Hand of God

USA / 2006 / Joe Cultrera / 94 ( enquire about tv length ) mins

A decade before the Catholic Church was rocked by the sexual abuse scandal, Paul Cultrera was piecing together the cover-up that protected the priest who molested him when he was a boy. Filmed by his brother Joe, Hand of God is a powerful tale told from the inside, brother-to-brother, about the unspeakable committed by the unassailable, hiding behind the rectitude of the Church. Paul’s tale begins as a 14 year old altar boy under the direction of Father Birmingham at St James Parish, Salem. The direction turns to deception with “night-time rides” in Birmingham’s Ford Galaxy. 30 years after the abuse, Paul cannot bear being silent anymore and approaches the Archdiocese only to learn how the Church protects its own. Paul conducts his own investigation and learns that he is just one of Birmingham’s multitude of victims. As Paul discovers the extent of the abuse cases, the film also openly tackles the personal dynamics taking place between Paul and his elderly and devout Italian Catholic parents during this period. Told with sparing commentary by the director who becomes more involved as the story unfolds, Hand of God is a blunt and unapologetic search for the truth on a topic that continues to stir universal interest and controversy in the media.

Visit the official website at www.handofgodfilm.com