Could this happen at YOUR church?
 

Over the weekend I rented a number of videos from the local library. I like documentaries that capture real life experiences. One title caught my eye, and it was called "Deliver us from Evil." When I read, I saw a clergy man seated in a reflective position in what appeared to be a jail cell, so I was drawn into renting this film.

Little did I know, this film was heartbreaking but interesting. It caused me to think...could THIS happen at MY church????

Here is a little background on the film:

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http://trustyservant.com/wp-content/.../deliverus.jpg
Deliver Us From Evil
Review by David Stratton

Amy Berg’s lacerating DELIVER US FROM EVIL is a horror documentary.

Berg’s subject is pedophilia, sexual crimes against children, some as young as nine months, perpetrated by members of America’s Catholic priesthood.

The film also deals with the way the crimes were covered up by senior members of the clergy. The central character in this tragic drama is an Irish priest,
Oliver O’Grady, Father Ollie to his parishioners; witnesses, including
Adam M, Nancy Sloan and Ann Jyono are among those who give damning evidence against this serial predator who got off almost scot free thanks to the intervention of the Bishops in charge of him.

This damning document is guaranteed to make you angry, not only angry that such things could happen – and the accounts of Father O’Grady’s crimes are graphic enough – but that they were so assiduously covered up by an organisation,
the Church, that seemed to care more about its own image than about the tragic victims of sex abuse.

It’s not an easy film to watch, especially when Berg travels to Ireland to interview the ever-so-charming Father Ollie. Berg’s lucid, dispassionate approach to this material is exemplary.

We’ve all heard about this kind of thing but here we are brought face-to-face with evil, and it’s a profoundly disturbing experience.

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So the church leadership actually covered for him, paid him to relocate to Ireland, and he never served ONE day in prison, after violating MANY children.


YOUR THOUGHTS?

Re: Could this happen at YOUR church?
 

http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/deliver-us-from-evil/

Free Documentary

Re: Could this happen at YOUR church?
 

I think the saddest story was when the father of an abused child yelled out of his anger:

THERE IS NO GOD! IT'S ALL MADE UP BY THE CHURCH! HOW COULD THEY SIT THERE AND READ THEIR BIBLES WHILE MY LITTLE GIRL WAS BEING VIOLATED?
The blood will be on our hands for turning blinded eyes and deaf ears to this when we have the power to do something.

Re: Could this happen at YOUR church?
 

Sexual abuse of children happens in private and public schools. It happens in groups like Boy Scouts. It happens in Churches, including Apostolic Churches.

Re: Could this happen at YOUR church?
 

As member of a family that has gone through this, it can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. Sin is sin, flesh is flesh.

Re: Could this happen at YOUR church?
 

We are dealing with an ugly mess like this in our church right now. Almost a year ago one of our men was arrested for sexually abusing his only daughter and also the daughter of his best friend. He is now in prison awaiting sentencing.

In the meantime, when they confiscated his computer and the computer of his best friend, along with a couple of other people's computers, they found communication between the two of them that is - well, let's just say "nauseating". That's what it is!! All of this on the second man has just very recently come out. He doesn't even know that the elders know about it yet, nor does he know that the lawyers are in the process of beginning the process to end up bringing him in. In the meantime, because we can't let him know any of this, our hands are tied as to removing him from any of the positions he holds. So he is being watched like a hawk every minute that he is on church property.

This church has been thru some difficult things the last few years. But I sincerely believe that this whole sexual abuse thing has been the hardest. We need yours prayers - for wisdom, for direction, for guidance. And for a pastor because we don't even have one right now.

Re: Could this happen at YOUR church?
 

Too true. I know of documented situations at churches we've attended in the past.
Very unfortunate.

Re: Could this happen at YOUR church?
 

It never hurts to have this type of awareness reminder. Praying for you all Margies3

Re: Could this happen at YOUR church?
 

Re: Could this happen at YOUR church?
 

I hope he doesn't read this thread.