Alex Gibney explores the charged issue of pedophilia in the Catholic Church, following a trail from the first known protest against clerical sexual abuse in the United States and all the way to the Vatican.
Unsurprisingly, no representative of the Vatican was prepared to be interviewed for Gibney’s justifiably damning film.
The film shocks you to the marrow, and every frame burns with a righteous fire, itself religious in its intensity.
Alex Gibney's documentary – claiming sex abuse in the Catholic church is endemic – serves as a sharp rebuke to Joseph Ratzinger.
Occasionally, the film's chapter titles amp up the drama – "Devil in Disguise", "Omerta" – when the facts can speak for themselves. In his retirement the ex-Pontiff might like to give Mea Maxima Culpa a screening: there could be no surer prompt to Christian remorse.
Challenging, inquisitive and sensitive to a tee.
It may look like a documentary but Gibney's film is a horror film in every sense. Essential, uncomfortable viewing.
You can't fail to be moved by the victims' bravery in taking a stand as young men, as well as in talking about it today.
It's a lucid film everyone should see and the Vatican should answer for.
The fury is unmistakable, the story heartbreaking – 200 more deaf children may have been affected – and Gibney tracks a disgraceful cover-up within the Catholic church.
Alex Gibney’s indignant, level-headed investigation into paeodophilia in the priesthood may have recently been overtaken by world events, but its damning account of Pope Benedict’s failure to address the rampant child molestation atrocities within the church provides useful context for his recent resignation.
It’s exceedingly uncomfortable viewing as those purporting to offer guidance extort their religious position of authority onto those weaker than themselves. Perhaps most disturbing, is the revelation that even after being informed of sexual crimes, so few men of the cloth are willing to speak out about them because of the tradition of keeping quiet imposed by the Vatican.
The Catholic Church in film: When the men in black lost their role as the good guys
Pope's resignation 'linked to sex abuse crisis', says Mea Maxima Culpa director
Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow from Friday March 29, 2013, until Sunday March 31, 2013. More info: http://www.glasgowfilm.org/theatre/
Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee from Friday March 29, 2013, until Thursday April 4, 2013. More info: www.dca.org.uk
Edinburgh Filmhouse, Edinburgh from Tuesday April 2, 2013, until Thursday April 4, 2013. More info: www.filmhousecinema.com
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