User Reviews

I saw this film last night at the Kansas International Film Festival, and I have to say it's one of the best documentaries I've ever seen. It lays out the facts of priest child abuse and the Catholic church's cover-up in a clear, compassionate manner while it develops characters in an entertaining, interesting way. Unusual for a documentary, the cinematography is artistic and really excellent, as is the editing. If the topic weren't so volatile, I'd predict an Academy Award nomination for this one. The director was in attendance at the festival and said a deal was in the works for public TV distribution. There are no DVDs available yet but they are being developed. If you're a documentary film buff, the DVD will be well worth whatever the purchase price is just to see the structure of the film in detail. If you have a chance to see "Hand of God" at a festival near your city, by all means do so.

Just saw this for the first time, and thought it was well done. I was raised a Catholic, but stopped going to mass in my early 20s. I later converted to the Episcopal Church ("Catholic Lite" as it is sometimes known) in my 30s, when our children were born. I like the Episcopal Church very much because it has all the trappings of the RCC, but does not seem to be a cesspool of mean nuns or (at least I've never seen it) child-abusing priests.

I can very much relate to this documentary, as it is 100% right in how the RCC indoctrinates children from a very young age about how they have the monopoly on virtue, and how you have no chance at salvation without them, even though there is not one word in the Bible to support such an idea. I must add, however, that it took me a long time to get past that "One True Church" mantra we would hear in Sunday school. The RCC is a very well-established institution that preys on naïve and dependent people. Walking away from it is not easy.

I believe that is how the abuse starts. The RCC parishioners (mostly working class) learn to be obedient to the Church and clergy. From there, it's easy for clergy with the tendency for pedophilia and ill intent to find their victims.

I myself never experienced such abuse (thank God), but there WAS a priest in my parish who years later was charged with abusing several boys. Once at around age 14 or so, I was at a party with family and some other parishioners, and this priest happened to be there. At one point, he playfully poked me in the belly and say "Hey, good-looking!". It was a harmless gesture, but upon reflection, it was not surprising to learn years later that this same priest would be charged with sexually abusing minors.

I very much like how this documentary revealed this ugly story, and I very much hope and pray the main subject of this documentary finds peace with himself.

Thank you to Joe Cultrera for having the love of the camera which produced this excellent but subtle documentary. You and your brother, Paul, discovered in the making of this film, what the strength of the family is all about.

I watched this documentary on PBS tonight and was swept into the 1966 era when the same questions, although not sexually motivated, made me decide to step back from the church and question its decisions that are made for individuals through the smoke of incense. Paul and Joe have made such a large statement it has not yet begun to unfold. I met a young man in WI who had been in the same circumstance and around a campfire the terrible truths again came out. Thank you for making the story a story for all people involved.

My most staunch Catholic friends--those who were taught not to question--are questioning because of what Paul and Joe have done. You are heroes. Thank you.

I am sure I will get bashed for writing this, as the subject matter is "sensitive." For some reason, when a movie is made like this, people will never say anything bad. Hence the dead guy syndrome; yes the dead guy syndrome, ya know, he beat his wife, stole from his mother, killed his neighbor's dog, and we can't say any of that, cause we have to honor this son of a bitch.

Finally to my point. While I appreciate the subject matter, I will not pretend that it in anyway disguises how horrible this movie was. It was poorly planned and scripted, it was horribly produced, and some parts of the dialogue were so awful, that it made even such a touchy subject as this, comical. I am sorry Mister Joe Cultrera for what happened to your brother, but if you really wanted to make a statement, than hiring a ghost writer, and writing a non-fiction would have been the route. I don't mean to be to harsh, but I rented this movie knowing the subject matter, and totally believing that this would be an enthralling, can't put down story. I actually stopped watching it after a half hour, and put on the rest later that night as I fell asleep on the couch.

So the rumor is Mister Cutrera is planning another doc, please do yourself a favor and stay home. What ever incredibly important subject matter you have come across, that you feel is so urgent that needs to be shared with the world; call Chris Hanson so the viewers can actually enjoy it, and message gets out there. This topic is very close to home for myself, and I apologize for being harsh. I am just very disappointed that this movie, on this topic, was so poorly put together.