Film on confronting clergy abuse to be shown at church

Hanover Eagle
September 22, 2014

http://newjerseyhills.com/hanover_eagle/news/film-on-confronting-clergy-abuse-to-be-shown-at-church/article_d6953416-41d1-11e4-8969-f30506e7324f.html

MORRIS TWP. ‑ Voice of the Faithful New Jersey will present the documentary, “A Matter of  Conscience: Confronting Clergy Abuse," at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, at, St. Mark Lutheran Church, 100 Harter Road,.

A liturgy will follow at 4:30  p.m. 

Following the narratives recounted by psychologically-scarred survivors of clergy sex abuse and documented in their first documentary on the topic of clerical sexual transgression, “Who Takes Away the Sins:  Witnesses to Clergy Abuse,“ Susan and John Michalczyk said they  felt impelled to continue to expose the magnitude of the scandal by also telling the stories of courageous women and men who revealed clergy abuse and were sanctioned by church leaders—some ostracized, some removed from their positions, deemed disloyal, traitors to their religious orders or the church for daring to break the code of silence. 

Bob Hoatson, field producer and co-founder of Road to Recovery, invited his colleagues in Catholic Whistleblowers to participate in the new documentary, “A Matter of Conscience: Confronting Clergy Abuse.”

Fathers Patrick Collins, Ronald Lemmert, Bruce Teague, James Connell and Thomas Patrick Doyle, and Sisters. Maureen Paul Turlish, Sally Butler and Claire Smith agreed to tell how they reported occurrences of clergy sexual abuse despite serious repercussions for their actions.  Mitchell Garabedian, attorney for countless survivors of clergy abuse, and Anne Barrett-Doyle of Bishop Accountability.org generously participated in the project.  

Susan A. Michalczyk, after completing a doctorate in Italian literature at Harvard University in 1986 continued teaching there until coming to Boston College where she has taught for more than 20 years in Arts and Sciences Honors Program. 

John J. Michalczyk did his doctoral work at Harvard on French literature and political film and then completed a Masters of Divinity degree. He has taught film and literature at Boston College for 40 years where he has produced documentaries and published extensively on social justice themes. 

All are welcome.  There is no charge for the program.