‘Created Equal’ film uses women’s ordination to address broader societal, legal issues

NEW YORK (NY)
National Catholic Reporter

February 5, 2018

By Kristen Whitney Daniels

NEW YORK — In recent years, the movie industry hasn’t shied away from Catholicism — mostly seen through the lens of the sex abuse scandal. However, a new film seeks to expand the discussion on injustices both within the Catholic Church and society in general.

“Created Equal” — directed by Bill Duke and based on the novel by Roger A. Brown — begins with attorney Thomas “Tommy” Reilly (Aaron Tveit) being unwillingly assigned a pro-bono case for Sr. Alejandra “Allie” Batista (Edy Ganem).

When they meet for the first-time, Reilly apologizes to Batista for the abuse he presumes she’s endured, since the case seeks to sue the Catholic Church. After a few awkward seconds Batista explains that she isn’t suing the Archdiocese of New Orleans because of abuse, she’s suing the church so she can enter a Catholic seminary and fulfill her call of becoming a priest.

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