An Average Catholic's Take on "Spotlight"

Flannery O' Connor, a Catholic novelist, wrote dark, even gruesome short stories aimed to highlight the depths of the depravity caused by the human hubris that lost Paradise, and the Redemption given to us--if and only if Redemption is individually, and freely, accepted. The sin of disobedience threw us out of Eden collectively. Christians believe that we have the gift of Redemption in our hands, the result of a death on a cross that paradoxically reopened the door to that same Eden. Only we must assent to it and behave as if heaven--that is the eternal joy of God's Presence--is something of value.

O'Connor was known for her bluntness in her journal writing, much of which was published in the book "Habit of Being".  A fragment of one observation ran through my mind as I watched the movie "Spotlight" this past weekend.  She wrote in part, ". . . the only thing that makes the Church endurable is that it is somehow the Body of Christ and that on this we are fed.  It seems to be a fact that you have to suffer as much from the Church as for it but if you believe in the Divinity of Christ, you have to cherish the world at the same time that you struggle to endure it."



As you probably know, "Spotlight" is about the Boston Globe's investigation into what became the biggest modern scandal of the Catholic Church, the molestation of its school children by priests made even more horrible, if that is possible, by virtue of the before and after the fact complicity of many in the hierarchy. The movie rendition of the work of the team that untied the knot of secrecy and deceit is superbly ordinary. Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Liev Shreiber, John Slattery, Billy Cruddup, Rachel McAdams, so recreate the time and tale that I forgot they were actors and not the actual men and women who were the first to be jolted by those who profess good doing the profoundest evil.



The ordinary face of evil. Former Massachusetts priest John Geoghan, killed in prison in 2004. 

One of the experts in the movie who talks to the reporters is disillusioned former priest and therapist Richard Sipe (only by telephone, the voice of Richard Jenkins). Asked whether he practices Roman Catholicism any longer he says, I paraphrase, that he does not, as he does not believe in an institution founded by men, although he does believe in the Eternal. Which brings me back to Flannery O'Connor and why I am guessing she, and I, and many Catholics who stay with the "Institution" do so. It is because we believe that it was "instituted" by Christ Himself when he made Peter, who betrayed Christ as egregiously as any human being could deny a friend, the leader of His Divine movement. The job of the human beings was to preach the truth, and to seek to live up that truth, but no one within the Church or without it, is free of the consequence of the disobedience of sin, the grand "No!" that was spoken to God before and since time. The failures within the Church are spectacular. They have been throughout the 2000 plus year history. This is not a rationalization. It is truth. Is the solution to leave? I understand feeling that way. I was myself lapsed for 13 years, although my reasons were far more ego-centric than philosophical.  And yet, despite our failures, the Church has managed to survive. Left to us alone, we human beings, it should not have survived. Neither we nor our cousins the Jews should have our faiths still, for by ourselves, we are worse than useless. But the Message being transmitted through time by these imperfect creatures is immutable. And He has used us imperfect beings to transmit it so that some, many, will follow the Royal Road Christ trod to our salvation.

There is a misunderstanding on the part of those who observe and comment about the Church--in large part the result of another failure by clergy who themselves have a prideful misunderstanding--and for whom "gotcha" is a delightful sport, that Catholic Christians believe somehow we are holier, less inclined toward evil, than other people. That is simply not correct. The Church, that very Institution is a "hospital for sinners". And some of us simply don't get well because we do not follow the prescriptions AND proscriptions of the Divine Doctor, Christ the Founder, the Head of the Church. The rest of us, all of us, are His patients, and His servants. We believe that the medicine of Grace handed to Peter and from thence to now can heal us. And so we endure the suffering of the world at large and that which we cause ourselves.

My late pastor during a homily many years ago at my home parish suddenly said, "Do you know that the devil is sitting right next to you?" He was pointing out that even within those walls the tempter was speaking to us, telling us that the truth was a lie and that we were free to do whatever was against God and man, should our little hearts desire. We are not immune. In fact, perhaps we should be more vigilant.

Mary McCarthy, a lapsed Catholic, who once had Flannery O'Connor to a dinner party opined on the mere symbolism of Communion, which Catholics believe is not symbol but the substantial Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ in the form of bread. O'Connor could not contain herself and said, "If it is just a symbol, then the hell with it!".  I have thought about it over and over. If I truly believe that it is God Himself who gives me strength every time I receive the Eucharist, then I can't leave, because that is the essence of the Institution handed to Peter and through time to here, my life, in West Hollywood.

 It is hard enough to be good with the Eucharist. Without it, I would be doomed. Without it, I would not endure my Church.

"Spotlight" wasn't only a good movie, but one that engenders deep reflection.