Parking Lot Fodder
This was a cathartic movie to make. I had never experienced anything like working for the Catholic Church. I had no real bias or personal experiences with anything "Catholic" so to speak, and really loved this particular school, and sense of community and service that it was based on. When the principal decided not to renew my contract, I was devastated. I contacted the HR dept of the Diocese to ask for help or to gain a sense of understanding. The letter I received from HR was basically a "gag order", telling me not to say anything to anyone about anything or anybody! The HR lady specifically said they would not tolerate "parking lot fodder". I had to look up the word "fodder" as I had never really used it, nor had hear anyone use it. Plus, I didn't even park in the parking lot! Telling me they would "pray for me" was contemptuous. I experienced hypocrisy and tyranny on a level I had never known. This movie represents the disgust I felt at the meanness of sprit and the piousness of one of the "spiritual leaders" within this organization. Posted on Sat, Aug. 06, 2005 Sex-Abuse Survivors To Be Paid $56 Million, Ending 3 Years Of Litigation The Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland has agreed to pay $56 million to settle lawsuits filed by 56 alleged victims of priest sexual abuse, the diocese said Friday. The diocese will pay $25 million of the settlement; the rest will come from insurers. The diocese's portion of the payment will be funded through a loan and sale of diocesan assets. The Diocese of Oakland Bishop Allen Vigneron said, "I renew my apology to victim-survivors, to their families and to the whole community for the great harm that has been done by those priests who have sexually abused minors." The Oakland diocese includes 86 parishes and 510,000 members. Diocese officials admitted in a jury trial last spring that at least two dozen East Bay priests were guilty of acts of child molestation. Shame on you.
	June'04
	Maxine Ferman © 2005 Max-Inc.com