Documentary describes La Jolla psychiatrist’s battle against church secrecy
The documentary “Sex, Lies and the Priesthood,” which premiered in March, looks at the life of late La Jolla resident Richard Sipe, a former Benedictine monk and Catholic priest.
(Courtesy of Joe Cultrera)
‘Sex, Lies and the Priesthood’ tells the story of the late Richard Sipe, who helped expose abuse.
By Mark Day
In a scene in “Spotlight,” the Oscar-winning film about clerical sex abuse,
Boston Globe reporters huddle around a speakerphone listening intently to the words of Richard Sipe, portrayed by actor Richard Jenkins.
Sipe, a former Benedictine monk renowned for his defense of clerical sex abuse victims, died at his home in La Jolla at age 85 on Aug. 8, 2018.
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In a riveting scene in “Spotlight,” the Oscar-winning film about clerical sex abuse, Boston Globe reporters huddle around a speaker phone listening intently to the words of Richard Sipe, portrayed by actor Richard Jenkins.
Sipe, a former Benedictine monk renowned for his defense of clerical sex abuse victims, died at his home in San Diego at age 85 on Aug. 8, 2018.
Sipe stunned the Globe reporters when he said 50 percent of American Catholic priests do not practice celibacy. He assumed that at least 6 percent of Boston priests were sexual predators.
He was wrong. The Globe uncovered nearly 100 priest predators in the Boston archdiocese, about 10 percent of its clergy.