Guest Book: Recent Comments

Comment on Tell Us What You Think!

Helen — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:45:56 GMT

Thanks for your kind words and making a comment here.

I've continued to write and have recently finished another book that I've co-authored with a victim that was abused by a priest at the age of ten. The priest got him hooked on alcohol and pornography and the story tells how he went through years of being an over-achiever and addicted to drugs, alcohol, and sex. He finally found the right therapist who helped him see that it all was a result of his abuse by the priest. Then the story tells how he went about to turn his life around.

Stay tuned . . .

Helen

Comment on If you have any "doubt" - Go See The Movie "Doubt" with Meryl Streep

Helen — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:23:20 GMT

An interesting take on the movie. Thanks for sending your thoughts.

Helen

Comment on If you have any "doubt" - Go See The Movie "Doubt" with Meryl Streep

fukthevil — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:13:31 GMT

you guys are all messed up. this movie was about acceptance in the church, not pedophiles. this was a priest committing no illegal behavior, trying to help a homosexual boy through school. it was the principal who is the evil party trying to punish people for being human...

Comment on Tell Us What You Think!

Software companies — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:15:59 GMT

Quite inspiring,

Keep up the good work,

Thanks for writing, most people don't bother.

Comment on If you have any "doubt" - Go See The Movie "Doubt" with Meryl Streep

Suzanne — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:58:33 GMT

Seth:

You make a very valid argument and many keen observations. And, to some extent, I agree. I agree that the young boy may have been gay or homosexual.

But, bear in mind the age difference and the major imbalance of power. A sexual predator is a sexual predator: his "prey" can be a child and / or an adult woman, or both. The difference between adult homosexuals and lesbians is that they are both adults and there is NO imbalance of power.

A child with an adult "relationship" cannot be "consensual" nor can a priest and a parishioner "relationship" ever be consensual. It is clear to me that something inappropriate took place between the priest and the young boy. But, truthfully, we, the audience, will never know for sure because the supposed victim was never given a "voice" to speak of what did or did not happen when the priest called the young boy out of class. That part of the script was, I believe, intentional because that is how perps work: in secret. It's all about keeping secrets, deception, and isolating the "victim". And, that I believe separates the ethical from the immoral. It does not matter if the perp is a priest, a minister, a sports coach, or a teacher.

No professional adult should be going out of his or her way to isolate a child and work with him or her behind closed doors. That to me reeks of probable abuse or really bad judgement on the "professionals" part.

Suzanne

Comment on If you have any "doubt" - Go See The Movie "Doubt" with Meryl Streep

Seth — Thu, 21 May 2009 06:39:44 GMT

I just watched the movie Doubt and to me it was very clear what was going on.

Both Father Flynn and the boy were gay. That's why the boy was concerned about himself looking fat at the beginning and why Father Flynn had longer than normal finger nails. That's also why Father Flynn was so kind to the boy and why the boy related so well with and looked up to Father Flynn. That's what the boys mother was referring to when she spoke about her son's "nature" and told the nun why the boy's father hated him so. The mother knew her son was gay but that didn't matter to her, all that mattered to her was her love and support for her son no matter who he was or what his "nature" was. The fact is her son was happy because he finally had someone to relate to and look up to and that mattered more to his mother than any implications the nun could have made. But, her husband didn't like it...hated it...refused to accept it...so he beat the boy.

I do not believe Father Flynn left because the nun "found out" what he had done, i believe it was because he did not want her to keep digging because he knew she would eventually find the truth about the boy, and himself, being gay. Father Flynn knew if this came out the boy would suffer terrible abuse from the other children in school possibly driving him out of the school, and ultimately put him in harms way due his father's hatred and further abuse, possibly killing the boy (like the boys mother referred to when she told the nun the boys father might kill him).

I also believe Father Flynn and the boy were both conflicted internally due to th struggle between the love for their faith and what they knew their true nature to be...gay. They loved their faith and knew that to be gay is a sin in their faith, but they also knew they it was their true nature. That's why father flynn became a priest, to suppress his wants and possible actions that were part of his "nature" which were forbidden by his faith. The boy saw this and thought that would be the best thing for him as well and that's why the boy said he wanted to become a priest.

Now, whether or not the priest made improper advances on the boy, i personally don't think he did. I think there was a mutual bond and respect between the two and i don't think the priest wanted to ruin that. But, i DO think the priest may have made advances on another boy in the school prior to the gay boy's enrollment. I believe he may have made advances on the blonde boy that was always getting into trouble and who made his own nose bleed to get out of school. That's why that boy didn't like him and also what Father Flynn was referring to when he asked the nun if she had ever sinned. He was implying that he recognized his wrong doing, confessed and repented for his sin and that was "between him and his confessor."

I apologize for my scattered thoughts. I hope you can understand them. Please let me know what you think :)

Comment on If you have any "doubt" - Go See The Movie "Doubt" with Meryl Streep

Suzanne — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:22:24 GMT

http://www.crime-safety-security.com/child-safety-molesters.html

Frank check out this above web site.

This should get you started...
Peace ~
Suzanne

Comment on If you have any "doubt" - Go See The Movie "Doubt" with Meryl Streep

Suzanne — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:06:47 GMT

Frank:

Good question.

In truth, it was a movie, so we can't truly say what took place because none of us were allowed to hear from the "victim", the young boy(s).

I guess the only way to truly answer your question is to do more research on the subject of predators. Google search: Christopher Reardon, Middleton Massachusetts. Then, volunteer at a local sexual abuse prevention agency...they will train you on the characteristics of a predator.
From my own experience, both personal and professional...the priest in "Doubt" was guilty.

But, movies are for entertainment purposes and to express an opinion in art form. In the case of a movie, there is no right or wrong answer. It's an art form meant to create dialog.

Good luck with your research!

Suzanne

Comment on If you have any "doubt" - Go See The Movie "Doubt" with Meryl Streep

Helen — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:05:58 GMT

Frank,

If the priest didn't do it, then why did he say he would resign his position after Sister Aloysius told him that she spoke to other nuns at his last parish and found out the real reason he left?

She told him that she wouldn't stop pushing the issue until the truth came out. Father Flinn told her that he didn't want it to get out and he'd resign.

If he was innocent, he would've fought her. He was that kind of guy.

But he was buddies with the monsignor and scored a promotion. This was typical of what happened in many cases where the pedophile priests were moved from parish to parish, abusing again.

Comment on If you have any "doubt" - Go See The Movie "Doubt" with Meryl Streep

Frank — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 01:43:28 GMT

Your comment bears the question, what if the priest WAS innocent? What if she was wrong?