Movie review of Deliver Us from Evil

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Deliver Us from Evil

March 29th 2007 01:48

I watched a most disturbing documentary yesterday. It’s not a horror movie, but it’s a film of utter abject horror. Deliver Us from Evil is ultimately about the rampant sexual abuse within the worldwide clergy, but it focuses on one monster inparticular; Father Oliver O’Grady, an insidious predator if ever there was one.

Socio-political producer Amy Berg has directed her first feature and it speaks volumes, like a vivid, no frills banner sprawled across a street at a demonstration. This is a film about destruction and loss of faith and humanity. There is hope, but the shroud of darkness that rears its ugly head in this doco is a massive all engulfing monstrosity that has been committing atrocities since the Middle Ages.

I’m talking about priests and pedophilia. Deliver Us from Evil delivers the chilling and appalling truth that there are literally tens of thousands of men of the cloth who are sexually abusing children, both boys and girls, and have yet to be exposed and disclosed. This might not be so surprising to some, but when the levels of corruption reach as high as Pope Benedictine and President Bush then the nightmarish reality of this invisible plague rains down hard.

Amy Berg had been investigating pedophile priests for four years. Her pursuit had led her to Cardinal Roger Mahony and the 550 priests under his jurisdiction within the Los Angeles Archdiocese who had been abusing children and had not been punished for their crimes. She had been documenting the Church’s unwillingness to release private files on these priests when she become acquainted with Father Oliver O’Grady’s offenses, which surpass all of his peers.

Father O’Grady had been devoted to two activities for the past twenty years; leading his community … and planning his next molestation. He even seduced parents in order to gain access to their children. He violated boys and girls of all ages, including a nine-month old infant! Having seen this vile creature on camera in interviews my skin crawls with revulsion and horror.

O’Grady was eventually sentenced to 14 years, but only served seven before being deported to his home country of Ireland where he currently roams (and is still being paid by the Church). Berg contacted him and much to her surprise he agreed to be filmed and interviewed. But what both amazed and disgusted her was the little remorse he had. He understood he had a mental illness, but he expressed a firm desire to explain himself to his victims. He even went as far as to write individual letters to his victims (the ones who were brave enough to be interviewed for this doco) and invite them to come see him so that he could say he was sorry and that it should never have happened … and hopefully get to shake their hands. Ugh!

My God! The man is morally blind and deluded. Of course none of the victims were going to have a bar of him (he eventually withdrew the invitation). One of the victims, Adam, stated bluntly that he’d like to kill O’Grady’s mother instead.

Berg wisely doesn’t offer her own opinions and cleverly she doesn’t provide any narration whatsoever. She simply lets her subjects talk. And there is some outrageous disclosures made in the dispositions of Mahoney and his former second-in-command Monsignor Cain. While O’Grady has to be seen and heard to be believed. He actually smirks and smiles when he relates some of his actions. I have a strong belief that if there is a justly unhinged person in Ireland who sees this doco and knows of O’Grady’s whereabouts he’s a marked man.

The trajectory of O’Grady’s trail of destruction is a heart-breaking one. Meeting the parents of abuse survivor Ann Marie Jyono, now close to 40, who has never been able to marry or have kids due to loss of faith and insecurities. Her father Bob is a mess. Once a devout Catholic, now he doesn’t set foot in a church believing there is no God.

Although the doco focuses on three victims (Ann Marie, Adam and Nancy Sloan), it paints a much bigger picture by film’s end. The level of corruption and cover-up within American churchs, and across the globe, is astounding. Cardinal Law is a powerful beast. They have lied to so many practitioners of high moral fibre, to parents, to law enforcement, to judges.

The appalling justifications made by the Church in trying to protect its own are something to behold. They’ve even openly admitted they do not respond to complaints involving little girls, explaining this “abuse” as simply “normal sexual curiosity” among priests (even when the girls were as young as five!) Yikes! The clergy pedophilia is not strictly of homosexual origin, as the church superiors keep citing as a way of misleading the public.

There is one man who is trying to do good; Father Thomas Doyle, a canon lawyer and medieval historian who is trying against all the odds to educate and enlighten people on just how wayward and deceptive the Church is. He struggles.

Deliver Us from Evil is a sobering and very important film indeed. The protective shroud of the Church is torn apart, faith is destroyed and hope is a pool of tainted holy water. Yet so ingrained is the villainy here that this small doco will only really chip away at the very tip of this glacial behemoth. But chip it must. And perhaps one day, sooner than later, this whole chilling shelf of religious hypocrisy and poisoned morals will crack and sink down into the depths, never to surface again.

We hope and pray.

