Spotlight shines on

Micheal Rezendes was on The Boston Globe's 'Spotlight Team' of investigative journalists that in 2002 exposed the Boston Archdiocese's cover-up of a series of child sexual abuse cases by 70 priests. Following the reportage of the case, the Vatican has since defrocked over 850 priests and sanctioned another 2,500. This included Rev. John Geoghan, who had abused over 100 victims in six parishes over three decades. In 2003, Rezendes and the newspaper got the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, among other awards, for the story. The Hollywood film 'Spotlight' (2015), which won Best Picture at the 88th Academy Awards, told the story of the investigation, with actor Mark Ruffalo playing Rezendes. "Clergy sexual abuse is not limited to a particular country or geographic area but is a global, systemic phenomenon," says Rezendes, a JLF 2018 speaker. Edited excerpts:

You probably went through a range of emotions while investigating the Spotlight case.

All of us on the Spotlight Team were profoundly saddened by the seemingly unending stories of lives that had been destroyed by priests engaging in child sexual abuse. Honestly, the information also angered us and helped motivate us to get to the bottom of the story. We stayed objective by adhering strictly to the facts we uncovered, at all times.

You told People.com in October 2015 "...though I was a lapsed Catholic, I still considered myself a Catholic and thought that possibly, some day, I would go back to being a practicing Catholic. But after this experience, I found it impossible to do that – or even think about doing that."

Yes, this remains an accurate description of my experience as a Catholic. I still believe in God.

Micheal Keaton, who plays journalist Walter Robinson in the film, had said that as much as he hated all the ills that organised religion had inflicted, he thought faith was good for people. What are your thoughts?

I agree with Keaton. I think organised religion, despite its many flaws and imperfections, has been an indispensable means of teaching morality in a world where morals too often appear to be absent.

Did the revelations impact your family's faith?

I don't think so but I honestly don't know. I've never had a frank conversation about faith with members of my family since we published our stories.

What action did the the lawmakers, the Boston diocese and the Vatican take on the offender clergymen after the Globe's expose?

In April 2002, just four months after our first story, Catholic bishops in the United States approved the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, that requires all bishops in the US to report clergy sexual abuse to police. They are prohibited from settling lawsuits about clergy sexual abuse with confidentiality agreements. In addition, Pope Francis has named a blue ribbon panel known as the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors to come up with recommendations for preventing clergy sexual abuse. However, three years after the Pope's announcement, the Pontifical Commission is still working on guidelines, and very few bishops have been held to account.

Did the case inspire other newspapers outside Boston to similarly investigate their diocese?

Yes, news organizations throughout the United States and around the world were inspired to investigate clergy sexual abuse in their own dioceses. This helped trigger the global scandal that is still unfolding today, demonstrating that the scourge of clergy sexual abuse is not limited to a particular country or geographic area but is in fact a global, systemic phenomenon.

Do you continue to report the case?

On August 16, 2017, I published a two-part series on the children of Catholic priests. I mean, children fathered by priests who broke their promise to lead lives without sex or marriage and father children. I also published a short article offering my personal reflections on the death of Cardinal Bernard Law, who directed the cover-up of clergy sexual abuse in the Boston Archdiocese.

What did you learn about showbiz during the making of the movie Spotlight (2015)?

I learned how movies are financed, written, directed, acted, and otherwise made. For instance, very early in the process, the costume designer told me she wanted Mark Ruffalo and all the actors to dress exactly as all of us on the Spotlight Team had dressed in 2001 and 2002. When I told her I still had some of the clothes I wore during that time, including my now famous leather jacket, she was elated and told me to take picture of the clothes with my smart phone.

How did your life change after the movie?

I get many more new tips, and many more interview requests.

Why did you choose to become a journalist?

Initially, I aspired to be a novelist. But after working for a newspaper while I was an undergraduate, it became clear to me that journalism was a way to use my writing to make change, and to make the world a better place, in a very powerful, immediate way.

What is your opinion on investigative non-profit journalism?

I am a strong supporter. It's entirely possible that I would go to work for a non-profit news organisation.

Any suggestions how one can identify fake news?

Perhaps the most important point is to learn to recognise which are the news organisations with the best track record of providing news based on fact, not opinion. We must all ask ourselves, which news organisations are most credible and have earned our respect? In addition, it helps to read, watch, and listen to news from a variety of sources.

What news from India do you follow?

I'm interested in the popularity of the Modi government and in Hindu nationalism because I think it is a part of a global phenomenon, not something limited to India.