Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/6/13 at 6:00pm

Did anyone catch this movie the other night on HBO? One of the more disturbing films about the Catholic Church's sex abuse coverups I've ever seen (How sick is it that I can actually say that?) but I found it fascinating.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/6/13 at 7:47pm

You found it fascinating in a sexually perverted kinda way now di'nt ya? FREAK!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/6/13 at 7:50pm

Actually, I found it fascinating in the sense that it was a deaf school that started the entire uncovering of the Catholic Church's assault on children which has been documented as going on for over 500 years. I've been studying sign language & deaf culture for a long time now and want to work with deaf kids so knowing that they were preyed upon because they wouldn't be able to tell their parents (who back in the 50's and 60's were still told not to use sign language with their kids) is sickening.

But what was fascinating to me is how deep this coverup goes and what the church actually thinks about it. The film is definitely worth seeing.

Updated On: 2/6/13 at 07:50 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/6/13 at 7:59pm

Wow! That is just so sinister! To pray on those poor, defenseless deaf children! It makes my skin crawl...but it sounds like a fascinating documentary nonetheless so I will make it a point to catch it when it airs next. Thanks for the heads up! I'll let you know what I think.

I forgot that you studied sign language and want to work with deaf kids. That's a great thing to want to do. It shows you have a big heart. Wish you much success on that buddy...it's always great to work in an occupation where you get the opportunity to help and be of service and make a difference.

[strummergirl]

Posted: 2/6/13 at 8:02pm

Read the first post thinking, "Worse than Deliver Us From Evil (another sickening doc)?" and then Jordan mentions a school for deaf children and then I got chills.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/17/13 at 1:18pm

Bumping for Dramamama

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/17/13 at 2:00pm

Thanks, Jordan....I really did search for this!

I found it utterly disturbing, I plan on throwing it on the dvr the next time it airs....because I know I missed parts of it.

[canmark]

Posted: 2/17/13 at 2:23pm

Mea Maxima Culpa director Alex Gibney interviewed in The Hollywood Reporter: Director Alex Gibney Says The Pope's Resignation 'Inextricably Linked' to Sex Abuse Scandal
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/director-alex-gibney-says-popes-421098

----------

Pope Benedict’s XVI’s resignation “seems to me inextricably linked to the sex abuse crisis,” Oscar-winning director Alex Gibney, whose newest documentary Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God, exposes those abuses, said in the wake of Monday’s surprise announcement.

I don’t have proof that that’s so, but it just seems like it,” the director said, noting that in addition to his own film, which began airing on HBO on Feb. 4, there has been a new wave of coverage of the Roman Catholic Church’s worldwide sex scandal because of the recent court order that forced the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles to release its files, documenting how Cardinal Roger Mahoney and other officials covered up the cases of 122 priests accused or convicted of molesting children, as well as a widening investigation in Australia.

The timing of the 85-year-old pontiff’s announcement citing his failing strength “of mind and body” took the world by surprise as he becomes the first pope in nearly 600 years to step down from the office. “It is very strange,” said Gibney. “It’s two days before Ash Wednesday. Because of the way that the conclave works, it means no pope will probably reside over Easter Sunday Mass. You wonder if there is another shoe to drop.”

----------

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 2/17/13 at 6:13pm

For those who have HBO on Time Warner cable, MEA MAXIMA CULPA is available on demand (under full-length documentaries).

Yes, Carlos, I saw it and I've been thinking about it ever since. Riveting and haunting.

And for those who are disturbed by a predator preying on deaf children, you'll be even more bothered to know he deliberately singled out children whose parents could not sign, so that they would have no authority figures to whom they could complain. (Complaints of abuse were regularly punished as "lies" by the nuns at the school.)

The doc also traces responsibility for the ensuing cover-up through the channels of the Church to one Cardinal Ratzinger, who was responsible for all sexual abuse complaints against priests worldwide from 2001 until he became pope in 2005.

