Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God

Name: Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God
Genre: Documentary
Released: November 16, 2012
Duration: 106 min
Rating: 73

2012

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Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Ratings

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7.8

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7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Ratings

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Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence In The House Of God

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Movie Details & Credits

Content Media | Release Date: November 16, 2012

Summary: Alex Gibney examines the charged issue of pedophilia in the Catholic Church, following a trail from the first known protest against clerical sexual abuse in the United States and all the way to the Vatican.

Director: Alex Gibney

Genre(s): Documentary

Runtime: 106 min

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Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert

Nov 14, 2012

Given the grievousness of their sins, one wonders why the church continues to shelter them. Might it not be more appropriate to excommunicate them, and refer them to the attention of the civil authorities? Read full review

The Playlist Jessica Kiang

Nov 14, 2012

By turns moving, absorbing and downright rage-inducing. Read full review

IndieWire Eric Kohn

Nov 15, 2012

Gibney's narrative drags to some extent when the focus widens to explore the Vatican's overall policy for covering up sex scandals, but he successfully demonstrates the systematic failure of a system designed work flawlessly on the basis of spirituality that never existed in the first place. Read full review

Marsha McCreadie

Nov 13, 2012

Silence might be the most perfect expression of scorn, as the saying goes, but like Edvard Munch's "The Scream," you don't have to hear it to get the horror. Read full review

John DeFore

Nov 12, 2012

Damning documentary pairs an individual sex-abuse case with analysis of institutional dysfunction at the Vatican. Read full review

Farran Smith Nehme

Nov 16, 2012

Some of the film's flourishes are ill-judged. Read full review

David Fear

Nov 13, 2012

Mea Maxima Culpa only gets messier the more it tries to iris out to a larger indictment. The central tragedy ends up diluted to a fault. Read full review

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User Reviews

thebitus

Feb 14, 2013

I am very careful how many documentaries like this I watch. I stay away from watching them because there is nothing that I can do right away to make an impact towards the main cause of the movie. Topics like starving kids in Africa, major corporations taking over the world, etc. those areI am very careful how many documentaries like this I watch. I stay away from watching them because there is nothing that I can do right away to make an impact towards the main cause of the movie. Topics like starving kids in Africa, major corporations taking over the world, etc. those are all incredibly sad, yet overwhelming for a simple individual like me.

However, this movie addresses a topic that has been covered for many, many years, and is present all over the world, particularly in the US: sexual abuse by priests, and the covering up of their actions by their superiors all the way to the head of their denomination (in this case, the pope). I have yet to decide which part is more monstrous the act, or the cover-up.

From a technical point of view, the movie is very well done. The agenda is very clear, but it is not filled with hatred and anger. I found it wise that the producers quietly presented the facts from the victims themselves, and included trustworthy persons in the interviews (NY Times reporter, archbishops, former priests, etc.).… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Andys_Reviews

Aug 4, 2013

If Dan Brown had written a novel about a cover-up in the Catholic Church on the scale depicted in this film, it would be treated as a great work of fiction. The trouble is, it’s all true and that’s the most shocking thing about it. It is a very well made film that has a compelling flow toIf Dan Brown had written a novel about a cover-up in the Catholic Church on the scale depicted in this film, it would be treated as a great work of fiction. The trouble is, it’s all true and that’s the most shocking thing about it. It is a very well made film that has a compelling flow to the narrative and this is helped with some nicely chosen musical backdrops. The only thing that lets it down is a lack of balance, but then, as it says in the film, the Vatican refused to be interviewed for this film. Not that they could have put up any defence. I found it a gripping watch that did get a little emotional at times. Well worth a look whatever religion (or not) you are.

SteelMonster’s verdict: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

My score: 8.8/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Tyranian

Dec 10, 2019

Fairly devastating documentary about the absolutely sickening abuse of children within the Catholic Church.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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