I found this documentary to be well done, saddening, but also in the end inspirational. It seemed at least that this family committed to working things out even though things were difficult. I also found it to be a stinging indictment of the conduct of church officials, conduct unfortunately not limited to this particular circumstance. In my opinion, the Church as a body has not done nearly enough to express its sorrow and regret at the wholesale lack of action taken against known child abusers. I think that the RICO statutes should be used to prosecute many church leaders who took part in these cover-ups. The Church in Rome basically acts like none of this happened and still wants to hold itself out as some sort of moral authority. I don't buy it.
16 Reviews
Deceived and betrayed by their faith in role models
jotix1003 August 2005
It's shocking to learn the amount of abuse inflicted by a lot of Catholic priests in the past. There's not a day when one hears about a new case as the abused come forward to accuse what criminal men did to them years ago. Kerby Dick, a brave film maker, takes his camera to a group of people that were the victims of one priest when they were teen agers.
The documentary concentrates on Tony Comes, who finally had the courage to go on record to denounce his abuse. He had plenty of company, or so it seems. In fact, their bishop, who should have taken care in dealing with the corrupt priest, didn't do anything to prevent. In fact, this man chose the easy way out by ignoring the accusations.
Wendy Comes, Tony's wife, is deeply affected when she learns the extent of what her husband suffered in the past. In fact, Wendy was wounded when she discovered the truth. In fact, she had converted to Catholicism when she married Tony. In spite of their trauma, we watch as the Comes' young daughter making her first communion, accompanied by her parents.
Kirby Dick deserves to be congratulated for showing us how the actions of some evil individuals ruined lives by what they did to children who trusted them and saw in them role models.
The documentary concentrates on Tony Comes, who finally had the courage to go on record to denounce his abuse. He had plenty of company, or so it seems. In fact, their bishop, who should have taken care in dealing with the corrupt priest, didn't do anything to prevent. In fact, this man chose the easy way out by ignoring the accusations.
Wendy Comes, Tony's wife, is deeply affected when she learns the extent of what her husband suffered in the past. In fact, Wendy was wounded when she discovered the truth. In fact, she had converted to Catholicism when she married Tony. In spite of their trauma, we watch as the Comes' young daughter making her first communion, accompanied by her parents.
Kirby Dick deserves to be congratulated for showing us how the actions of some evil individuals ruined lives by what they did to children who trusted them and saw in them role models.
A hidden gem that needs to be recognized!
Irishchatter26 March 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I honestly think this documentary back in 2004 should be recognised because it tells a story of a fireman who was sexually abused by a priest from childhood and we even get an opportunity to see his family's side of his story. Honestly I got so upset when Tony told his eldest daughter about what happened to him and said that his abuser was five blocks down to him. I really had to look away from the screen because I was holding back tears myself and like he was so brave to this story to his daughter as well as alerting that there is unfortunately a sex offender in their area. At least he was planning to move when he was taking into custody and in court, but again, he might be in a another neighbourhood where he could abuse other children one last time. Its honestly scary that we are living in a world full of monsters, I know we have to think of the good but dammit, they are all around us.
With his parents still believing in the catholic church, I was annoyed but understand that they still believe in God and like their son was abused by a priest. Like why cant they look on reality to this based on what happened to their son?
Brilliant documentary 8/10!
With his parents still believing in the catholic church, I was annoyed but understand that they still believe in God and like their son was abused by a priest. Like why cant they look on reality to this based on what happened to their son?
Brilliant documentary 8/10!
Wow...This one will stick for a while
metzgert8 August 2005
As someone who was raised Catholic in Toledo, I found this very well-done, low-budget film to be incredibly compelling and real. While I personally never experienced abuse, many of my classmates and I had very strong relationships with the priests that worked in our parishes and schools. Watching on film the Archbishop (who was present at my Confirmation) so badly handle the revelation of the abuse was hard. But this film helped me understand the full ramifications of the abuse scandal. I liked that the film never allows itself to overly dramatize what is an incredibly painful and divisive situation. It simply shows the real impact of sexual abuse on a single man and his family. I just read another comment for this film, and it was less about the film and more about a particular viewer's political views on Church abuse. That anyone could watch this film and question the motivation of Comes is really difficult to imagine and sad. But of course -- as the film shows -- many people find it easier to further persecute victims of abuse than face the truth about the leaders of their faith.