Deliver Us from Evil is released in Australia in May.

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Comments

40 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Anonymous

March 29th 2007 02:25

I've seen clips of this and that man is a monster. I have it saved to my Netflix queue.

-lilith

Comment by Cibbuano

March 29th 2007 02:32

Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak

Damn, that is true horror. It'd be fitting for that guy to be eaten by zombies...

Comment by Kleonaptra

March 29th 2007 03:16

Kalikapsychosis

Now this truly is scary stuff. Its funny, cos they blame this on the celibacy thing, (normal sexual curiosity in priests??) but the point of a holy man being celibate is to purify the spirit and body. No eating animal flesh, no sex, no bad or impure thought, just lots of prayer. This is the path to God.
I think they may need more than an inquisition to get back on track after this.

Comment by Bryn

March 29th 2007 03:34

Horrorphile

Cheers for the comments fellow readers and writers.

Lilith, this is scarier than any exorcism!

Cibby, I think a few people would like to see this guy eviscerated and devoured fer sure! Doubt he'd taste too good though .... talk about tainted meat!

Kleo,
yeah the celibacy angle is a worry ... These men of the cloth really stretch it out to fit the most cumbersome and grotesque form of ideals ....

Comment by katyzzz

March 29th 2007 03:43

Photography Tips
MS Paint Art

Gone all religious have we Bryn?.

Your horror is justified and your article first class as usual.

But, don't throw the baby out with the bath water, there are many good people connected with Churches and they do an extraordinary amount of charitable work.

Celibacy does not lead to evil, it is other things, Lord knows what.

These situations are really evil and devastating for those involved and to think men of the cloth should stoop so low and others irresponsibly turn a blind eye to the plight of the truly innocent and defenceless is outrageous.

Just something to think about, pedophilia is on the increase, but not religion, that's something for us all to think about.

katyzzz

Comment by Lilla

March 29th 2007 04:43

From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop

Bryn,

Firstly I just want to say how much I enjoyed reading this uber-excellent review.

My blood boils...

There is hope, but the shroud of darkness that rears its ugly head in this doco is a massive all engulfing monstrosity that has been committing atrocities since the Middle Ages.

... and ...

Cardinal Law is a powerful beast. They have lied to so many practitioners of high moral fibre, to parents, to law enforcement, to judges.

Maybe we can all think about the rise of such behaviour as a result of this beast, sanctioned by the fine citizens of a wonderfully progressive society... Pish!

They’ve even openly admitted they do not respond to complaints involving little girls, explaining this “abuse” as simply “normal sexual curiosity” among priests (even when the girls were as young as five!)

Words escape the loathing and anger I feel for this situation having been allowed to rise, as well as homosexual ones. There must be stronger consequences implemented.

And perhaps one day, sooner than later, this whole chilling shelf of religious hypocrisy and poisoned morals will crack and sink down into the depths, never to surface again.

Amen to that and hasten the day.

Great Post,

Lilla

Comment by Mark Schultz

March 29th 2007 05:10

Evil Pleasures
Random Musings on Life, Love and Everything
Let's Get Down To Business

scary shit

Comment by KylieW

March 29th 2007 05:12

Celebrity Obsession

Bryn,

My god, you're right, that is true horror.

And yet the catholic church has the never to say that gay people will go to hell? Such hypocrisy.

If there is such a thing as hell (which, given I don't believe in god, I don't believe in hell either) there is a special placed reserved for these priests!!!

Comment by JohnDoe

March 29th 2007 05:17

Film & TV on DVD

Great review Bryn,

Sounds like a rivetting watch, I love this style of doco and would love to see it...do you have a copy?

Comment by Bryn

March 29th 2007 05:30

Horrorphile

Wonderful comments ladies and gent!
We all knew pedophilia existed within the clergy ... but to the extent that it is and the lengths the Church go to to protect its own and cover-up the truth is diabolical!
Excuse the irony.
President Bush disallowed the Pope to be formally investigated over allegations he had turned a blind eye to the rampant abuse going on in the Californian diocese.
It sickens me.
Father o'Grady chortles as he casually talks of his apologies to his victims, as if it were simply a slap in the face he'd administered to each of them. Sexual abuse damages far beyond the initial victim.
As a boy Father O'Grady was abused by his older brother and also by a priest ....
... and so the vicious circle continues ....
Psychologically damaged boys are "nursed" in religious classes and in the church by predatory priests who then abuse them. These boys grow up in the church to become abusers themselves ....

Comment by Bryn

March 29th 2007 05:31

Horrorphile

JD,
I saw a media preview yesterday. It was released in the States last October, so there may be a DVD out now ....

