What are your thoughts on this very personal story of one man and his family's confrontation with the church that betrayed them?

Dear FRONTLINE,

I was very moved by this film. I am a therapist in private practice in a small Texas town. Over the years, I have worked with many sexually abused individuals. They were not abused by priest, but the effect was the same. I believe that until the upper level hierarchy of the church is forced to attone and admit, they will remain in denial. This film is a definite start in the right direction but more must be done. Good job!!!!

James Rhodes
Kerrville, Texas

Dear FRONTLINE,

I cried. I cried for all the victims. I cried for the souls of the abusers. I cried to GOD. Catholicism is more than a religion; it's more than a culture. You are forever tied to it, whether you practice the faith or not. That is clearly shown in this film and understood by any Catholic that watches it. What a sad and powerful film.

Jason Vanderstelt
Charlotte, Michigan

Dear FRONTLINE,

My heart and prayers go to Paul and his family and to all victims of sexual abuse. I am saddened and disgusted at the widespread sexual abuse by clergy, but I am relieved that it is now being revealed so that other victims - past, present or future - may find it easier to speak out and for others to respond appropriately. This program mentioned only boys, but please remember that many young girls have also been abused by priests.

While sexual abuse is a grave sin, I believe an even graver sin is committed by those who know about it and ignore, condone or shrug it off. Particularly those in positions of high trust and authority.

Sheila Morris

Dear FRONTLINE,

What a powerful documentary and the courage of the family that confronted the church I think this will give other Catholic families the validation they need to confront what is going on in the church and has and is going on in their families and to know this is really happening.

courtenay bc, canada

Dear FRONTLINE,

Thank you, Cultrera family, for the courage to make this film, and thank you Frontline for airing it.

I thought Paul Cultrera had a dignity about him as he quietly reported this nightmarish history that made the story all the more unnerving for me to watch. I remember reading about the scandals when they were making national headlines, and thought at the time what a relief it was that at least these criminals had been caught and would be punished. Now I realize that is not the case, particularly regarging Bernard Law. I am horrified all over again.

Philadelphia, PA

Dear FRONTLINE,

I too am a product of Catholic education and I felt that this was a very interesting show to watch. I especially like some of the graphics used. I noticed that the film maker seemed to use water as a visual over and over. Water being something that can both cleanse and purify, but which can also transport dirt and can destroy. Also, I am saddened by what happened to so many people over all those years. Despite these things I believe that the last thirty minutes or so did too much religion bashing. Indeed it may be understandable because of the pain these individuals endured. However, no religion or people has a monopoly on virtue or on vice. It could be argued that this was an acceptable target because it is Catholicism. I wonder how willing FRONTLINE would be to do a similar story on some of the dubious facts surrounding Islam.

Jason Ambrose
Grand Rapids, Michigan

FRONTLINE's editors respond:

For more on the imagery used in this film, read FRONTLINE's interview with filmmaker Joe Cultrera and his co-producers Laura Corwin and Hugh Walsh.

Dear FRONTLINE,

To whom it may concern,

I saw "The Hand of God" on my local PBS station this evening. It was one of the most moving presentations I have seen in my life! There must be thousands of people who have this same unfortunate story in their lives or the lives of their love ones. I hope you will also make it avalible as a Podcast. I am sure many would want to see this story again and have it to share with others.

We all need to do all that we can to stop this evil!

Great work; timely, and a important story we all need to hear!

Best,Ron

Ron Boyd
Chicago, IL

FRONTLINE's editors respond:

While FRONTLINE does not produce podcasts of its programs at this time, viewers can watch "Hand of God" and many other programs again, or for the first time, online at pbs.org/frontline.

Dear FRONTLINE,

Another outstanding documentary. Just a few thoughts however.

Even with the seemingly endless findings of criminally perverted priests, some others must certainly be good people of strong character and how sad this all is for them. As a former Catholic, I continue to be amazed by the power that "authority" has over otherwise sane individuals. When will people stop buying the snake oil and put an end to all this madness.

Finally, Frontline could not have paid the good bishop to be any more ugly then he was with his line of "you are just a sad little man". It seems that given even the shortest length of rope, these fools will just go out and hang themselves. Keep up the great work.

Joseph Cuddihy
Hamburg, NY

Dear FRONTLINE,

I want to thank you very much for revealing so much in your documentary for Frontline "hand of God". I was raised and educated in the Catholic church outside of Washington DC. My father's family were Italian Catholics, much like your own family. Where I did not experience molestation, I very much related to what was said regarding the abuse of power in the church, the arrogance, and how a priest climbs to pinnacles of power by keeping the secrets of the church.

