How Mark Ruffalo & 'Spotlight' badly affected my life

[Godforever87]

I am a Catholic with high-functioning Autism and late 2015 and early 2016 was one of the darkest times of my life all because of Spotlight and the extremes Mark Ruffalo took to promoting it. Now my diocese had gone through something similar to what happened in that movie. However, when we learned what the priest had done in the past, we dismissed him immediately and he was never allowed to go to church anywhere else again. When that film was released and it won numerous awards, it was affecting my life in the worst ways imaginable. It really felt like Hollywood was constantly bashing my religion. I read in the news how it lied about a man named Jack Dunn, who was falsely portrayed as someone who knew about the Archdiocesan cover-up. That really bothered me. The way Mark Ruffalo promoted it was especially difficult for me. The day of the Academy Awards was really tough because he protested at a church on Sunday, which the day to respect God according to the Ten Commandments. I didn’t watch the Oscars, but when I learned the film won Best Picture I cried myself to sleep that night. Remember the scene in the movie Ever After, where Drew Barrymore’s character runs out of the castle after her stepmother exposes her and she cries in the pouring rain feeling like all was lost. That was how I felt.

After that night I became severely depressed. Sometimes after work I would cry and I’d cover my eyes with sunglasses so no one would see me. I would even have to stop at 7-11 to buy tissues. I wasn’t enjoying the things that usually make me happy. On top of that work was challenging because things were very disorganized and crowded. The TV show The Real O’Neals was troubling me too. It took me a long while to recover from it all. I didn’t see any films with the actors from Spotlight until Rachael McAdams’ Doctor Strange in November 2016. I also gave-up on Michael Keaton’s movies until Spider-Man: Homecoming. Next week, Thor: Ragnarok opens and Ruffalo is in it. I don’t know if I should go after how his behavior affected me and I haven’t viewed any of his films past or present since the summer of 2015. However, I must remember that God does not want me to hate anyone. There was also a prayer that the Virgin Mary taught the three children of Fatima to ask God to pardon those who do not love, hope, adore or believe in him. Now that I have shared this on here I feel like the chapter of this story of my life is finally coming to a close.

 

[Spyridon]

It seems to me you should stop torturing yourself by watching Hollywood garbage. Hollywood has a huge far left agenda, and part of that agenda is strong anti-Catholicism, anti-Christianity, even anti-Religiosity.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

Why didn’t you turn off the TV?

Honestly, I have never owned a TV. My husband brought his into our marriage and we have a “Roku” on which we watch a few youtubers. Clean stuff—Captian Sparklez, Blimey Cow, Jas Townsen and a few others.

I would suggest professional help for your issues.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I’m sorry you were so badly affected. I must echo the others though and say that if Hollywood promotion affects you so badly, turn off the TV and don’t read entertainment rags. I myself was aware there was a movie called “Spotlight” and what it was about, and that it eventually won an Oscar or something, but I paid pretty much zero attention to it beyond that, never saw an ad for it, and don’t know who Mark Ruffalo is. I don’t think I’ve missed much. The vast majority of movies I watch were made prior to 1990.

 

[Godforever87]

I would suggest professional help for your issues.

I did seek professional help. I did feel better after speaking to professionals and I went on nice vacation a year ago that really cheered me up. There are actually a few celebrities whom I have a lot of respect for because being Catholic is very important to them. Voice-actors Jodi Benson and Jim Cummings are very good examples. Plus, Mark Wahlberg’s Catholic faith made him a better man. Paige O’Hara, the voice of Belle from Beauty and the Beast, also called Mother Theresa her hero when she was declared a saint.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

I would suggest professional help for your issues.

In my opinion, you watch WAY too much TV to know all those names.

Cancel the cable, cut the rabbit ears off the roof.

Start reading some good Catholic literature. If you’re not good at reading, go on LibraVox and download free books, many read by professionals. They are all books written before 1919 so they, for the most part, are clean reading.

Your attachment to the media just seems really unhealthy to me.

Then again, you’re talking to someone who has never paid for TV/Cable once in my adult life…and not because I “steal” it…because I simply stay 100% away from it on purpose. Well, I do sometimes use the CBS website to watch NCIS since my friends do…but that is one show and not with a TV so it’s free from commercials about all the other nonsense going on on tv. (CBS website does have commercials, but it’s usually verizon on loop, lol)

Honestly, though, you sound like you need to go “cold turkey”. It just sounds really, really unhealthy to be living the way you do.

 

[mathematoons]

They call themselves devout Catholics, and yet there they are in movies that promote idolatry of romantic relationships (yes, Disney, I’m pointing fingers at you).

I’m with the others, take a hammer to the TV.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

A: Perhaps you should see a doctor. Before I saw a therapist the first time I always thought only crazy people see shrinks. Not true. They can be immensely helpful.
B: To everyone else, has anyone seen Spotlight? Recommend?

B. NO MORE MEDIA. Just no. It is terrible for you (for anyone really). It seems like an addiction.

 

[Godforever87]

They call themselves devout Catholics, and yet there they are in movies that promote idolatry of romantic relationships (yes, Disney, I’m pointing fingers at you).

I’m with the others, take a hammer to the TV.

