Vatican praises Spotlight, apologizes for sex scandal

The day after the Oscars people usually talk about who was best dressed and who had the best, or worst, acceptance speech. However Monday, in addition to the aforementioned topics, people were talking about how one of the winners of the best motion picture called out the Vatican.

During his acceptance speech, Michael Sugar, director of best motion picture “Spotlight”, a screen adaptation of the Boston Globe’s expose on the Boston Archdiocese’s sex scandal in 2002, said it was time for Pope Francis to “protect the children and restore the faith.’

The Vatican was quick to respond. Monday Pope Francis offered praise to the award winning film, saying the film gives “a voice to the profound pain of the faithful.”

47 ABC spoke to Father Chris LaBarge of the St. Francis de Sales Parish in Salisbury about the matter. He said the church has admitted wrong doing.

“It is one of those things where we need to apologize. We’ve done things that are wrong,” LaBarge said.

However, asking for forgiveness appears to be an ongoing Catholic effort, reinforced this past December as the Pope signaled the start of the jubilee year of mercy.

“It basically is a chance to ask in a particular way for gods graces and usually also is a time for forgiveness of sin,” explained LaBarge.

Since taking over, Pope Francis has publicly apologized for the actions of church leaders and priests involved in the scandal. LaBarge said since 2002 the church has made radical changes to ensure that an adult is never left alone with a minor.

Despite the changes, LaBarge said change is still needed within the church.

“We have to keep growing, and part of growth is change and so there’s constant growing and evolving and I think that this particular holy father is looking at ways to reach out to those that we kind of alienated,” LaBarge said.

47 ABC spoke to folks within the community, and reaction to the catholic church and their message of forgiveness was mostly positive.

“I think it’s a marvelous Christian thing that the catholic church is doing to extend forgiveness, and to ask for forgiveness,” said George Roache. “Some people moved on many people, sadly, are still hurting.”

LaBarge says the church understands some people are unwilling to forgive.

“It’s a real challenge for us, to work on forgiveness and to be willing to forgive others, but human nature wise it’s hard to forgive and forget,” LaBarge said.

He adds though that refusing to forgive someone, or something, only hurts that person harboring those resentful feelings.

“Holding resentment is drinking poison and thinking the other person is going to die,” LaBarge said.

Since 1985, the Archdiocese of Wilmington, which oversees St. Francis de Sales Parish, has had a zero tolerance policy regarding sexual abuse.