Updated On: 2/17/13 at 06:13 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/17/13 at 6:18pm

Up until fairly recently, a great number of parents with deaf children were told by doctors to never sign to their children since that would make them less connected with the hearing world. I know quite a few deaf adults (some as young as 40) whose parents still do not sign and "at this point don't see any need to learn".

A lot of these kids learned sign in school from other deaf children, even though in "oral schools" (where speech was taught and signing forbidden) there were punishments for signing.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 2/17/13 at 6:38pm

Thank, Jordan. I do know that methods of communication are understood to be civil rights issues in the deaf community and that opinions on the subject can be fierce. It's more than a little baffling to me, so it's best I not offer an opinion.

But speaking of my stupidity, something I had never thought about until I saw the doc was that (DUH!) deaf students will of course have different levels of skill at reading and writing. Deafness has nothing (AFAIK) to do with dyslexia, to take but one example. Somehow I've always imagined deaf people reading and writing perfectly: obviously an absurd notion!

[SNAFU]

Posted: 2/18/13 at 11:28am

http://notocbcp.weebly.com/2/post/2013/02/pope-received-news-of-his-warrant-of-arrest-before-resignation.html

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 2/18/13 at 12:13pm

Interesting, SNAFU. I suggested something of the kind at another board but was assured that the Pope had immunity as Head of State.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/18/13 at 12:20pm

Gaveston, it's also important to remember that deaf people who sign are pretty much always bilingual. English is a completely different language and that's something thats difficult to grasp for a lot of people who think there's a sign to represent every word and its just a copy of the English language, which it is definitely not.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 2/18/13 at 12:33pm

I have noticed that, Jordan, when my own work has been signed in performance. Entire concepts were signed with a single gesture. I found it both beautiful and an honor to have my work interpreted in such a way.

My foolish assumptions about the uniform English skills of deaf people was just a matter of not thinking. Of course they will have different skill levels, just as hearing people do, and--as you point out--they are basically learning two languages at the same time.

(I'm sure you know some colleges are now recognizing ASL as fulfilling the foreign language requirement.)

[SNAFU]

Posted: 2/18/13 at 12:46pm

Gaveston. The Pope would be safe while on Vatican grounds but should he venture out he would be arrested. Just like George W or Dick Cheney would were they to venture into certain countries where they ares wanted for War Crimes

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 2/18/13 at 9:34pm

Thank you, SNAFU. Now how do we get all three of them across the border(s)?

Anybody got a car with an old-fashioned trunk?

(And do you think that's the reason for renovating the soon-to-be ex-Pope's new residence? So he can get medical treatment for the rest of his life without having to leave the grounds?)

[SNAFU]

Posted: 2/18/13 at 10:04pm

Yes, exactly. Unless he gets a pardon, he will not be able to leave Vatican City for the rest of his life.

[Jungle Red]

Posted: 2/18/13 at 10:07pm

There are worst places to be under house arrest.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 2/18/13 at 11:11pm

But the Vatican doesn't want people to come and pay him tribute instead of the New and Improved Pope. They kind of want him somewhere far away.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 2/19/13 at 5:49am

^^^^^ There's some sort of irony in sending him to the old nun's cloister.
Updated On: 2/19/13 at 05:49 AM

[~tiny~]

Posted: 2/19/13 at 6:50am

Can one get this on a torrent? I;m not sure how to download those things.

[~tiny~]

Posted: 2/19/13 at 6:50am

Can one get this on a torrent? I;m not sure how to download those things.

[Ed_scotch]

Posted: 2/19/13 at 8:28am

SNAFU: But the Vatican doesn't want people to come and pay him tribute instead of the New and Improved Pope. They kind of want him somewhere far away.

Kinda like George W.Bush…. we never did hear from him again!

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 2/19/13 at 3:28pm

As a wise woman once told me, "Never is a long, long time."

But we can hope.