Painful and traumatic, but an amazing documentary that should be seen
PyrolyticCarbon30 July 2005
This is probably one of the hardest documentaries I've ever watched, it really does hit you like a punch in the face from the outset. I can honestly say this film had me deep in thought, uneasy, laughing and crying, and that's what a movie should do. Unfortunately this subject matter shouldn't even exist for it to be brought to people to understand through film.
This is an intimate journey alongside the family and friends of a man who has been subject to years of sexual abuse by the locally trusted Catholic Priest. It shows his attempts to come to terms with what has happened and how it affects him in later years, and not just him but his wife, his children, his family and friends, and even the others who have been abused in the past. It's one of the most powerful movies I've seen in recent years.
I've noticed something different in this documentary that doesn't seem to carry with others I've seen to date, and that's in its determination to keep track of the focus of the story, Tony Comes, and yet it manages extremely well to show the effect to so many around him. The stories, attitude and confusion of so many other people are brought clearly into the film without taking away from his story, or dropping the focus from the pain and torment that is going through his life. It does manage to present a startling picture of how so many are affected by the sexual abuse of a person, and how the memory follows someone through their life all the while eating away at them at every single moment and through every single thought.
It doesn't preach, or seem to angle towards illiciting an effect from the audience for some social change or promotion of anger against the Church. What it does do, clear and simply, is show the Comes family story.
The movie is superbly edited. To imagine that the makers had so much footage and edited it down to a manageable amount that could keep Comes story focused and strong despite breaking off to tell the tales of his friends and family, and still retain the close feeling of intimacy of the whole piece, is remarkable work.
So many times documentary films can become something else, lose sight of what they were meant to be about or just dilute their message with cinema, whereas this film has exploited the medium to the utmost. It has successfully presented Comes story in such a way as to grab the audience and ask them why this has been allowed to happen, taking you to the window of these peoples lives and letting you look inside to see what harm has come to these real people.
For me, this is what this movie is about. It takes you into the heart of the Comes family and forces you to face things that you would not normally want to see. You don't want to know that people are abused, especially by those that some hold so sacred, and you don't want to see the pain and suffering that travels throughout the families affected.
During the scenes in Comes truck or at his home, when the camera was simply with him, I would forget that I was and really feel as though I was sitting in that cab with him. By the end I held a sense of knowing Comes and his Wife, not in the sense of a friend, but in that they are real genuine people, and their warmth and compassion came through so easily on screen, something I found incredibly emotional to watch at times.
There are a few truly hard scenes, of which I won't go into. Yes, it is painful, very upsetting and it will make you cry, but there is a lot of good to be had out of this film.
For one there is the amazing quality of faith found in humans. For me this was the hardest part, how Tony could contemplate anything to do with the Church after these events is beyond me, I even shouted at the screen for him to "wise up"! Not being a believer of Church or any organised religions, I found this particularly hard, but I saw the positive affects on the family and the strength it gave them. This was something unique and quite amazing.
Another moment, and something that the film showed me about myself, was when Tony's young daughter has gone to bed and he walks in to settle with her and hold her for comfort. My thoughts were uncomfortable and nervous, and yet this was a moment like any other between a Father and Daughter. A particularly powerful moment for me that demonstrates what Tony himself says when he talks about when and how often the memories of the past affect him.
Above all, it showed that you should not keep quiet about events in the past, and you shouldn't stand by when others commit crimes against people and cover them up for anyones sake. If this film tells us anything, it's that the act of silence in itself is a crime and that those who knew the priest was responsible should have stood up, taken responsibility and acted. Instead the burden was left with this poor young boy who has grown to be a strong but troubled man. Regardless of this movie, I applaud him and his family for where they are today, and I wish them all the peace in the world.
