GLORY
When
the West Indian cricket captain held up the trophy after beating England in the
20/20 finals in Kolkata recently it was a glorious moment. The anticipation and
tension had risen to almost unbearable limits as the match wore on. But in the
end some deft scoring clinched the game and the Caribbean went wild with joy.
Glory
comes from vision, a passion for the truth, being prepared to suffer and
persevering. These qualities are present in countless human activities. I have
just seen Spotlight, a film on the
cover-up by the Boston Catholic Archdiocese of the abuse of children by
priests. The local paper, the Boston
Globe, discovers the traces of the cover up with regard to one priest and
when journalists investigate they find that 6% of all the priests in the
diocese over a given period were under suspicion of being implicated.
The
archdiocese dealt with cases out of court, that is, without publicity, and
there is a neat moment of truth when one of the victims, who is questioned by reporters,
tells them, “I tried to tell you all this years ago but you wouldn’t listen!”
This momentarily unsettles the journalists who realise their own paper was involved
in a cover-up of its own.
The
film is gripping as it uncovers layer upon layer of secrecy and hypocrisy and
works towards a tense crescendo. Finally all the pieces are in place; the story
breaks and heads start rolling, ending with the Archbishop himself, Cardinal
Law. A final griping moment comes after the film is over and we are shown a
list of all the other cities in the States, followed by all the countries in
the world, where cases have been discovered and are being investigated.
We
easily remember Jesus’ words; “everything that is covered up will be uncovered”
(Matt.10:26), and, “the truth will make you free” (John 8:32). When we see this
happening in a film like Spotlight it
is a cause for rejoicing? Here we have dedicated actors and film crews telling
the story of equally dedicated journalists and lawyers telling the truth about the
Church today. We know that it is not only some priests who abuse children. There
are plenty of reports of other adults doing it, often to their own relatives. What
we can rejoice in is the story coming out in the open and the huge reaction
that in future will help protect children from this damage which causes havoc
with their lives.
When
I had finished watching the film I was left with deep sadness but also with joy
that such revelations are breaking through. They will purify and humble us in
the Church and lead to much greater awareness of vulnerable people everywhere.
This too is glory – pain leading to victory. When Jesus is approaching his
passion, the passion of the world, he uses the word ‘glory’ five times (in five
lines of John’s gospel 13:31). His passion and resurrection, his pain and
victory, are what real glory is all about.
24 April 2016 Easter Sunday 5C
Acts 14:21-27 Rev 21:1-5 John 13:31-35
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