Roman Polanski and Roman Catholics

Imagine if the Knight of Columbus decided to give an award to a pedophile priest who had fled the country to avoid prison. The outcry would be universal. Victim groups would demand the award be withdrawn and that the organization apologize. Religion reporters would be on the case with the encouragement of their editors. Editorial writers and columnist would denounce the knights as another example of the insensitivity of the Catholic Church to sexual abuse.

And they would all be correct. And I would join them.

But why is there not similar outrage directed at the film industry for giving an award to Roman Polanski, who not only confessed to statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl but fled the country prior to sentencing? Why have film critics and the rest of the media ignored this case for 31 years? He even received an Academy award in 2003. Are the high priests of the entertainment industry immune to criticism?

Father Thomas Reese
writing in the Washington Post’s On Faith section
quoted in GetReligion

I have bemusedly been watching the aftermath of Roman Polanski's arrest, while realizing that I essentially knew nothing of the reason he was originally pursued.

Ok. That's not exactly true. I knew he was accused of raping a 13-year-old. That has always been enough for me.

However, while not pursuing the coverage, it has been thrust upon me due to my "must read" blogs which include GetReligion. If you don't read it, then you are missing out on a stellar job done in monitoring how the media covers religion. It is from their article that I stole the headline of this post.

They lay the case out well, including the religion angle as we can see from the excerpt they share above, and have links to both sides of the arguments being made for arresting Polanski or setting him free.

In addition, they briefly describe what he is accused of. Lord. have. mercy.

I now know why he has been pursued.

I now know why he ran.

Just think of any young girl of your acquaintance and read that one sentence and see if you wouldn't want it brought to trial. I don't care how artistic that man is.

One must ask themselves also why he has been at such pains to elude the authorities for so long and so determinedly if he is innocent beyond a doubt. That is part of the evidence as well. (Update: Tom tells me that Polanski actually pled guilty at his trial. So much for innocence. Which just makes the fact that people are standing up for him incomprehensible to me. Also ... I told you I was clueless about this. Proven.)

Without getting into judging him beyond my few scanty facts, I will direct you to The Anchoress. She provides us with an interesting defense against the tired old "Polanski's old, he lived under Nazis...." argument that is being trotted out here and there. Go read and follow the links.

Two Polish men.

Both artists.

Both “brilliant.”

Both persecuted by Nazis, in their native land. One was a prisoner, one was a slave. When the Nazis left, the Communists came.

One, Roman Polanski, becomes a filmmaker. He encounters a 13 year old girl.

One, Karol Wojtyla, becomes a priest. He too, encounters a 13 year old girl.

And then let us all pray for that young victim (now no longer young) and for Roman Polanski's soul. Innocent or guilty, it's something of great value we can extend to him. He seems very lost. Let us help him find Truth.