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Youth protection advocate stresses important lessons in 'Doubt'
By Rebecca Bostic, rbostic@catholicsun.org
January 1, 2009
“Doubt,” the first major motion picture to focus on the sexual abuse scandal in the U.S. Catholic Church, has undoubtedly become a topic of conversation since its release.
The film itself has received some critical buzz and talk of Oscar nominations. It is based on a play of the same name written by John Patrick Shanley, who also adapted the script for the film version and directed.
Set in the 1960s, “Doubt” (Miramax Films) focuses on the world of Sr. Aloysius Beauvier, played by Meryl Streep, and Fr. Brendan Flynn, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman. Sr. Aloysius, the principal of a Catholic grade school, accuses Fr. Flynn, the pastor, of sexually abusing an African-American student at the school.
While the performances are stunning and the overall film is good, issues dealt with are of concern to all modern Catholics, especially Jean Sokol, the director of Child and Youth Protection for the Diocese of Phoenix.
For Sokol, a “healthy doubt” is a positive thing to maintain.
“It’s not to say that the Catholic Church is bad and it’s not to say that there aren’t a lot of good priests out there,” Sokol said. But there are still going to be perpetrators “so we need to know that, accept it, and when our gut tells us something, then we need to do something about that and not just blindly trust a person in a position of power.”
After being called out of class by Fr. Flynn, the young African-American student, Donald Miller, returns with alcohol on his breath and strange behavior. Sr. James, played by Amy Adams, reports this to Sr. Aloysius.
The elder nun confronts Fr. Flynn, who responds with hostility. Throughout the rest of the film, Sr. Aloysius tries to get Fr. Flynn to confess. In turn, Fr. Flynn threatens the sister’s job.
The portrayal of the 1960s-era community is disheartening.
“You have to view it in context of the social, political, religious of the ’60s. There was a ‘good old boy’ network in politics and our society and our culture and our religion — everywhere,” Sokol said.
In the film it is insinuated that Fr. Flynn works with his superiors to cover up his wrongdoing. That type of behavior is “what got the Church in trouble in the first place,” Sokol said.
Sokol hopes Catholics will use good judgment and be skeptical when discerning the safety of children in the Church. Through the diocesan-led “Called to Protect” training — required for all employees, volunteers and children in the Phoenix Diocese — Sokol hopes people have learned what behaviors to watch for.
“I think in the end, what we’re trying to do with all of our safe environment training is to get people to know that not everybody is who they appear to be,” Sokol said.
“Ninety percent of perpetrators are someone we know,” she said. “We have to be aware of the signs. We have to be aware of the behaviors. We have to promote the boundaries of our polices to keep everyone safe.”
Sokol believes that the “Called to Protect” program will educate people in the diocese and thus help prevent sexual abuse from happening.
“When people are educated, they can see,” Sokol said, pointing to Sr. Aloysius as an example of this kind of person. She had dealt with a perpetrator before and because of that, knew to suspect Fr. Flynn when he exhibited certain behaviors.
“The principal saw the signs. She didn’t know for sure, but she knew in her heart and in her gut and with her intelligence,” Sokol said. “She knew something had gone wrong and there were definite signs — the alcohol, talking him out of the classroom, taking him into the rectory, aversion when directly asked a question, anger, manipulation. I mean all of those are signs of a perpetrator. All of those.”
The “Called to Protect” program and “Doubt” delineate many specific grooming techniques that perpetrators use. For this reason, Sokol believes that “Doubt” would be a good film for any Catholic to see.
“This still can happen today and I think that’s another reason why it’s important that people go see this,” Sokol said, pointing out that it is not just clergy who may be involved, but people in all facets of ministry.
“We can’t just stick our heads in the sand and say ‘it’s not going to happen to me,’ because one out of four girls and one out of six boys are molested by the time they are 18,” she said.
Sokol believes that the actions taken by the U.S. bishops — such as writing the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” in 2002 — will make people more aware and more likely to report their suspicions.
“What has happened is an increase in reporting in children and that’s an important thing, because one thing that keeps kids from telling is shame and thinking that it’s their fault,” Sokol said. “Now people are believing children. People are learning to report and it’s getting reported more so that kids can get help faster.”
The most important thing any Catholic can do in this situation is report suspicious behavior, she said.
“We’re never going to catch them, they’re never going to do it right in front of us,” Sokol said. “But we know the behavioral signs, we know the verbal communications and we know the physical touches and the interactions they do to groom people.”
Catholics need to pay attention, she said.
“I tell people, ‘you feel it in your gut, you know something’s wrong,’” Sokol said. “You need to do something about it. That’s the bottom line.”
Although there is never any certainty in “Doubt” — as the title of the film would suggest — Sr. Aloysius has suspicion. Because of that, she takes steps to ensure the safety of a child, even if it creates an uncomfortable atmosphere.
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