Comment by DuskDevi

March 29th 2007 07:15

Rugby World Cup 2007

This is the most horrific review of all.
And it's reality.

How did Amy Berg do this?
How did she do this?

...the strength...

O’Grady was eventually sentenced to 14 years

...and they geld horses?

Comment by Tracy

March 29th 2007 07:45

Movies and Life

Sickening on so many levels, how can this behaviour be justified and how can he be free?

Comment by Bryn

March 29th 2007 08:26

Horrorphile

Tracy, Devi ... you want something to make your skin crawl? ... Then the words and attitude of O'Grady most definitely will ....
Geld?
O'Grady should be hung, drawn and quartered. In front of all his victims.

Comment by Ahmed

March 29th 2007 12:46

Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks

I don't like using vulgar words but

When a man stops fucking for reasons such as 'I have something better to do' he turns into a fucking monster.

That simple, the idea of abstaining from sex is next to impossible, I mean THEY ARE PEOPLE WITH DICKS.

Same goes for those without, withholding sex is stupid. I don't see the logic in it, they say it is so they can be closer to god, whats the point? If they keep thinking about having sex, I mean if they do it like once or twice a day with a woman they are (preferably) married to it will help them stay focused ON god rather than contemplating sex.

Comment by Anonymous

March 29th 2007 13:35

Thisis only the tip of the iceberg as it has gone on in WA and others states Pedophilia and homosexualy priests still in The Catholic Church and known about. Many US priests were transferrd to Australia and other nations when found out. So it would take forever to hunt them down. My cousins had to visit the local priest daily in his home ina small country town to help him overcome his loneliness,another country priest has a housekeepr liv ein and so did several more

Comment by Fingertip Titans Unite

March 29th 2007 21:52

Idiots Among Us
Fingertip Titans

I don't think I'd have the stomach to watch the documentary, but I'm glad it was made. Kudos to the producer, and to you for the great review. Now I must go meditate and think positive thoughts to keep from losing my lunch.

Comment by Tracy

March 29th 2007 22:01

Movies and Life

It sounds like it would be a hard film to watch, yet an important one.

Thanks for the review, Bryn.

Comment by Kleonaptra

March 30th 2007 00:42

Kalikapsychosis

WHOA! All of you with opinions on celibacy do your bloody research! The Catholic Church and most Christian Churches ripped off the idea from pagans and Hindus. There are plenty of Swamis and Masters and Gurus that are celibate and do not need an outlet for sexual energy because they are literally one with God. This is called Faith and Discipline. Originally, celibacy was introduced in pagan religions because when someone is doing magic work(particularly at a young age) they cannot have ANY distractions from the work at hand - thus, no animal flesh(to purify body and spirit) and no sex(for the same reasons) it is not celibacy thats causing the problem - its that the church ripped off the idea without ever knowing the concept behind it, and no matter how much good the church does today, it began in an evil bloodbath, slaughtering all other religions(particularly the sacred mother) and ripping off age old ideas to control the populace. How can anyone trust a religion born from so much blood, hate, and dogma? Doesnt the bible say the devil has a handsome face?
Sorry Bryn. Awesome post, obviously this is a subject Im quite passionate about!

Comment by Bryn

March 30th 2007 00:47

Horrorphile

Amy Berg, the director, has made an intelligent film. She doesn't attempt to force her own morals or opinions as filmmaker into the picture, she simply lets her interviewees speak for themselves. She does however cleverly juxtapose certain elements against each other to subtely bring the horror to the fore, such as filming O'Grady working around his Irish neightbourhood park where kids are playing (their faces have been blurred to keep identities protected), because he is allowed to do that. I can just imagine the urge Berg would've had against doing that, but it needed to be done to show just how the injustice going on, how a monster such as O'Grady can be allowed to mingle so close to his prey.
And, yes, he is the tip of the iceberg. And we all know only 10% of an iceberg is above the surface.

Comment by Bryn

March 30th 2007 00:52

Horrorphile

Obviously Kleo, obviously.
I never suggested celibacy was the root of the problem. Excuse the pun.
And I don't think Amy Berg thinks so either.
The picture that gets pianted by doco's end is the spectre of abuse that carries on from parent/older sibling to child/young sibling.
The circle of abuse is truly a vicious circle. I'm not trying to act like some kind of expert in the field here, but as far as I understand the majority of adult offenders of sexual abuse were abused as children themselves. It is ingrained into their psyche and it seeps out as they become adults.

Comment by DuskDevi

March 30th 2007 01:36

Rugby World Cup 2007

O'Grady should be hung, drawn and quartered. In front of all his victims.

