Best this month Spotlight
This chilling and ethically cogent film focuses on the Bos-
ton Globe’s Pulitzer Prize-winning exposé of sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy that revealed the breadth of these crimes against society’s most vulnerable members—children. Director Tom McCarthy and co-writer Josh Singer introduce us to the colorful journalists who are ani- mated by a zealous pursuit of justice and truth. These intrepid reporters track down witnesses,
interview a diverse group of victims and discover a way to identify priests who may be abusers, thus breaking through the walls of secrecy that have been erected to protect the church from culpa- bility. Even when they have proof that they can accuse as many as 70 priests, their editor urges them to go further and show that the church itself has engaged in a massive cover-up to shield priests and protect its money and power. The film also manages in a crosscut of scenes to reveal the pain and suffer-
By Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
ing of abuse victims. As the leader of a victims’ support group explains, rape is not just physical abuse—it’s also spiritual abuse, taking away a child’s trust and faith (Open Road Films, R—some language including sexual references).
The cast of Spotlight play Boston Globe reporters who delve into allegations of abuse in the Roman Catholic Church.
The Listening Life: Embracing Attentiveness in a World of Distraction
Adam S. McHugh, a Presbyte-
rian minister and spiritual director, is convinced that life in our wired society is eroding our capacity for listening. In the Bible, Jesus demon- strates again and again that listening
is a profound act of hospitality. He gives his total attention to people. We are challenged to do the same. When we regularly listen to God, we come upon “God-
saturated moments.” McHugh demonstrates how we can make the most of listening as we read the Bible, revel in nature, activate our listening hearts and listen to people in pain. For all these ways of listening, we are required to slow down. Quiet and solitude provide the workshop for listening to ourselves, our emotions, our bodies, our deepest questions about life and the meaning of it all. McHugh ends this soul-stirring book with a plea
for churches to see themselves as communities that lis- ten intently with their ears to the ground (IVP Books,
www.ivpress.com/books).
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www.thelutheran.org
That’s (Not) Mine Children get the
message in our con- sumer culture that greed is OK and it’s normal to claim things as “mine.” It’s not easy to get rid of the habit of putting our pleasures over the rights and delights of others. Author Anna Kang
Author bio:
The Brussats publish the website www.SpiritualityandPractice. com where you can find more information about the items reviewed in this column.
and illustrator Chris- topher Weyant hit the jackpot with this endearing morality play about two bears squabbling over a chair. They take turns trying to get the other to move, and soon we get the picture it would be better to share. This lively picture book is designed for kids ages 2 through 7 (Two Lions; search for this title at www.
amazon.com).
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