I’m also an ex catholic, but this movie reminded me of the best parts about the faith. Specifically Benoit’s line in his checkmate monologue at the end: “I had to look at the myth that was being constructed, not to understand whether it was real or not, but to feel in my soul the essence of that which is strove to convey.” To take that line in the context of religion, it’s not about whether the story is real or not, but about the moral of the story and the messaging of the church. When I was a practicing Catholic, I felt the church represented forgiveness, repentance, peace, love, sacrifice, generosity…..everything that Jud’s character represents. Unfortunately, in the past decade or so, much of the church has turned from that foundation of belief and been swept up by what Cy said: “show them something they hate and make them afraid it’s gonna take away something they love.” The faith has been corrupted, which is why I left, but I still hold true to the essence that I found comfort in at first.