I urge you to watch this documentary. It's one of the most powerful I've seen, and it tells an often sad and painful tale that is happening all too often in our lives today. Yet it does come out with some profound and wonderful moments of human existence, and it shows what a great family the Comes are, and in particular Tony and Wendy.
This is an intimate journey alongside the family and friends of a man who has been subject to years of sexual abuse by the locally trusted Catholic Priest. It shows his attempts to come to terms with what has happened and how it affects him in later years, and not just him but his wife, his children, his family and friends, and even the others who have been abused in the past. It's one of the most powerful movies I've seen in recent years.
I've noticed something different in this documentary that doesn't seem to carry with others I've seen to date, and that's in its determination to keep track of the focus of the story, Tony Comes, and yet it manages extremely well to show the effect to so many around him. The stories, attitude and confusion of so many other people are brought clearly into the film without taking away from his story, or dropping the focus from the pain and torment that is going through his life. It does manage to present a startling picture of how so many are affected by the sexual abuse of a person, and how the memory follows someone through their life all the while eating away at them at every single moment and through every single thought.
It doesn't preach, or seem to angle towards illiciting an effect from the audience for some social change or promotion of anger against the Church. What it does do, clear and simply, is show the Comes family story.
The movie is superbly edited. To imagine that the makers had so much footage and edited it down to a manageable amount that could keep Comes story focused and strong despite breaking off to tell the tales of his friends and family, and still retain the close feeling of intimacy of the whole piece, is remarkable work.
So many times documentary films can become something else, lose sight of what they were meant to be about or just dilute their message with cinema, whereas this film has exploited the medium to the utmost. It has successfully presented Comes story in such a way as to grab the audience and ask them why this has been allowed to happen, taking you to the window of these peoples lives and letting you look inside to see what harm has come to these real people.
For me, this is what this movie is about. It takes you into the heart of the Comes family and forces you to face things that you would not normally want to see. You don't want to know that people are abused, especially by those that some hold so sacred, and you don't want to see the pain and suffering that travels throughout the families affected.
During the scenes in Comes truck or at his home, when the camera was simply with him, I would forget that I was and really feel as though I was sitting in that cab with him. By the end I held a sense of knowing Comes and his Wife, not in the sense of a friend, but in that they are real genuine people, and their warmth and compassion came through so easily on screen, something I found incredibly emotional to watch at times.
There are a few truly hard scenes, of which I won't go into. Yes, it is painful, very upsetting and it will make you cry, but there is a lot of good to be had out of this film.
For one there is the amazing quality of faith found in humans. For me this was the hardest part, how Tony could contemplate anything to do with the Church after these events is beyond me, I even shouted at the screen for him to "wise up"! Not being a believer of Church or any organised religions, I found this particularly hard, but I saw the positive affects on the family and the strength it gave them. This was something unique and quite amazing.
Another moment, and something that the film showed me about myself, was when Tony's young daughter has gone to bed and he walks in to settle with her and hold her for comfort. My thoughts were uncomfortable and nervous, and yet this was a moment like any other between a Father and Daughter. A particularly powerful moment for me that demonstrates what Tony himself says when he talks about when and how often the memories of the past affect him.
Above all, it showed that you should not keep quiet about events in the past, and you shouldn't stand by when others commit crimes against people and cover them up for anyones sake. If this film tells us anything, it's that the act of silence in itself is a crime and that those who knew the priest was responsible should have stood up, taken responsibility and acted. Instead the burden was left with this poor young boy who has grown to be a strong but troubled man. Regardless of this movie, I applaud him and his family for where they are today, and I wish them all the peace in the world.
I urge you to watch this documentary. It's one of the most powerful I've seen, and it tells an often sad and painful tale that is happening all too often in our lives today. Yet it does come out with some profound and wonderful moments of human existence, and it shows what a great family the Comes are, and in particular Tony and Wendy.
