I am not one of those who is against Hollywood. Hollywood has produced some wonderful movies over the years and these have had a lasting impression and a positive impact on our society. Two Weill actually three that stand out for be this past year are "Valkyrie", "Defiance" and "Doubt". Although Eileen and others I am sure would argue with me about doubt.
So, I am not coming from a position where I am against Hollywood. Nor am I against LA, I really love it here, having lived most of my life in Northern California, I often wonder why. Although I do have a certain fondness for the San Fransisco Bay area particularly San Jose where I grew up.
La has everything, yes there is evil here, but it is diluted, and there is also much that good. I think here is where the pendulum of good and evil swings most widely. And I can understand my Catholic Friends who have nothing good to say about Hollywood and Hollywood types, especially when we see stars and executives "coming out" so to speak in favor of molestation. But then I will see a movie like "The Rookie" with Dennis Quaid, where St. Rita is featured so subtly but unmistakably. So, I think you can see what I'm getting at here, to paraphrase Dickens in A Tale of Two Cities, it is the best of places; it is the worst of places.
Roman Polanski molested a child, there are few more heinous and damaging crimes to the survivor. Oddly punishing the perpetrator does nothing to help the survivor. However, Mr. Polanski owes a debt, and he walked away from it, tried to avoid and deny it.
When the Church did this for very different reasons, ie, not looking to avoid the problem, but for the most Godly way to solve it; it produced a scandal and rightly so. Openness and honesty and taking responsibility for this action by the perpetrator are the beginning s healing for the survivor. This the Church has done along with putting out billions of dollars in direct payments and in counseling and in restructuring, so that every person at least in my archdiocese, who works, voluntaries in any capacity for the church has to be certified in not just the basic idea of not harming a child, but in how to look for potentially harmed children. We have bent over back words to acknowledge the wrong, pay the consequences, and change. I am very proud of my Church.
Again as with civil rights for the conceived, I find my Church in the progressive role, out in front leading the way int he progressive manner of dealing with this issue.
And what of Hollywood, who likes to think of themselves as progressive, who pride themselves on their progressive attitude, are the reactionaries the conservatives those who fear the truth and fear change.
Roman Polanski is a child molester. Their is no defense for that. Those who support him have come out in favor of molestation, this is unfathomable, that at the top in our society, who like to think of themselves as liberal would not want to extend civil rights to the unborn, but actually support child molestation. What kind of people are these ... these entertainers?
The only thing worse than child molestation is abortion. The conceived are the only group with less power than children outside the womb. Hollywood are many of the highest rollers here respect neither.
It's really time for a change in this town, and we Catholics need to be leading the way. Instead of sitting back and complaining, we should be writing, publishing, producing, acting and directing according to our faith and our God given talents.
So I leave you today with these questions, what if Roman Polanski were Father Polanski, would we still see and hear the Weinsteins , the Scoresesis, the Goldbergs etc. etc. speaking out in his defense. No I don't think so. So it's not principle they stand for it's not a wrong they are trying to right, they are not trying to show their support for the furry animals, or the whales or the ozone; they are not signing up to stop Global warming, No it is molestation it is child abuse that they support. They are signing a petition not to stop Polanski's extradition, they are willingly putting their names on record in favor of child abuse.
Who can support these people and this industry anymore. I needs to be replaced.
I believe Pope Benedict XVI has been out in front on this, not condemn bu exhorting his flock this is the time when we should be using our talents.
The time is now for Catholics to write, to publish, to direct, to produce, to act to use the power of the media to tell enriching life affirming stories -- parables if you will for life.
Let us remember this day, the little flower, St Terese of Lisux and yesterday's fest of St Michael the archangel, and his battle cry, "Who is like God?"
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