At the convent, you've given birth to a breach baby without any medical assistance for pain. The Mother Superior sees your pain as penance for the sin you've committed. She seems to relish in your pain and agony. The nuns force you to give up your son by making you sign a piece of paper that gives up any and all rights you might have.
You work 7 days a week, all day. You get to see your baby 1 hour a day. Then, in a cruel calculated twist, without your knowledge, your 3-year-old child is taken from you. Sold to a rich American couple you've never met. You are not given the opportunity to say goodbye to your child. And you never see your child again.
This is the gut-wrenching story of Philomena Lee, an Irish woman who finally disclosed what she had kept to herself out of guilt and shame for 50 years. The story of her desperate search to find her long lost son. Where it begins and where it ends.
I first wrote of Philomena's story in my January 8, 2014 blog post. But I hadn't yet seen the movie. Until this past weekend.
I knew this movie would be deeply disturbing. I knew it would trigger memories of my own dealings with the Catholic Church. Memories that I long ago processed. So there was no fear of any emotion that surfaced.
The Church, namely the nuns, were particularly cruel in the way they handled Philomena's search for her son. Even though the depths of maliciousness by the nuns toward Philomena and her son can hardly be called "Christian", she openly forgave.
But it wasn't her ability to forgive in the face of such blatant cruelty that struck me. What I found so profoundly heartrending was that her forgiveness was born of guilt, shame and self-blame.
Guilt and shame that she had enjoyed the sexual encounter with the father of her child. Shame for having "sinned" by having sex out of wedlock. Guilt and self-blame for signing her son away to the nuns and not speaking out sooner when things could have been different. As though they could really have been different in those horrible days.
So I don't see Philomena's forgiveness as complete. At least not yet.
Unless and until Philomena forgives herself, she will continue to live in a self-imposed prison. A prison she has condemned herself to live in. A prison that only she has the key to unlock.
Philomena still to this day clings to the very doctrine that has kept her in shame her entire adult life. And even though I respect her right and free will choice to hang onto that dogma, I can't help but feel sadness for the way she was brainwashed.
Brainwashed by a system that was notorious for keeping its followers in a state of shame, guilt and not-enoughness. A system that capitalized on the very shame and guilt that those followers were indoctrinated into.
Sadly this is only one story of many. Hopefully this disgusting practice has or will be be discontinued. However, we know from news stories that Russian babies can still be bought.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree, Anonymous...we still have such a long way to go.
DeleteI think that society deliberately shames people to keep control. That is especially true for girls and women for whom males set much higher standards than they do for themselves...I was driven by shame that was induced by my parents letting me know that my desires, my well being, did not count. Dad was totally ego driven and didn't care. Mom was a control freak and of course, all punishment was for our own good and beating us and maiming us were supposed to help, she said....Years of belonging to an evangelical church only reinforced what I was getting ant home.... Writing this brings up lots of feelings but I know not to take it personally, anymore. The first sexual abuse I remember was on my 4th birthday. Who knows how my mom spent her 4th birthday. And, I was unable to protect my own children from men who turned out to be abusive---sooner or later....I don't feel the shame much any more, maybe because I have used my pain and what I have learned from it to help others. Life is good, these days....Darlene, thanks for all you do. You are one of those who have helped me along the way.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing, Anonymous. And for telling me that what I do has helped you along the way. I seldom hear from people who have been positively affected by my work. But I know in my heart that I am making a difference, even though the results of my work are intangible. Still, I appreciate when someone takes the time to say thank you. Sending you love, light and healing energy.
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