Soul destroying
dosanjh127 February 2006
Please read the comments by Roger Brunton in this forum to receive an eloquent view of this film. I quote from him:- "This subject matter shouldn't even exist for it to be brought to people to understand through film" How to describe the devastation of acts of evil committed to another Being? This documentary lets a victim demonstrate the results, the summation of his life-abused into 90 minutes.
Tony Comes starts this diary as a macho Fireman assured of himself. During the film he doubts what is most precious to him. His Sexuality, his marriage, his role as a father and ultimately his religion.
The viewer is a voyeur in what happens 20 years after acts of depravity. Tony cannot hold his marriage together, he is forced into explaining extreme and unfathomable situations to his young children, he is unable to communicate with his son in the way a father should because HE IS A VICTIM, his faith in God is questioned, he is scared of being labelled a "fag" or a "queer."
There are a enough problems in his life that would make him want to quit the course that he is now taking. He is acutely aware to challenge the Catholic Church is a process that will take years and much heartache but a sense of right drives him forward.
There are no happy endings in this film only disgust and resolutions to be vigilant with one's children.
To go back to the quote at the beginning of this review, this difficult piece should not be considered a film, or even a documentary.
It is news.
Our much vaulted media (print and vision) should bring stories like this to our attention so we as people can demonstrate our anger. When "they" talk about it they are more interested in the salacious details. There are more interested in the monster who committed the acts. The people affected are often shifted to the background as "supporting cast." Twist of Faith firmly puts them to the forefront. Not just the victim but his partner, their children and the effect on the wider community.
I believe this film was nominated for an Oscar. Congratulations to the Academy for promoting this film.
Tony Comes starts this diary as a macho Fireman assured of himself. During the film he doubts what is most precious to him. His Sexuality, his marriage, his role as a father and ultimately his religion.
The viewer is a voyeur in what happens 20 years after acts of depravity. Tony cannot hold his marriage together, he is forced into explaining extreme and unfathomable situations to his young children, he is unable to communicate with his son in the way a father should because HE IS A VICTIM, his faith in God is questioned, he is scared of being labelled a "fag" or a "queer."
There are a enough problems in his life that would make him want to quit the course that he is now taking. He is acutely aware to challenge the Catholic Church is a process that will take years and much heartache but a sense of right drives him forward.
There are no happy endings in this film only disgust and resolutions to be vigilant with one's children.
To go back to the quote at the beginning of this review, this difficult piece should not be considered a film, or even a documentary.
It is news.
Our much vaulted media (print and vision) should bring stories like this to our attention so we as people can demonstrate our anger. When "they" talk about it they are more interested in the salacious details. There are more interested in the monster who committed the acts. The people affected are often shifted to the background as "supporting cast." Twist of Faith firmly puts them to the forefront. Not just the victim but his partner, their children and the effect on the wider community.
I believe this film was nominated for an Oscar. Congratulations to the Academy for promoting this film.
Re:
puppi81820 August 2005
I thought the documentary was excellent. But to reply to the person who stated that the documentary "hurt the people telling the story" I have a question for you. Have you yourself ever been a victim of abuse? If you had you would find yourself facing a cornucopia of emotions ranging from anger to shame and guilt. Victims of this type of abuse are typically reluctant to come forward. Tony Comes himself states that he didn't know what it meant. Did he mean that he was gay? You cannot sit there and judge these people for not coming forward earlier. It is not a black or white situation and I hope that no one in your family ever experiences something like this. If they did they would have to steer clear of you... God bless Tony and his family...
this is directed to Braindog
meyerhoo51223 March 2011
This is directed to Braindog... All I have to say is...have you ever been sexually abused? NOTHING is black and white. You have shown your utter ignorance in your review. I have not yet seen this film but after reading the reviews, I am very interested in seeing it. I have to say though, that I was completely blown away by Braindog's comment. If anyone has personally experienced sexual abuse, either personally or through a close friend, then they would know that it's not as simple as Braindog makes it seem. When the church is a huge part of one's life from the time they very little, even after something horrible happens by a respected member of the church, the person is not absolutely ready to reject the whole of the church by that one member's atrocity. There is separation and compartmentalization that occurs between the church as a whole and the offender who is a part of the church. The fact that one of the people highlighted in the film kept attending the church and had his daughter's First Communion in the church makes complete sense to me. Think of it this way. Are you willing to walk away from your family when one of them hurts you? Yes, the hurt is CONSIDERABLY less and completely in a different vain, but what if that parent hit you or verbally abused you throughout your life...you still feel a connection to that person or a connection to the family...most aren't willing to just walk away from the family for forever. To me, it's all about empathizing. Even though you may not have reacted a certain way, don't judge and put down others for what they did. And, you never know what you may do until you have "walked a mile in another's shoes."
