Our Fathers (TV 2005)

A dramatized account of the hidden sexual abuse and scandal that shook the foundation of the Catholic Church, and the characters, events, and policies that brought the abuse and scandal into existence.

Director:

Dan Curtis

Writers:

David France (book), Thomas Michael Donnelly (screenplay)

Stars:

Ted Danson, Christopher Plummer, Brian Dennehy

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ted Danson	...	Mitchell Garabedian
Christopher Plummer	...	Cardinal Bernard Law
Brian Dennehy	...	Father Dominic Spagnolia
Daniel Baldwin	...	Angelo DeFranco
Ellen Burstyn	...	Mary Ryan
Kenneth Welsh	...	Bishop Murphy
Will Lyman	...	Wilson Rogers Jr.
Wayne Best	...	Father Doyle
Colin Fox	...	Daniel Kibbe
James Oliver	...	Patrick McSorley
Jan Rubes	...	Pope John Paul
Steven Shaw	...	John J. Geoghan
Damien Atkins	...	Young Geoghan
Hugh Thompson	...	Tom Blanchette
Aidan Devine	...	Bernie McDaid

Storyline

In the 1970s and 1980s a scandal was brewing in the Boston diocese of the Roman Catholic Church. Pedophile priests, especially Father John Geoghan, were sexually molesting young boys. Although the Cardinal at the time, Bernard Law, was made aware of the evil acts committed by Geoghan & other priests, he sided with the priests and quietly moved them from one church to the next, and kept the matter a secret from the authorities. Years later, the victims start to come forward, and a lawyer sues Cardinal Law & the diocese for hiding the crimes from the authorities. Cardinal Law arrogantly defends his behavior, and refuses to resign. Meanwhile, Father Geoghan is found guilty and sentenced to 10 years behind bars. Will the Cardinal resign now...or continue to try to hold onto his position?

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Plot Keywords:

priest | scandal | church | catholic | catholic church | 

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Taglines:

The catholic church in an age of scandal.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, including some graphic depictions of sexual abuse

Details

Official Sites:

Showtime [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 May 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Escândalo Oculto

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 14,340,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dan Curtis Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Angelo DeFranco: Why did this happen to me?

User Reviews

An Outstanding Effort on Such A Controversial Film!!

My congratulations to Ted Danson, Christopher Plummer, Brian Dennehy, David France and Thomas Michael Donnelly and Dan Curtis for their brave efforts in tackling such a controversial subject. Ten years ago, this film would have never been released.

It was so disturbing to watch that I was up all night thinking how excruciatingly painful it was for the parents and the victims.

It took many brave souls to take on the Catholic Church on such a horrifying subject as the pedophilia that occurred by the very same Priests to which we entrusted our children. Not to mention the years of cover-up by the Boston diocese!

And yet, this cast and crew somehow managed to have this unspeakable subject matter come across so compellingly and tastefully that they deserve a 10 for their efforts. This is truly an award-winning effort. I can almost guarantee that this will be a critically acclaimed film.