete transparency and accountability" from every institution will justice prevail and the healing of survivors begin. The spotlight is on us now.

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