Deliver Us

Wow, just saw the latter half of a documentary called Deliver Us From Evil, which documents the Catholic priest sex abuse scandal. It focuses on one priest in particular, Oliver O'Grady, who abused dozens of Northern Californian families over a period of two decades. The good father abused people who's ages ranged from nine months old to the middle-aged mother of a younger abuse victim. The film also follows the journey of two survivors and their families and interviews several former priests, lawyers, and Father Thomas Doyle—a priest who warned the church of the issue 20 years ago and who's been at the forefront of seeking justice for the survivors of clergy abuse for years. 

It's really just a heartbreaking and anger-inducing film to watch…and captivating as hell. O'Grady actually agrees to be interviewed for the movie. He showed little understanding and no remorse while discussing the abuse he perpetrated; he was disconcerting and creepy to watch. Instead of being in prison where he belongs, he's living in Ireland on a church stipend or pension. 

It's impossible to watch this film and not become incensed. The amount of abuse is just stunning, as is the decades-long cover ups. The stonewalling and denial of church officials is maddening to observe. (Reading about it in the papers was one thing, seeing it a whole different experience.) Even knowing the organization's long and nefarious history, the church's reaction and behavior (and denial) is shocking.  

Here's link to the website, I recommend checking it out. And definitely check out the Abuse Map—it's shows how widespread the offenses were and how many per diocese. Los Angeles alone had 247 accused priests. 

 

Below is a screen shot of the map.