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As a Gaudate Sunday treat we got the popcorn out and watched the classic movie On The Waterfront starring Marlon Brando and Eva Marie Saint.
This famous story of workers fighting for their rights against the oppression of the local Mob is highly rated by cinema buffs. Many cinema afficionados rave about the 'contender' scene; in which Brando's and Rod Steiger's characters face up to the harsh realities of their failed relationship as brothers in the back of a taxi cab. However, there is a much more powerful scene which is frequently overlooked, and yet provides a dramatic example of the positive manner in which Hollywood used to portray Catholic characters and themes in earlier times. It is also perhaps one of the scenes which led a film critic, at the movie's launch, to describe it as being akin to 'Going My Way with brass knuckles'!Â
The scene we refer to is the one in which Karl Malden's character Fr. Barry speaks out against the evils of the Mob from the bottom of a ship's hold where he has just anointed the body of a man who has been murdered by them for standing up for the truth.The words in this scene could provide all of us with food for thought regarding morality in our dealings at work and school, and in terms of speaking out in defence of the preborn victims of abortion.
The fictional priest declares;
Some people think the crucifixion only took place on Calvary. Well, they'd better wise up!
Taking Joey Doyle's life to stop him from testifying is a crucifixion... Dropping a sling on K O'Doogan because he was ready to spill his guts tomorrow (in court)... that's a crucifixion! And every time the mob puts the crusher on a good man, and tries to stop him doing his duty as a citizen... it's a crucifixion!
And anybody who sits around and let's it happen, keeps silent about something he knows has happened; shares the guilt of injustice just as much as the Roman soldier who pierced the flesh of Our Lord to see if he was dead!
At this point in the scene, the mob begin to hurl eggs, blunt objects and tins which cut his head and spatter his black overcoat and Roman-collared clerical stock. They shout at him to go back to his church. He stoops down to wipe egg from the body next to him and shouts;
Boys... THIS is my church... and if you don't think Christ is down here on this waterfront, you've got another guess comin'!
How does He who spoke up without fear against EVERY evil feel about your SILENCE?You want to know what's wrong with the waterfront? It's puttin' the love of a lousy buck above the love of man. It's forgettin' that every fella down here is your brother in Christ... But remember Christ is always with you... And He's sayin'... If you do it to the least of mine, you do it also to me!
Priceless! We had all this and a beautiful Holy Mass offered by a young visiting priest in the Tridentine Rite over in Liverpool. Gaudate! Deo Gratias!
