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Sins of the Father: Reassigning Abuse
Sins of the Father: Reassigning Abuse
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“Sins of the Father: Reassigning Abuse” is a play in one act for five actors. The principal source for the work is actual testimony of a defrocked Catholic priest convicted of molesting young boys. The names of characters and places in the play have been changed to avoid privacy issues.
The priest (Weaver) was found guilty in a criminal trial and is serving his sentence in a minimum security prison. He is responding to questions directed to him by two opposing attorneys in a civil suit – brought by the parents of molested brothers – against the diocese where the priest presided. Attorney Mackey represents the plaintiffs (the Daniels family); attorney Hearn represents the diocese. A court stenographer (Mrs. Costello) is recording the deposition.
Research by the author has added information on the personal background of the priest that was not brought out in the testimony. Counterbalancing the priest's testimony is a fictionalized interview by a reporter with the bishop of the diocese, a decade after the civil suit has been settled. The bishop's remarks reflect how this one diocese discovered the act of pedophilia, and how they responded to the situation. The commentary of the bishop is a compilation of public statements from Catholic clergy, laity and academics published in various media soon after the disclosure of these types of crimes in the Boston area.
The bishop and reporter scenes are set in the present, a few years after the priest's release from prison. The deposition of is set ten years earlier. Running approximately one hour and 20 minutes, “Sins of the Father” is suitable for staged reading or full performance.
The priest (Weaver) was found guilty in a criminal trial and is serving his sentence in a minimum security prison. He is responding to questions directed to him by two opposing attorneys in a civil suit – brought by the parents of molested brothers – against the diocese where the priest presided. Attorney Mackey represents the plaintiffs (the Daniels family); attorney Hearn represents the diocese. A court stenographer (Mrs. Costello) is recording the deposition.
Research by the author has added information on the personal background of the priest that was not brought out in the testimony. Counterbalancing the priest's testimony is a fictionalized interview by a reporter with the bishop of the diocese, a decade after the civil suit has been settled. The bishop's remarks reflect how this one diocese discovered the act of pedophilia, and how they responded to the situation. The commentary of the bishop is a compilation of public statements from Catholic clergy, laity and academics published in various media soon after the disclosure of these types of crimes in the Boston area.
The bishop and reporter scenes are set in the present, a few years after the priest's release from prison. The deposition of is set ten years earlier. Running approximately one hour and 20 minutes, “Sins of the Father” is suitable for staged reading or full performance.
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