I have to begin by apologizing to Hank Green for referring to him as John Green in my last blog. Poor Hank has probably lived in his older brother’s shadow his whole life and I didn’t help much by confusing the two.
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As always, Hank managed to explain some heavy concepts in just under 10 minutes. In his Crash Course video Divine Command Theory: Crash Course Philosophy #33 Hank briefly explains that according to Divine Command theory, what is moral and what is immoral is commanded by the divine.
This theory answers big questions about what’s right and what’s wrong. It’s simple and to the point. Why do you think “x” is right or wrong? Because God. That’s why.
But attached to this theory are some pretty valid dilemmas. Are right actions right because God commands them? or Are right actions commanded by God because they are right?
These dilemmas bring up good points about who says what’s right and how do you tell someone their actions are wrong if they “are commanded by God”.
No one knows this better than Survivors of the Catholic church, especially those in the film “Spotlight”.
In the film, investigative journalists with The Boston Globe rush to uncover the pedophile ring that is the Catholic Church. Along the way, the publication is met with several obstacles starting with their reader base half comprised of Catholic followers. Mitchell Garabedian, a lawyer in the film, explains it flawlessly with one phrase.
“If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to abuse one,” he said.
He implies families and followers must know, or at the very least suspect, of the sketchy shit going down. Again, how do you condemn someone “commanded by God”.
I was raised Catholic and let me tell you, Catholic guilt is no joke. Uttering a sound of disapproval could get you disowned and ostracized, even by your own family.
Now picture Boston, a predominantly Catholic town, hearing anything condemning their beloved church. A church many have used as a safe haven. A place that has seen folks at their most vulnerable, and a place several have trusted to guide them spiritually. Morally even.
It’s shocking to say the least. So The Boston Globe had quite a dilemma on their hands.
I keep circling back to Blog Post #1 because readers of The Boston Globe most likely preferred to not have their beliefs questioned via the newspaper. 53% being Catholic, they would have had a hard time coming to terms with this story.
That’s pretty much what happens when you challenge someone’s world view. When good journalism exposes the nasties of our life, everything we know and understand is swept out from under us.
The mother of seven victims is quoted in the film saying “Our duty is to protect Holy Orders…We did not question the authority of the church.”
How, as a reporter, do you penetrate such strong rhetoric in favor of the church. So strong that a MOTHER whose SEVEN CHILDREN were molested dismissed it.
If we pull up the old trusted SPJ’s code of ethics, we see a clause stating that journalists “Boldly tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience. Seek sources whose voices we seldom hear.”
Seems to me like The Boston Globe had a duty to release this story. They did and even won the Pulitzer Gold Medal for Public Service.
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