Father Flynn May Have Molested a Young Boy
For many years, the controversial topic of whether Father Flynn may have made sexual advances with a boy of tender age by the name Donald Muller has been a current concern. Father Flynn may have molested the boy since when Sister James, a young, naïve teacher at St. Nicholas, notices the smell of alcohol on the boy’s breath, Sister Aloysius, the strict principles at St. Nicholas’s institution is concerned with Father Flynn’s remorse. Established on the proof in Shanley’s drama, Father Flynn may be embarrassed built on his questionable actions. “Happened? Nothing happened. I had a talk with a boy. It was a private matter (Shanley, 2009; Act 2: para.3).” We also learn that the priest has been so far transferred to three parishes in five years due to his evil behavior. Every time he is caught in any scandal, he is transferred to another Parish, probably to clean him from his deeds. “This morning, before I spoke with Mrs. Muller, I took the precaution of calling the last parish to which you were assigned… This is your third parish in five years (Shanley, 2009; Act 2: para.6).” Sister James tells Father Flynn.
On the other hand, Father Flynn may not have molested the boy. When Sister Aloysius asked him what he was doing with the boy in a secret room, Father Flynn said he was only disciplining the boy after he found him taking the alter wine to avoid harsh punishment. Besides, Sister James stands firm that father Flynn is an innocent man of God who was trying to protect the boy. The young boy may have felt lonely and neglected, for he is the only black student at St. Nicholas school. Some people may stand with Sister James that the man of God is protecting the boy from harsh punishment after he was found taking the alter wine. You were trying to protect the boy… I might have done the same thing (Shanley, 2009; Act 3: para.4)!” He was also trying to help the boy never to feel lonely and neglected because he is the only black student at the school and quotes a bible verse to Sister James to justify his deeds. “In Mathew 18:5-6, Jesus outlines the right way for adults to treat children. Sometimes it is good to be kind and show mercy to others” (Shanley, 2009; Act 3: Para.2). Because Father Flynn is the cleric at the school, Sister James believes he is acting in the boy’s best concern. During a sermon at the school, Father Flynn tells the congregation that Jesus Christ does not advocate for those who cause young ones to stumble. He affirms to Sister James that this is the nature of his dealings with Donald Muller. He preaches to them that, “it would be better for them to have a large millstone tied around their neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea (Shanley, 2009; Act 3: para.4).” Father Flynn tells Sister James that we should love one another as Jesus Christ did to humankind but not being suspicious, condemning, and judging each other. The servant of God finds an impressionable chance with Sister James for persuading her that Sister Aloysius is an unpleasant individual after her humankind (Pfitzner et al., 2020; Weeks & Garrett, 2019). By convincing Sister James to feel helpless for believing in nothing else but love, he plays on her regret for being condemning for, before God, those kinds of acts are immoral.
The moment Sister Aloysius claims that having a private talk with a young boy can never be confidential, the man of God quickly becomes quarrelsome over Sister Aloysius’ voice. Moreover, he tries containing his remorse by adjusting his facial expressions. Afterward, the man of God tries deflecting the discussion with Sister Aloysius for not being satisfied with his reasoning for having a secret dialogue with a boy of tender age (Shanley, 2009; Act 3: para.5). He dismisses Sister Aloysius claiming that if she is not satisfied to go and talk to Monsignor Benedict. Father Flynn is superior to her; therefore, he uses the power of position for being priest of St. Nicholas, which is a Catholic Church, and school to suppress the conversion with her (Gaeini et al., 2019; Weeks & Garrett, 2019). By sending Sister Aloysius to talk to Monsignor Benedict, the priest ends the conversion before she can trap him in any more deceits. When he goes further to suggest to her that she may require a leave of absenteeism, Father Flynn once more enforces authority over her position by intimidating her with the proposal of a short vacation.
Both opposing and proposing sides would agree that the molesting of boys is such an evil act, which is not only against church doctrines, but it is an act of inhumane. No one should take advantage of lonely and neglected young boys to make sexual advances with them. Secondly, servants of God are supposed to be treated with respect but not being taken as mere people, for they represent the word of God. The church member, along with the school staff, should make investigations to be sure if the Father did the shameful act, or it is just an accusation so that they could be in a position to come up with a solution. Firstly, the necessary authority needs to interrogate the boy to find out if the servant of God had given the boy wine to convince him to give in to the act. By doing so, they will be sure if indeed the boy had secretly drunk the altar wine, or she was forced. Secondly, they need to dig deep to know the previous behaviors of the priest. They need to find out if he had been excommunicated from the former parishes because of the questionable misconducts, or they are something else behind the issue.
The first solution would be the best because after they determine if the Father had forced the boy into taking the wine, then it will be apparent, he did the act. Anyone under the influence of alcohol can do anything unknowingly since he or she does not have senses. However, if the Father had taken the wine secretly, then it will be evident as Father Flynn claimed. It will be apparent that he was disciplining and advising the boy after realizing he had taken the altar wine to avoid severe punishment from the church authority. Servants of God have to correct young ones to draw them to Christ, for they belong to Him.
Reference
Gaeini, M., Basirizadeh, F. S., & Soqandi, M. (2019). The Role of Social Identity in James Joyce’s Dubliners within the Light of Cultural Materialism. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute (BIRCI-Journal): Humanities and Social Sciences, 2(2), 89-99.
Pfitzner, N., Humphreys, C., & Hegarty, K. (2020). Bringing men in from the margins: Father‐ inclusive practices for the delivery of parenting interventions. Child & Family Social Work.
Shanley, J. P. (2009). Doubt. Oncology Times, 31(4), 38.
https://journals.lww.com/oncology-times/Fulltext/2009/02250/_Doubt_.22.aspx
Weeks, B. E., & Garrett, R. K. (2019). Emotional characteristics of social media and political misperceptions. Journalism & truth in an age of social media, 236-250.