Twist of Words
braindog29 June 2005
Think of me as you will. My opinion is based on the film and it's message and not the Mr. Comes, just to make things clear. This film is supposed to show the traumaitzation of a man who was abused by a member of the Catholic Church when he was a young "boy". The problem with the whole story is, the stories that are being told are from men who claim to been abused at the ages from 12- 16. They say that they were unaware of what was happening to them and that they (the victim) would wake up and there was a man from the Church having their way with them. These story tellers say that at the time they weren't sure what was happening and that they let it occur. Right off the bat, I would say that those statements have no validity. In and around the age of thirteen, teenagers know about sex in way or another. You learn it from school, society, or family. To say you don't seems to be the way to cope with allowing your curiosity to happen. I remember I was in the fifth grade when we were given the crash course on sex, so at that age I was 10 or 11. Things that weren't taught (obviously) I learned from peers. So at that age I was aware of what sex was and would have some sort of idea of what may have been happening. What the story tellers also fail to mention is that they weren't coming forth about the abuse (if that's what they thought it was then) to anyone. Not parents of friends, or any one else in the Church. They allowed it to happen and happen multiple times. I mean, once they were 16 and the abuse was continuing, there was no excuse that they would still have no idea what was happening. They show a man referred to "John Doe" who remembers being drunk and naked and being in bed with a alleged sex offender and nothing else. He goes on how that experience disturbed him, but then he recalls experimenting with this man. How? First he said he didn't remember, but remembers everything else and was disturbed, but then allowed it to happen on another occasion. Why? This is only one small example, there are many other points that are trying to be made that get spun around based on the reactions and delays of the "victims" described in the film. Another example (a large one at that) is that even though one person in the film claims he is haunted by what happened everyday and that he is against the church (due to a lawsuit he's filed about 18 years later), the Church is still a big part of his life. He was married in a Catholic Church, sent his daughter to a Catholic school, and we see her receive her first Communion. And feeling all this bitterness and frustration with the church, he goes in and accepts Communion with his daughter. Once again, if this is all so traumatic and one claims to be abused or raped and lied too, why go back to this church? Why accept Communion, something sacred to this church? It's backwards. It's things like this that hurt the credibility of this film and it's story tellers. It rides the wake to a major controversy in America. It doesn't seem like a documentary, but like a movie of fiction. It tries to strike emotions with circumstances that seemed staged. The point and message of this film is lost with it's irony. I feel sorry for the story tellers not because of what they claim has happened, but because this film hurts what they have to say.
to the film makers, this is a bad film.
D- To all of you users here on IMDb, I stand by what I say. It's simple psychology since we are now being told a story decades down the road from what they claim happened. Over the years stories stretch and wear, till the very foundation has changed. I still find this movie to be dis-miss able. And personally to colorscheme, my review of a bad film was straight forward to the point using references from the film, therefore I am backing up my opinion so you can see for yourself. It's your review that has the wide array of emotions, not mine. I told you to think of me as you will, but truth be told and I'll say it again, this movie is awful and has a message lost in translation.
to the film makers, this is a bad film.
D- To all of you users here on IMDb, I stand by what I say. It's simple psychology since we are now being told a story decades down the road from what they claim happened. Over the years stories stretch and wear, till the very foundation has changed. I still find this movie to be dis-miss able. And personally to colorscheme, my review of a bad film was straight forward to the point using references from the film, therefore I am backing up my opinion so you can see for yourself. It's your review that has the wide array of emotions, not mine. I told you to think of me as you will, but truth be told and I'll say it again, this movie is awful and has a message lost in translation.
