A Chilling Portrayal: 'See No Evil' Exposes the Dark Truth Behind an Anglican's Child Abuse
The latest documentary, 'See No Evil,' sheds light on John Smyth, a charismatic and respected figure in the Church of England who led a life shrouded in deceit and sadistic abuse. The two-part film is a harrowing account of Smyth's 35-year career as an abuser, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.
Through the testimony of survivors, including Andy Morse and Mark Stibbe, the documentary paints a picture of a man who manipulated and groomed young boys under the guise of punishment. The accounts are shocking, with many describing Smyth's vicious beatings and his disturbing affection towards his victims. One survivor recalls being covered in blood after being beaten, while another says that Smyth would give him "butterfly kisses" to calm him down.
The documentary also delves into Smyth's personal life, revealing a household riddled with fear and dread. His family members, including daughters Fiona and Caroline, speak out about living in constant terror of his temper and following in his footsteps into Christian ministry. The mother, Anne, met Smyth when she was 16 and has since dedicated herself to being the perfect Christian wife.
The Church's Involvement: A Failure of Faith?
One of the most striking aspects of 'See No Evil' is its examination of the Church of England's complicity in Smyth's crimes. The documentary reveals that senior figures, including former Archbishop Justin Welby, were made aware of the severity of Smyth's abuse but failed to act. Welby denies knowing anything about Smyth's abuse at the time, but an independent report later found that he and other Church leaders had a personal moral responsibility to investigate.
The film's portrayal of this failure is particularly damning, highlighting the ways in which faith can be used to justify harm. The survivors' accounts are heart-wrenching, with many expressing feelings of shame and guilt for not speaking out sooner. However, they also offer a message of hope and resilience, demonstrating that it's never too late to confront the truth and seek justice.
Ultimately, 'See No Evil' is a searing indictment of a system that allowed a serial abuser to thrive. The documentary's delicate and intelligent insights into the complexities of human nature are both humbling and heartbreaking, leaving viewers with a deep sense of empathy for the survivors and a renewed commitment to standing up against such evil.
The latest documentary, 'See No Evil,' sheds light on John Smyth, a charismatic and respected figure in the Church of England who led a life shrouded in deceit and sadistic abuse. The two-part film is a harrowing account of Smyth's 35-year career as an abuser, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.
Through the testimony of survivors, including Andy Morse and Mark Stibbe, the documentary paints a picture of a man who manipulated and groomed young boys under the guise of punishment. The accounts are shocking, with many describing Smyth's vicious beatings and his disturbing affection towards his victims. One survivor recalls being covered in blood after being beaten, while another says that Smyth would give him "butterfly kisses" to calm him down.
The documentary also delves into Smyth's personal life, revealing a household riddled with fear and dread. His family members, including daughters Fiona and Caroline, speak out about living in constant terror of his temper and following in his footsteps into Christian ministry. The mother, Anne, met Smyth when she was 16 and has since dedicated herself to being the perfect Christian wife.
The Church's Involvement: A Failure of Faith?
One of the most striking aspects of 'See No Evil' is its examination of the Church of England's complicity in Smyth's crimes. The documentary reveals that senior figures, including former Archbishop Justin Welby, were made aware of the severity of Smyth's abuse but failed to act. Welby denies knowing anything about Smyth's abuse at the time, but an independent report later found that he and other Church leaders had a personal moral responsibility to investigate.
The film's portrayal of this failure is particularly damning, highlighting the ways in which faith can be used to justify harm. The survivors' accounts are heart-wrenching, with many expressing feelings of shame and guilt for not speaking out sooner. However, they also offer a message of hope and resilience, demonstrating that it's never too late to confront the truth and seek justice.
Ultimately, 'See No Evil' is a searing indictment of a system that allowed a serial abuser to thrive. The documentary's delicate and intelligent insights into the complexities of human nature are both humbling and heartbreaking, leaving viewers with a deep sense of empathy for the survivors and a renewed commitment to standing up against such evil.
this is so shocking i mean we know there was stuff going on in some churches but i never thought it would be this bad. its crazy how one person can hurt so many lives like that. its not about being judgemental or anything, its just about the fact that a whole community failed these kids and now they're living with trauma for their whole lives 
"Abuse is never holy, no matter what robes you wear" 
the fact that they're still trying to justify their inaction is just not okay 
. I mean, you can't even imagine what these kids went through under Smyth's "care". And the church's response? Unbelievable 
. The way the doc shows how Smyth manipulated people into thinking he was doing God's work... it's chilling 
. And to think that some of these Church leaders are still out there, apparently okay with it? No thanks 
. The only good thing I can say is that this doc is forcing people to confront the truth and speak out against abuse 
. Now if they could just fix their own forum so we don't have to deal with all the BS 
...
i mean i feel bad for the kids who were abused by Smyth, but it's even more disappointing that the church knew about his behavior and didn't do anything 
anyway i'm glad this docu is raising awareness about these issues and giving survivors a platform to share their stories 
they knew all along but did nothing. It's like, what's the point of having faith if you're gonna use it to hurt people? I'm so sorry for the survivors who had to go through that trauma 
. This doco is a total wake-up call, we need more people holding those in power accountable 
. The fact that they got away with it is just appalling 
I'm so glad this film came out to expose the truth 
.