The first trailer for the drama "Spotlight", directed and co-written by Tom McCarthy, has been released.

The movie, distributed by Open Road Films, tells the true story behind the Boston Globe's investigation into child abuse in the Catholic Church.

The group of journalists won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2003 after uncovering the Boston archdiocese's widespread cover-up of sexual abuse.

"West Wing" scribe Josh Singer co-wrote the film, which has already generated plenty of awards buzz.

The Globe's reporting eventually led to the resignation of Cardinal Bernard Law, who had hidden years of abuse by other priests, and yielded other revelations of molestation and cover-ups around the world.

Michael Keaton stars alongside Rachel McAdams, John Slattery, Mark Ruffalo, Liev Schreiber and Stanley Tucci.

Billy Crudup plays a church representative trying to shut the investigation down.

"We've got two stories here," says Keaton as Walter "Robby" Robinson, the editor of the Globe's Spotlight investigations team.

"A story about degenerate clergy and a story about a bunch of lawyers turning child abuse into a cottage industry. Which story do you want us to write? Because we're writing one of them."

"Spotlight" will premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September, and will also screen at the Toronto Film Festival.

It will be released in cinemas in the US in November.

Sources

• Variety
• The Guardian
• Image: The Guardian

Nine years ago, after the clerical sex abuse scandal forced his resignation at Archbishop of Boston, John Paul II appointed Law as archpriest of one of Rome's most important churches.

Cardinal Law, who turned 80 this month, like his predecessor, could have stayed on, however Pope Benedict decided to accept his resignation.

While in Rome, Law has been a frequent presence at major Vatican ceremonial and diplomatic events, including being the main celebrant at one of the major masses at the time of Pope John Paul II's funeral.

His lifestyle galled many abuse victims who have long insisted that the Vatican crack down on bishops who would transfer abusive priests rather than report them to police.

The Vatican made no mention of Law when announcing the appointment of the new archpriest, Spanish Archbishop Santos Abril y Castello.

Advocates for sex abuse victims criticised the late Pope John Paul II for giving Law the prestigious post after his mishandling of clergy sex abuse in Boston, which broke open the abuse scandals that shook the Catholic Church in the U.S.

Law turned 80 earlier this month, and also lost his right to vote in any future papal election. His membership in several Vatican offices — including the body that advises Benedict on the selection of bishops has also expired.

Law has not announced where he will go next or what activities, if any, he will pursue.

A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Boston referred reporters to the Holy See.

Vatican spokesman, Fr Federico Lombardi SJ said that he had no knowledge of Law's plans, which he said would be "entirely up to his discretion."

Sources

• Huffington Post
• Associated Press
• Image: Huffington Post

People left the celebration singing the praises of the fallen prelate promoted to his Vatican post of archpriest of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.

The resplendent reception that marked Law's 80th birthday sent shock waves an ocean away in Boston, where the mere mention of his name still sparks seething anger in clergy abuse victims whose attackers he protected during his years as archbishop.

"He's closing in on his remaining years, and as a man of faith I know he believes in a final judgment. I'm curious if he's getting nervous," said Phil Saviano, who was abused by a Worcester priest almost five decades ago.

"I wonder if he looks back on all the good he accomplished and if he thinks that ... outweighs so many hundreds of kids on his watch who had to go through so much trauma and emotional pain," added Saviano, who founded a local chapter of Survivors' Network of those Abused by Priests.

The Herald revealed yesterday that Boston Archbishop Cardinal Sean O'Malley, in Rome on church business, had snubbed Law's Vatican birthday shindig.

"The meal was spectacular," said Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general emeritus of the Archdiocese of Rome. He twirled his hand in the air, a common Italian gesture for satisfaction.

Turning 80, Cardinal Law is no longer eligible to vote in the conclave.

Source

• Boston Herald
• Image: Washington Post

The WikiLeaks release of State Department cables revealed that American Cardinal Bernard Law is actively working in Vatican-Vietnam relations. His "personal involvement" helped confirm the December 2009 meeting between Pope Benedict XVI and Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet.

"It took a visit to Vietnam last week by American Cardinal Bernard Law to finalize arrangements to allow the visit to go forward, according to a person close to the cardinal," reports a secret December 4, 2009 cable from the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See.

The cable, signed by U.S. Ambassador Miguel Diaz, says that Cardinal Law told the embassy's deputy mission chief that he discussed bilateral relations and the president's visit directly with the Vietnamese.

"In these discussions, the Vietnamese expressed little interest in formal diplomatic relations but considerable interest in ensuring the already-announced visit would go forward," the State Department cable says. "The Cardinal did not reveal whether he obtained any concessions from the Vietnamese in order to confirm the visit, but that seems likely."

A notation in the December 2009 cable advises to "strictly protect" Cardinal Law's identity.

The cardinal's interactions with U.S. embassy officials in Hanoi are also noted in a confidential cable from the Hanoi embassy, dated November 25, 2009.

During Cardinal Law's visit for the 350th anniversary of Catholicism in the country, he discussed with U.S. officials the proposed visit of the Vietnamese president to the Vatican. He also discussed the possible resignation of Archbishop Ngo Quang Kiet of Hanoi, which the Pope later accepted in May 2010.

The archbishop faced health issues and became a controversial figure because of his efforts to recover church property confiscated by the communist government.

Full Article: CNA