Yes.
...but...as you say Bryn....this filth disguised as human is the product of a vicious cycle...innocence perverted then perversion perpetuated...

Where does it all end?
Why does it begin?

I think that I too would have a hard time watching this documentary....not just because of the life sentence of pain the victims have been handed but also because... I don't want to be faced with the option of feeling sorry for Filth O'Grady....that he may be a product of his past.

And if he isn't? If he was just born that way?

...oh God....

Comment by Lilla

March 30th 2007 02:09

From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop

Well said Dusk,

Bryn, just adding the couple extra points of re-vote to keep this 'up-there,' (on the top list)where it can be clearly seen, by all .. for a little longer...

Lilla

Comment by Tracy

March 30th 2007 03:59

Movies and Life

Excellent analogy and message, Bryn:

And, yes, he is the tip of the iceberg. And we all know only 10% of an iceberg is above the surface.

Comment by Bryn

March 30th 2007 05:14

Horrorphile

Cheers everyone! A provocative post it seems. For obvious reasons.
Dusk, one never feels sorry for O'Grady. Just disgust.
Thanks Tracy and Lilla for the props!

Comment by D. Armenta

March 30th 2007 21:45

The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.

Thanks for the excellently written review, Bryn. I'll be watching for the release here, though it will really piss me off...

Comment by Tracy

March 30th 2007 22:46

Movies and Life

Hi Bryn

Wil it be released on DVD here in Australia?

Tracy

Comment by JohnDoe

March 31st 2007 00:44

Film & TV on DVD

According to www.imdb.com the Australian cinema release date is May 10 2007.

Comment by Tracy

March 31st 2007 03:12

Movies and Life

Thanks, John and Bryn....

Comment by Bryn

March 31st 2007 04:22

Horrorphile

D. Armenta, I'd be concerned if you didn't get pissed off!

Comment by Always Eighteen

April 1st 2007 02:52

Always Eighteen

John Wayne Gacy Junior.

It really gets me wondering how people like him were raised. Sex is only ever sometimes a beautiful thing.

Comment by Bryn

April 1st 2007 03:31

Horrorphile

Gacy was a monster fer sure. Hell of a beast.
Sex and death are like yin and yang sometimes. There is light and there is darkness. Sometimes the things of sublime beauty can be used as instruments of horror. Scary, but real.

Comment by Kleonaptra

April 2nd 2007 02:17

Kalikapsychosis

Yep, Yep Bryn, I agree, and Im sorry to imply you didnt know, I didnt aim my comment at you, just at a few others who seemed set on believing celibacy was the problem. I just wanted to emphasize there is nothing wrong with celibacy if its for the right reasons - celibate does not equal child abuser. You might not be an expert but you might as well, this is very informed!
The 'cycle' of abuse is easily made within a church environment...

Comment by Bryn

April 2nd 2007 05:59

Horrorphile

Kleo,
thanks for that clarification and the kudos! Yes, child abuse is a most heinous circle indeed ... And to think the Church supports it in such a clandestine way is truly sickening ....

Comment by D. Armenta

May 30th 2007 23:38

The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.

Hey, Bryn..see I've posted here before, but I want to see what Deorre thinks of this..from what I understand he works with child molesters. I'll link him..

Comment by Bryn

May 31st 2007 04:56

Horrorphile

cheers Armenta ... or do you prefer D. ...?

Comment by Deorre

May 31st 2007 12:27

Stress Alive
Man Lessons

I do work with sex offenders, including child molesters anmd pedophiles, and such. Many of them are victims themselves, having been perpetrated on earlier in their life. This CANNOT be an excuse to perpetuate the legacy.

I see it as a problem of the individual, and typically the collective comes down extremely hard on these people. Remarkably, what we see in the Catholic church (and I know that is a bit of a generalization), is a sort of institutionalized acceptance of the "problem". That must date way back to when sex with youngsters was deemed more acceptable.

Individuals shuld be treated equally, whether they are Catholic, priests, or just the bum down the road.

Comment by D. Armenta

May 31st 2007 15:42

The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.

You can call me anything ya want, Bryn. I was called "Armenta" for years in the Navy, and "Dana" the rest of the time. Your choice.

Oh, now I've done it. You know my real name, LOL.

I knew Deorre would have a good input--he wrote an interesting piece about his work awhile back.

I agree , Deorre-no special dispensations.

Comment by Bryn

June 1st 2007 03:14

Horrorphile

Reading that the Pope has blessed a picture of the young girl who's been abducted in Spain kinda gave me the creeps, since the Pope turned a blind eye over the molestation allegations made against the roman Catholic clergy ...