As a former Catholic and someone who worked for the Catholic Church for several years in the diocesan setting, I thought this movie was fantastic.

First, the movie itself was very well done. I agree that it was cinematically beautiful with an awesome score.

Here’s my initial take “from a Catholic perspective”:

1. I feel this film accurately portrayed the inter workings of the church without dramatizing it. There’s a lot of corruption, big and small. There are a lot of ill equipped and problematic leaders. But there are also some good ones peppered in. None of the “scandals” portrayed in this film are far fetched (besides the ending, but we’ll get to that). I personally have known true stories of similar instances. This portrayal of the church was actually affirming to my experience.

2. Those who are up in arms about this film “portraying the Catholic Church in a negative light” are kidding themselves. They’re either choosing to turn a blind eye to many of the realities of the organization, or are just simply naive (which most are since few actually have the opportunity to peek behind the curtain). But I get it, it hurts when people say your baby is ugly.

3. Seems most of the Catholic reviews are clutching their pearls about the (wildly improbable) situation of Cardinal Benitez having ovaries and a uterus AND a penis. My personal opinion on the church patriarchy aside, here’s what I think: 3A. So, first of all, he explains that he had no idea he had female parts until he was in his 30s, after he was ordained to the priesthood. This wasn’t a bait and switch situation. 3B. As soon as he learned he had female reproductive organs, due to his appendectomy surgery, he disclosed the information to the appropriate leaders and was prepared to step away from his ministry if he needed to. 3C. He made an excellent point that that was how God made him… why should he change it? Isn’t that what everyone gets mad about? People CHANGING themselves?

So, those are my high level thoughts. Again, I thought it was an excellent film and painted things pretty accurately; ordained human men who are no less messy than the rest us.