An adult Ohio firefighter confronts the Priest who abused him as a child.
perlix4 July 2005
A great, moving movie! Kirby Dick's films have always shown not only a light touch but an unerring impulse for the right emotional detail, revealing gesture and sense of when to pull back. In "Twist of Faith" he lets the points make themselves: the Church condones child abuse, they cover their tracks and lie about it. Dick's use of church music is especially telling, as is his judicious implementation of his "chain camera" technique: giving subjects their own video-cams to record their thoughts, document outward aspects of their lives and make occasional but heartbreaking confession. If only Art could make Change! Now THAT would be a Twist.
Ignorance
Colorscheme10 April 2006
This comment is both a review of the film and a response to the comment left by "braindog."
The review aspect exists in the depth of the following argument. The issues raised by the film are painfully highlighted by braindog's comments.
Dear "Braindog,"
I went through a range of emotions as I read your comment on Twist of Faith. It began with anger, then disbelief, and finally pity. No, not pity for you. I don't know you at all. I feel pity for the endless line of children who are being sexually abused or will be in the years to come. A war on child sex abuse is like the war on terror or drugs; complete victory isn't possible, but that doesn't mean we stop fighting. Comments like yours are sheltered, insensitive, and dangerous. I pity the children who will be harmed because of a mindset like yours. The pedophile's best weapons come from other people. The public's silence, ignorance, and fear speaking against the popular view let pedophiles hide and endure because people won't attack child sex abuse head-on.
How old are you? How would you react if an authority figure, trusted, loved, friendly, advanced on you when you were 15? It's easier in today's instant-message, on-demand, Internet-savvy world to dismiss the filmmakers' stories. It is harmful to think that because teens "know" about sex that they are mature enough to make the right decisions or have the strength to make sense of an insane reality, even today when sex and teens are synonymous in pop culture.
Do you know the filmmakers? Do you know their families, go to their churches, attend their schools? I did. The film showed you the new reports, the testimonials, the tears, and the arraignments. What more did you want from it? This is a documentary, not a work of fiction.
When you're older and perhaps have a teen-aged child of your own, maybe you'll begin to understand how young they are, how impressionable and vulnerable they are. You comments sickened me. They are children, and they need to be protect. And they need to be believed.
The review aspect exists in the depth of the following argument. The issues raised by the film are painfully highlighted by braindog's comments.
Dear "Braindog,"
I went through a range of emotions as I read your comment on Twist of Faith. It began with anger, then disbelief, and finally pity. No, not pity for you. I don't know you at all. I feel pity for the endless line of children who are being sexually abused or will be in the years to come. A war on child sex abuse is like the war on terror or drugs; complete victory isn't possible, but that doesn't mean we stop fighting. Comments like yours are sheltered, insensitive, and dangerous. I pity the children who will be harmed because of a mindset like yours. The pedophile's best weapons come from other people. The public's silence, ignorance, and fear speaking against the popular view let pedophiles hide and endure because people won't attack child sex abuse head-on.
How old are you? How would you react if an authority figure, trusted, loved, friendly, advanced on you when you were 15? It's easier in today's instant-message, on-demand, Internet-savvy world to dismiss the filmmakers' stories. It is harmful to think that because teens "know" about sex that they are mature enough to make the right decisions or have the strength to make sense of an insane reality, even today when sex and teens are synonymous in pop culture.
Do you know the filmmakers? Do you know their families, go to their churches, attend their schools? I did. The film showed you the new reports, the testimonials, the tears, and the arraignments. What more did you want from it? This is a documentary, not a work of fiction.
When you're older and perhaps have a teen-aged child of your own, maybe you'll begin to understand how young they are, how impressionable and vulnerable they are. You comments sickened me. They are children, and they need to be protect. And they need to be believed.
