Article on film Prey had wrong focus

Re: Bishop Fabbro attends opening of documentary Prey to support abuse survivors, by Dave Waddell, Nov. 7

The article about the documentary Prey shown at WIFF, I found catered to a missed purpose.

I was in attendance on the evening of its showing. Not knowing the full details of the documentary, the relation to my city and the high school I attended during those years, I found the film to be very startling and emotional given what the victims of abuse by Father Marshall experienced.

I was left with feelings of dismay this could have continued for decades with the knowledge of the Church.

A pivotal moment in the documentary was when the leader of the Basilians, Father David Katulski, claimed Father Marshall was a brother and they needed to stand with him no matter what. That was appalling to me.

It made clear to me the Church is like some fraternal brotherhood where they protect their own at any cost. If I had a brother and was aware of his propensity for abusing young boys and did nothing, it would indicate how morally broken and inept I was. To expect this behaviour within the Church, held to the highest moral standards, is a complete failure.

The event itself was one I will never forget. The film was powerful, captivating and brilliant in its execution. I was absolutely riveted in heartbreak, despair for the victims and shocked by the lack of transparency and ownership within the Roman Catholic Church.

I felt the hidden topic of abused boys may finally have its time of awareness and opening healing. The fact Bishop (Ronald) Fabbro was in attendance was merely a footnote.

How this could possibly be the lead of this story is impossible to understand. What a missed opportunity to hold up the victims and feel their pain at last.

John Hyatt, Windsor