‘Spotlight’ uncovers Catholic child abuse and more

BY

“Boston Strong!” We admire and applaud this powerful expression of unity and pride initiated after the 2013 Marathon bombing. However, for several decades prior, Boston’s religious organizations, governmental establishments and even the press were similarly united in the protection of pedophile Catholic priests abusing parish children.

In 2001, the Boston Globe’s “Spotlight” unit of tenacious reporters investigated a series of allegations of abuse. It led to a yearlong probe that uncovered a web of criminality and collusion that pointed shamefully to the highest levels of the Church. What nobody could have guessed is the findings touched off a wave of revelations that circled the globe.

Directed and co-written by Tom McCarthy, this is the most engrossing account of investigative reporting since “All the President’s Men.” The Spotlight team, led by Robby Robinson (Michael Keaton), included Mike Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo), Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams) and Matt Caroll (Brian D’Arcy James). The brilliant all-star ensemble cast seems more than committed to the message of this film.

The scandalous story is dutifully presented through an intelligent script that respects its audience. Too often, today’s shrill politicians routinely vilify the media in order to advance their own agendas. However, this story reminds us all, including the media, of the indispensable value of the independent press doing what it should be doing.

When soft-spoken Marty Baron (Liev Schreiber) is named editor-in chief, he redirects the Spotlight team to what is suspected as more than an isolated case. Although the audience already knows the outcome, the story is presented as a taut procedural in a manner that keeps us glued to each scene to find out how they did it.

With such widespread depravity, this story had to eventually break sometime and somewhere. But, Boston was a predominantly Catholic town and the Globe had a predominantly Catholic readership. Finally, the Spotlight team had all been raised Catholic. The team was conflicted but mustered up the requisite righteous anger.

Mike thunders, “They knew, and they let it happen! To KIDS! Okay? It could have been you, it could have been me; it could have been any of us. We gotta nail these scumbags! We gotta show people that nobody can get away with this; not a priest, or a cardinal or a freaking pope!” Robby agrees, but unlike politicians, we all are reminded that serious charges require hard facts supported by meticulous detail.

At every turn, they are stonewalled or worse by the Church, as expected. What was not expected was to be rebuffed by the police, courts and even their own management. To challenge the systematic corruption and malfeasance was viewed as blasphemous, but this team never lost focus on the mounting toll of human devastation. One attorney explained, “If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to abuse them.” Another defends himself, “I was doing my job.” Robby, responds, “Yeah, you and everyone else.”

Eventually, Robby decides, “We got two stories here: a story about degenerate clergy, and a story about a bunch of lawyers turning child abuse into a cottage industry. Which story do you want us to write? Because we’re writing one of them.” In 2002, the Boston Globe published its seemingly unfathomable Pulitzer Prize-winning series.

“Spotlight” is 128 minutes and rated R for language and sexual references. Kudos to this crew for making such an important picture where action scenes consist of serious discussion, interviewing witnesses and researching archives. The primary set piece is the recreation of the Globe press office and the star is only the process of due diligence.

The gifted actors offer restrained performances of reporters doing their jobs to make a difference. These superheroes wore no capes, but still found a way to save the world. One victim reluctantly describes, “I was 11. I was preyed upon by father David Holly in Worcester. And I don’t mean prayed for, I mean preyed upon.” Luke 23:24 says, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” But, these guys knew.

Ron’s Rating: A- Leigh’s Rating: B