Paul Cultrera

Yesterday I had the great good fortune of spending the whole of a long,
sunny Sunday afternoon with Paul Cultrera, the subject of the
documentary film "The Hand of God". The film has been shown on
Frontline on PBS and in more than 300 venues since its release.
Directed by his brother Joe, the film is a meticulous documentation of
an era, of generations of Sicilians in America, their church, and the
predations upon them by that church.

It tells the story of a family and the Church of Rome, a story of
sexual abuse, psychological abuse, legal abuse, spiritual abuse, and
survival. It's also the story of familial shame, rage, and enduring
love. It's a portrait of profoundly decent people who were betrayed
repeatedly, one could almost say continually, by their religion.

Paul's calm and purposeful demeanor is beautifully delineated in the
film, and there are marvelous scenes from his childhood- home movies,
and bits of film shot by his brother as a budding film auteur. It's a
portrait of a warm extended Sicilian family in Salem, Massachusetts,
who's alter boy son was molested by a serial molester, who's criminal
career was guided, protected, and managed by the
Catholic Church for many years and in many locations.

Paul mentioned that the film may still be being streamed on line by
PBS. It's a film that is enraging and inspiring by turns. The
enduring miracle is the strength of character and clarity of purpose
which Paul has somehow distilled from his traumatic early life. You'll
laugh, you'll cry, you'll cheer. Really.

Bravo! Evviva!!!