The powerful intimacy of truth
dan-7104 July 2005
Brilliant film! My wife and I watched it and were riveted. What a powerful subject and innovative use of "chain camera." The level of intimacy with the main subjects in the documentary is astonishing. In this case, the camera doesn't lie. Thanks to the filmmakers' original approach, we as viewers are lucky to observe this attractive, level-headed family with this degree of emotional depth. You can't help but like these people.
Insight like this is helping to make the world a better place. Front page in the 6/ 30/05 L.A. Times just announced a $45.6 million settlement by the Catholic church here in California. We think this film deserves a big credit. Bravo.
Insight like this is helping to make the world a better place. Front page in the 6/ 30/05 L.A. Times just announced a $45.6 million settlement by the Catholic church here in California. We think this film deserves a big credit. Bravo.
an excellent taut documentary
cyrilwill28 November 2005
This was an exceptional movie that gets into the heart of the entire abuse crisis. Abuse of any kind demoralizes the victim and makes "getting out" extremely difficult. Abuse by an authority figure, relative or priest is just that much more difficult. This movie authenticates the dehumanizing aspect of abuse and the terrible denial that only serves to demean the victim further. The main character, Tony Comes,does a good job of tracing his history and the circumstances that preceded the abuse. The unfolding helps the viewer to understand what the abuse has meant not only to him, his parents, wife and family but also his friends and drinking buddies. They aren't sure of its effects. It is easy to see just how hard it would be to come forward about the abuse. The church's various responses is criminal and at the heart of the story. The very source of comfort is in effect the source of the abuse and the continuing of the abuse.
Thumbs Up
cholli40323 November 2006
This was a great documentary.
A story of child abuse.
The aftermath of sexual abuse usually exposes itself once the victim is in a safe relationship with their spouse, as an adult. The next thing you know, everything falls apart. Thank goodness they had each other and God.
I felt close to the families journey of self discovery. The marital confusion on Tony's quick descent to rock bottom. The strain on their marriage. The impact on their family and community. All of these gripping emotions were clearly portrayed in the film.
I am proud of this family for spreading their message. It was a truly profound step in their recovery.
Prayer Honors God. God Honors Prayer.
A story of child abuse.
The aftermath of sexual abuse usually exposes itself once the victim is in a safe relationship with their spouse, as an adult. The next thing you know, everything falls apart. Thank goodness they had each other and God.
I felt close to the families journey of self discovery. The marital confusion on Tony's quick descent to rock bottom. The strain on their marriage. The impact on their family and community. All of these gripping emotions were clearly portrayed in the film.
I am proud of this family for spreading their message. It was a truly profound step in their recovery.
Prayer Honors God. God Honors Prayer.
Review
NikolicJovan13 February 2016
Warning: Spoilers
While most of the comments I've read and even when talking with friend, I noticed that all of them was concerned with completely opposite of what I think is important. With sexual abuse. And while "Twist of Faith" undeniably deals with post traumatic state after sexual abuse, it is much more.
The story follows Tony Comes, a firefighter from Toledo (Ohio), in his struggles and attempts to recuperate from years of sexual abuse by local Catholic priest, Dennis Gray. There are a lot of shocking moments but I think that most shocking occurred at the very beginning of documentary. Priest Dennis Gray was interrogated by state attorney at the court, and I think that it would be best to just quote both questions and answers:
St. attorney: And what did you do after graduating from high school?
D. Gray: I went into seminary – St. Gregory, Cincinnati.
St. attorney: Why did you decide to go into the seminary?
D. Gray: I decided that it would be a good life if I was a priest.
One could contemplate for years about religion and it seems that our capacities for being able to trust and actually dedicate our lives to Faith are endless. Yet, what scared me greatly. It's not that I was living in Disneyland before this documentary film, but the level of banality that answer contained was above my "expectations". Instead of almost life-long thinking, dedicating yourself to learning and reconsideration of such a decision, Dennis Gray just "wanted good life". And while most of audience perceived D. Gray as "evil" I just consider him as a plain, simple organism only trying to satisfy his basic animal instincts, like most of people.
