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Deliver Us from Evil (Amy Berg)

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Synopsis

This is the story of Father Oliver O’Grady, the most notorious pedophile in the history of the modern Catholic Church. Completely lacking in moral fiber and devoid of any sense of shame or guilt, O’Grady used his charm and authority to violate dozens of faithful Catholic families across Northern California for more than two decades. His victims ranged from a nine-month-old infant to the middle-aged mother of another adolescent victim. Despite early warning signs and complaints from several parishes, the Church, in an elaborate shell game designed to avoid liability and deflect criticism, lied to parishioners and local law enforcement while continuing to move O’Grady from parish to parish.

Review

For an unconscionable number of years, charming and soft-spoken Catholic priest Oliver O’Grady assimilated himself into the lives of trusting parishioners throughout Northern California and sexually molested numerous children (and even one 9-month-old infant) that were taught to regard him with the same respect one would pay Christ. For easily questionable reasons, O’Grady discusses his crimes and sexual yearnings (with an ever-present, off-putting smirk) during a series of interviews in the provocative and powerful Deliver Us from Evil.

Though cognizant and ashamed of his transgressions, O’Grady (now roaming free on the streets of his native Ireland) has managed to mentally disassociate from the overwhelming devastation that his actions have caused. Director Amy Berg (a former television news producer for CBS and CNN) balances the film perfectly by interviewing several of O’Grady’s victims and their families – each of whom continues in carrying psychological pain decades after their respective violations.

Instead of mandating psychiatric help, Cardinal Roger Mahony authorized O’Grady’s relocation to similar near-by parishes on multiple occasions after receiving reports of his abusive tendencies. Footage is shown of a recent court hearing where Mahony conveniently forgets (under an apparently meaningless oath) having taken part in O’Grady’s transfers. With the well-informed assistance of Father Thomas Doyle, a free-thinking cannon lawyer and Christian activist, the film also informs of shockingly unjust governmental choices that the Church (as high in rank as the papacy) has made. Examined is how Catholic dogma sees no technical difference between the molestation of a child and consensual fornication between adults, the origins of celibacy in priesthood and the vicious effects that can result from scientifically unnatural sexually repressive practices.

Though the topic may upset many viewers, Deliver Us from Evil is a deeply moving masterpiece of documentary filmmaking that warrants mass attention. It is an absolute must-see (especially for all former and current, practicing and non-practicing Catholics) with an abundance of valid and globally important information that will surely keep audiences talking about the subject matter long after it ends. With enough awareness and public demand, full justice can be done for the victims and families. Full comprehension of this state of affairs will inhibit both the crimes of sexual abuse and the conspiracy of silence.

-- Robert O'Neill

Product Format Information

DVD Widescreen: $13.49

Availability: Usually ships in
5-10 days
Close Caption: Yes
Region Code: 1
UPC: 031398210702

Studio : Lions Gate Films

Languages: English Dolby Digital 5.1 (Primary) , English Dolby Digital 2.0 , Spanish Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen
Extras: Deleted Scenes
Features:
Audio commentary: by Amy Berg and Matthew Cooke; deleted scenes have optional commentary
Interview(s): Additional interviews
Filmmaker insights

Keywords

Abuse, Christianity/Catholicism, Documentary/Documentaries

Genres

Documentary

Customer Reviews

Shocking Raw Emotions

Amos Lassen wrote on 03/29/2011:

Amy Berg has created a documentary film that should not go unnoticed, especially my members of the Catholic religion. “Deliver Us From Evil” is not only the story about the abuse of children and families by a priest, Father Oliver O’Grady but it is also about the evils and the politics within the Church which have allowed horrible things to happen. Here is a shocking look at the political illnesses that comes into our school systems and churches.
Father O’Grady moved from parish to parish in Northern California in the 1970’s. His “charisma” quickly allowed him to win each congregation’s trust and respect but his parishioners did not know that he was an active pedophile and that the hierarchy of the Church knew all about and allowed him to practice for 30 plus years. The film exposes the deep and total corruption of the Church and probes the deeply troubled mind of the man they harbored. The movie hits you with an unbelievable reality and shows the extent and the duration of the problems of corrupt priests which still exists. What is really the most amazing thing that we see is that the course of action of the Church hierarchy was no action. When high Church officials were made aware of the problem by both victims and sexual offenders, they looked the other way.
It is not news that what happens in confessionals today is not always the will of G-d. Beginning from an unassuming position, the film quickly gains strength from segment to segment. This is not a film to be seen by emotional people as it s hard to keep your eyes dry when you see and hear the rage of the families and the fear of the victims. The fact that the Catholic Church, one of the most powerful institutions in the world, ignored or refuted cases it was well aware of s sickening and heart-breaking. So many of us wondered where G-d was during the Holocaust or September 11. Here are men of G-d committing the most heinous of crimes and the Church knew but chose to ignore or deny. The prelates of the Church themselves covered up cases of clergy sexual abuse and the intransigence of the Church hierarchy is appalling and horrifying. The Church as an educational as well as religious institution has an obligation to protect—especially its children. Not doing so is abominable. Reform does not seem to be in the offing.
The movie will make you uncomfortable but it is impossible to understand how the leadership of the Church forgets the teachings of its own Lord regarding children. What the move does do is awaken you to see that the nicest, most well-mannered person can be evil and dangerous and even more so be a representative of G-d on earth. I have to ask what was going on in the minds of the higher ups in the Church?
The movie is understated to say the least—as strong as it was, it could have been so much stronger. The interviews with the abuser and the abuser will tear you apart. The stories of the families shock especially when the abuse is recalled. What we get ultimately is a very moving and well-paced story of how regular people, church-goers who put their faith in their church and their god were betrayed by a man they trusted and seemingly with permission from the Supreme Being.
At least Father O’Grady agreed to appear in the film and he seemed to be a man not fully aware of the amount of harm he had caused—in fact, I saw him as a very shallow person not exhibiting any remorse whatsoever. We do learn that he had been abused himself, both by his brother and by a priest. We also learned that there was awareness by certain Church officials of his activities and they simply relocated him whenever something came to light. What we do not learn s what was O’Grady’s state of mind when he was committing such horrible and inexcusable crimes.
The film shows the truth of what has happened in the Catholic Church and probably is still happening as I write this. Amy Berg is a true hero for bringing this film to us and she should be lauded as such. It is your choice to see it or not—but, if you do you may never be the same again.