Where I have many happy memories of some of the rituals such as First Communion, I also recogniz that I and most of my classmates could be made to be humiliated and terroized by many of the practices that went on in the schools and churches.

I do not think you are a sad human being at all as the Bishop accused you of at the end, just the opposite, you have seen the truth and told it. Thank you again.

Brookeville, MD

Dear FRONTLINE,

I applaud your efforts to share this story, a story that is most difficult to tell....and to hear, but you did it well. After the abuse crisis, and church closings , why isn't EVERY Catholic outraged and taking a stand? Why is there so much apathy and tolerance of a hierarchy that prefer power over pastoral care and love for their people. This documentary speaks the truth. You heard what Richard Lennon said in front of the camera......that to me sums it all up.

framingham, mA

Dear FRONTLINE,

Paul,I'm so sorry you went through this. Joe, thank you for this documentary. What a wonderful brotherly love you two must have. My dear husband is a priest-abuse survivor, too. It is all so sickening and sad. We are active in SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) in our town. The support we receive there is wonderful. I hope other survivors who read this will look for a SNAP chapter where they live. Or start one if one doesn't exist. Their website is www.snapnetwork.org. We need to keep talking about this. We must demand accountability from the church leaders who knew what was going on!! Thank you for keeping the discussion going.

Mary
Des Moines, IA

Dear FRONTLINE,

I watched part of this documentary, particularly the last half hour. There's no doubt that what happened to Paul Cultrera, along with the other victims, was a horrible crime, as was the handling of the cases by certain bishops. And there's no doubt that the documentary was an expression of anger born from the experience. This anger is quite understandable. Nevertheless, I wish there had been some differentiation between the pedophiles and lack of sound judgement from a few bishops versus the many good priests and bishops that exist in the Catholic Church. Further, I thought it unfair to include the laity who practice there faith as part of the problem. The fact is, the vast majority of the laity - as well as priests - are good people and they didn't deserve to be ridiculed. It also should be noted that the response of the Catholic Church in America to the sex scandal has been more comprehensive than other organizations who have faced similar scandals. Pedophelia, and other such disorders, are a widespread problem and not isolated to the Catholic Church. It's a problem in public schools and other places. It's just not reported on with the same vigor as with the Catholic Church.

State, PA

Dear FRONTLINE,

Thank you for making this film, Its about time that someone had the guts to do it!I was born and raised in Lowell MA and my late Brother went through the same experience that you did, except it was in a seminary in Bucksport ME in the mid 50's. He was the chosen one in our family that was sent by our Parish to be a Priest.After a few years he left and would not talk to anyone about why he he did, he eventually became a recluse after a serving in the Army for four years.He stayed that way the rest of his life until just before his death in 2001 when he confined in me what happen in that seminary then died a recluse.I have started writing a book on this but got that catholic guilt and have since stop. My wife and I now have been reborn as Christian and attend our local Faith fellowship church. Again thank you for your courage to make this film.

Justin
Wirtz, VA

Dear FRONTLINE,

"Hand of God" is a very moving and disturbing film. As a cradle Catholic with a Masters in Religious Education, I would hope it does as much good for the laity as it does for bringing the clerical criminals to light. TI still go to Mass regularly, and am, in fact, one of the only people I know who never "took a break" from Mass at some point in their lives.

I am also active in my parish, hoping that through my activism there my fellow parishioners will understand that we are all "the People of God" with gifts to offer, including our responsibility to know our faith, to have the wisdom to separate it from the very human people who may represent it badly and the holy imperative to speak truth to power wherever it is necessary. It is further my hope that the events that prompted this film and others like it will be resolved in a just manner, tht the victims will heal and there will be a new era in the Church of its people taking charge of their own mandate to answer the call of God and model Jesus in their lives. Amen.

Karla Layden
New York City, New York

Dear FRONTLINE,

Thank you Joe Cultrera and thank you Cultrera family for telling your tragic story. Thankfully for Joe Cultrera and for all those like him who were Catholics, the Catholic Churh has a hierarchy. It keeps records. These crimes are documented. With a lot of work, the information can be made public.

I too was molested by a minister. Sadly, though, what happened to me is much more difficult to document. I was a Southern Baptist. Like many fundamentalist Protestant groups, we have no real central authority. There are no records -- no written history of these things. I know the minister that molested me molested many others -- in the churches he served before ours, in the church I grew up in, and in the church he served after ours. There must be hundreds of others like him in Protestant sects all across the country who have done exactly the same thing to boys in their churches. And they are surely still happening with great regularity.

Thanks again Joe. I feel stronger from watching "Hand of God." And I agree with you -- the molestation opened my eyes to the rank hypocrisy that is endemic to organized religion and those that say God speaks through them. And for that, I am very thankful.

Joe
New York, NY