The story follows Tony Comes, a firefighter from Toledo (Ohio), in his struggles and attempts to recuperate from years of sexual abuse by local Catholic priest, Dennis Gray. There are a lot of shocking moments but I think that most shocking occurred at the very beginning of documentary. Priest Dennis Gray was interrogated by state attorney at the court, and I think that it would be best to just quote both questions and answers:
St. attorney: And what did you do after graduating from high school?
D. Gray: I went into seminary – St. Gregory, Cincinnati.
St. attorney: Why did you decide to go into the seminary?
D. Gray: I decided that it would be a good life if I was a priest.
One could contemplate for years about religion and it seems that our capacities for being able to trust and actually dedicate our lives to Faith are endless. Yet, what scared me greatly. It's not that I was living in Disneyland before this documentary film, but the level of banality that answer contained was above my "expectations". Instead of almost life-long thinking, dedicating yourself to learning and reconsideration of such a decision, Dennis Gray just "wanted good life". And while most of audience perceived D. Gray as "evil" I just consider him as a plain, simple organism only trying to satisfy his basic animal instincts, like most of people.
Name 'Em and Shame 'Em
view_and_review30 January 2022
Lawrence Murphy from Wisconsin.
Oliver O'Grady from California.
Dennis Gray from Ohio.
John Charles Shiffler from Ohio.
Plus countless others I haven't named. Then go up the ladder from them to those who covered up their dastardly acts--and throw in the soulless, blood-sucking lawyers who represent them. These four names are just from the last three documentaries I watched, including this one. Per "Twist of Faith":
"Since 1950, there have been 11,750 reported cases of children who were sexually abused by 5,148 priests in the United States." -From a study commissioned by the U. S. Catholic Church.
Let that sink in because you know that as large as those numbers seem they are probably on the low side. Can you trust the Catholic Church to accurately report? Furthermore, we're talking about "reported cases;" how many cases go unreported?
We find out that under Canon Law priests are allowed to lie to protect the church. It's called "Mental Reservation." They have this delusional idea that the good of the Church so outweighs the harm that these trifling little annoyances can be rightfully swept under the rug.
"Twist of Faith" is mainly about Tony Comes, a young man from Ohio who'd been abused by Father Dennis Gray. His reports were right in line with what I'd heard from other documentaries. I thought I had seen and heard the worst of it until in this documentary I saw the S. N. A. P. (Survivor Network of those Abused by Priests) gathering. That was enough to bring a flood of tears of anger. And that's what these documentaries do. They bring a flood of tears of anger, and I'm OK with that. If these people are brave enough to come forward on film with the most traumatic event of their lives, then I certainly can watch.
Oliver O'Grady from California.
Dennis Gray from Ohio.
John Charles Shiffler from Ohio.
Plus countless others I haven't named. Then go up the ladder from them to those who covered up their dastardly acts--and throw in the soulless, blood-sucking lawyers who represent them. These four names are just from the last three documentaries I watched, including this one. Per "Twist of Faith":
"Since 1950, there have been 11,750 reported cases of children who were sexually abused by 5,148 priests in the United States." -From a study commissioned by the U. S. Catholic Church.
Let that sink in because you know that as large as those numbers seem they are probably on the low side. Can you trust the Catholic Church to accurately report? Furthermore, we're talking about "reported cases;" how many cases go unreported?
We find out that under Canon Law priests are allowed to lie to protect the church. It's called "Mental Reservation." They have this delusional idea that the good of the Church so outweighs the harm that these trifling little annoyances can be rightfully swept under the rug.
"Twist of Faith" is mainly about Tony Comes, a young man from Ohio who'd been abused by Father Dennis Gray. His reports were right in line with what I'd heard from other documentaries. I thought I had seen and heard the worst of it until in this documentary I saw the S. N. A. P. (Survivor Network of those Abused by Priests) gathering. That was enough to bring a flood of tears of anger. And that's what these documentaries do. They bring a flood of tears of anger, and I'm OK with that. If these people are brave enough to come forward on film with the most traumatic event of their lives, then I certainly can watch.
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