Philomena

[jomifl]

What a heart warming story, only made possible by the catholic church...

[Old_Jim]

In the 1950s, sex outside of marriage was a social taboo. A single woman who became pregnant would have been abandoned by her family and ignored by the state. This was true in Catholic Ireland, Protestant England and Secular France. Had it not been for agencies associated with the Catholic and Anglican Churches, unmarried mothers would have been left to beg on the streets. This might seem strange 60 years later when the ideas of sex, marriage and conception have been separated, but don't try to hang modern morality (or lack of it) on 1950s society.

Yes, the story was only possible because of the Catholic Church. Without them, Philomena and her son would have not survived to tell their story.

[beso]

Old_Jim //In the 1950s, sex outside of marriage was a social taboo. A single woman who became pregnant would have been abandoned by her family and ignored by the state.//

Yes because the church had power over social policy. They are the very ones who made it a taboo.

// Had it not been for agencies associated with the Catholic and Anglican Churches, unmarried mothers would have been left to beg on the streets. //

Instead many had their newborn children children taken from them and then were exploited by the same agencies that were pretended they were looking after them.

[gness]

Well said, Beso....Old Jim obviously hasn't seen or experienced the cruelty, abuse and degradation meted out by the Catholic Church in the name of their God.

[lady-janine]

agreed. it is not the god who caused the pain and heartache but the purveyers of that religion and always they say in the name of their god. no surely it is in the name of their own perverted and twisted minds.

[cupotee2]

I knew first hand the cruelty in the name of religion in the 50's

I vowed never to set foot in the Catholic Church ever again after my own experience. Evil the lot of them!!

[lady-janine]

cuppa there are a lot of people who would agree with you on that.

[Ric.ror]

there are a lot of people who would agree with you on that

And approx 1 billion that wouldn't

[beso]

lady-janine //it is not the god who caused the pain and heartache but the purveyers of that religion and always they say in the name of their god. no surely it is in the name of their own perverted and twisted minds.//

Read the Bible. It leaves no doubt about the nature of their god. They are simply following orders.

Philomena angered the Lord and so she need to be treated with disdain. She was lucky they didn't stone her to death.

[modeller]

Hypocrisy has always been the cornerstone of RC . During the middle ages you could buy forgiveness for any sin, and this is one such tariff they used.

Robbing the Church 20 Ducats. Attacking a Cleric 20 Ducats
Missing Mass 11 '' Sacrilege 9 ''
Mortal Sin 10 '' Burglary 8 ''
Murder 7 '' Sunday Working 6

As you can see see murder was a minor crime compared with one against the church.
In addition.
Any Sin committed by a Cleric and witnessed by more than 3 witnesses
shall be absolved by a payment of one quarter of the tafiff.

[jomifl]

modeller, what is called a staff discount these days :o)

[bibblebub]

Coming back to the film itself, I just wanted to add that I watched this film tonight and it was a tremendous, excellent performances by the two main actors.