ST. LOUIS (MO)
The Journal
By KIM NOLAN
Published: Thursday, September 8, 2005
The Winifred Moore Auditorium was filled Aug. 31 with pictures of St. Louis children. The pictures could've adorned any proud parent's mantel - a smiling, freckle-faced "All-American" son or daughter beaming with the radiance of childhood.
But instead of illuminating childhood, these photos documented the age that their sexual abuse began. A white lace dress that hung among the photo display could've fit a 4-year-old. The display indicated a child wore this dress the day she was raped by a priest.
This was the scene at the showing of "Twist of Faith," which was "pretty much a sell-out show," according to Mike Steinberg, director of the Webster University Film Series.
Crying, gasping and clapping could be heard throughout the 225 people who filled the auditorium. Award-winning filmmaker Kirby Dick exposed a sexual abuse case in the Catholic diocese of Toledo, Ohio. Toledo firefighter Tony Comes relives his trauma in this 2005 documentary.
Local members of Catholic group Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) took it upon themselves to organize a showing of the film, originally made for the cable network HBO and is nominated for an Academy Award.