Steve Henshaw: Film unveils hidden secrets

By Steven Henshaw
Reading Eagle
December 19, 2015

http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/steve-henshaw-film-unveils-hidden-secrets

There's a scene in the critically acclaimed film "Spotlight" in which a Boston Globe reporter is told by a civil servant that he can't see the file in a court case.

The reporter argues that those documents, which contain Boston archdiocesan records pertaining to the sexual abuse scandal involving a Catholic priest who was the subject of numerous victim lawsuits, were not sealed by a judge.

But the clerk isn't risking his neck, so the reporter tracks down a judge to intervene.

The judge points out that a lot of sensitive stuff is contained in the file.

"With all due respect," the reporter replies, "that's not the point."

Many of my colleagues can relate to this scene. Custodians of public records sometimes feel it's their job to block access to reporters on grounds that someone could be hurt or embarrassed if certain information got out.