VOTFNJ Presents the documentary film... A Matter of Consience: Confronting Clergy Abuse

MORRISTOWN, N.J. - Sept. 24, 2014 - PRLog -- Following the tragic narratives recounted by psychologically-scarred survivors of clergy sex abuse and documented poignantly in their first documentary on the topic of clerical sexual transgression, "Who Takes Away the Sins: Witnesses to Clergy Abuse," Susan and John Michalczyk felt impelled to continue to expose the magnitude of the scandal by also telling the stories of courageous women and men who revealed clergy abuse and were sanctioned by Church leaders—some ostracized, some removed from their positions, deemed disloyal, traitors to their religious orders or the Church for daring to break the code of silence.

How could this have happened in the Catholic Church which professes to be the highest moral authority in the world? Silence of clergy and laity; lack of transparency and accountability in the hierarchy; cover-up in the local dioceses extending to the Vatican in Rome.

Bob Hoatson, Field Producer and co-founder of Road to Recovery, invited his colleagues in Catholic Whistleblowers to participate in the new documentary, A Matter of Conscience: Confronting Clergy Abuse. Frs. Patrick Collins, Ronald Lemmert, Bruce Teague, James Connell and Thomas Patrick Doyle, and Srs. Maureen Paul Turlish, Sally Butler and Claire Smith agreed to tell how they reported occurrences of clergy sexual abuse despite serious repercussions for their actions. Mitchell Garabedian, attorney for countless survivors of clergy abuse, and Anne Barrett-Doyle of Bishop Accountability.org generously participated in the project.

Susan A. Michalczyk, after completing a doctorate in Italian literature at Harvard in 1986 continued teaching there until coming to Boston College where she has taught for more than 20 years in Arts and Sciences Honors Program. John J. Michalczyk did his doctoral work at Harvard on French literature and political film and then completed a Masters of Divinity degree. He has taught film and literature at Boston College for 40 years where he has produced documentaries and published extensively on social justice themes.

There is no charge for the program. All are welcome!