When accepting a Disney Legend award back in 2011, Jodi Benson quoted a verse from the Bible and said she is nothing without her God. Cummings also took part in the PBS Kids series Adventures from the Book of Virtues, which addresses how good it is to have faith. He also has stated in his Twitter how he is not a fan of the liberal media. And as I later edited I was glad to see Paige O’Hara (Belle from Beauty and the Beast) call Mother Theresa her true heroine.

I actually try not to watch a lot of current TV shows and films. I much prefer classic movies and TV shows from the past. The Sound of Music, The Trouble with Angels, and The Bells of St. Mary’s are some of my all-time favorite films.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

mathematoons:

They call themselves devout Catholics, and yet there they are in movies that promote idolatry of romantic relationships (yes, Disney, I’m pointing fingers at you).

I’m with the others, take a hammer to the TV.

When accepting a Disney Legend award back in 2011, Jodi Benson quoted a verse from the Bible and said she is nothing without her God. Cummings also took part in the PBS Kids series Adventures from the Book of Virtues, which addresses how good it is to have faith. He also has stated in his Twitter how he is not a fan of the liberal media. And as I later edited I was glad to see Paige O’Hara (Belle from Beauty and the Beast) call Mother Theresa her true heroine.

I actually try not to watch a lot of current TV shows and films. I much prefer classic movies and TV shows from the past. The Sound of Music, The Trouble with Angels, and The Bells of St. Mary’s are some of my all-time favorite films.

You are seriously addicted to be following all this nonsense.

I think you would do well with a media blackout (no TV, no movies new or old) and a 54 day novena for your healing.

 

[mathematoons]

I don’t think you understand. What they do speaks so loudly, I can’t hear what they say. Remember, Satan believes everything we Catholics believe (James 2:13). Many verses in the Bible point out that if we talk a big game about God but don’t follow Him in our actions, it doesn’t count as actually following Him.

Or, as my grandfather put it, "Look at what people do, not what they say.

 

[Godforever87]

The last thing I want to say about Benson is that I do believe what she says because she even voiced Mary and other characters in Max Lucado’s The Crippled Lamb. Plus, she has done recordings for Sparrow Records.

The reason why I brought this topic up is that I am debating on whether or not a movie with an actor I really don’t like and who badly affected me. I have had some flashbacks of that dark time. However, I am doing better and I am trying not to watch anything too liberal and I especially want to avoid things that are anti-Catholic.

 

[Xanthippe_Voorhees]

The last thing I want to say about Benson is that I do believe what she says because she even voiced Mary and other characters in Max Lucado’s The Crippled Lamb. Plus, she has done recordings for Sparrow Records.

The reason why I brought this topic up is that I am debating on whether or not a movie with an actor I really don’t like and who badly affected me. I have had some flashbacks of that dark time. However, I am doing better and I am trying not to watch anything too liberal and I especially want to avoid things that are anti-Catholic.

You need to not watch anything. Media is obvously a very damaging thing to you. If something is causing you such an massive struggle, then you need to get it out of your life.

 

[TheLittleLady]

However, when we learned what the priest had done in the past, we dismissed him immediately and he was never allowed to go to church anywhere else again.

I certainly hope this is hyperbole. The Church does not ban even the worst sinner from going to Church “anywhere”.

Agree, you are far far far too wrapped up in the entertainment industry. Let it go. Pick up something creative like knitting.

 

[Melchior_1]

There’s some things that are inherently excellent.

There’s some things that are inherently terrible. I mean, there is zero circumstances where rape is a good thing in of and of itself.

Then there’s some things which are neutral. Some people can partake in these things without an issue, others can’t because it will cause them problems. Examples include:

• Alcohol. Some can have a drink or two and they’re still sober. Others can’t drink at all because if they did, they wouldn’t stop.
• Food. Usually this is great, right? But if you have an allergy, it can be deadly. If you have an eating disorder, it can cause severe complications.

Media is in the third category. Some people can consume it, others can’t. Some can consume certain kinds of media, others can’t. If media has the potential to cause you this much discomfort, I agree with the others; it’s time to step away for a bit.

 

[Cruciferi]

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[Godforever87]

I certainly hope this is hyperbole. The Church does not ban even the worst sinner from going to Church “anywhere”.

I think what my parents actually said was that he was never allowed to be a priest ever again after what he done. He was severely punished for what he did.

 

[TheLittleLady]

I think what my parents actually said was that he was never allowed to be a priest ever again after what he done. He was severely punished for what he did.

For a priest to be stripped of his faculties to say Mass - aka colloquially as “defrocking” - is one thing. He still remains a Catholic, is obligated to attend Mass and after confession is as free to receive Communion as any of us.

Thank God for His forgiveness and mercy!

 

[Joe_5859]

If you foresee that watching the new Thor movie will bring you back to that dark place, then don’t watch it. I know I generally like the Marvel movies, so if you are like me it might be a sacrifice to forgo it. But sometimes living our lives for God entails sacrifice.

In Ruffalo’s defense, I would say that there are plenty of Catholics who saw Spotlight as being part of the light shining on the dark places that really did need to have the light shined on them. Thus, it is not necessarily anti-Catholic. Some Catholic priests really did do some terrible things. I haven’t seen the movie myself, so I really can’t say.

While I do think it’s great that there are some in Hollywood that actually do take their Catholic faith seriously (and I pray there are more and more good Catholics that infiltrate that mission territory), I think it is generally wise not to look to actors to be role models as they almost invariably disappoint. I recall how so many Christians were all about Mel Gibson after the Passion of the Christ, but then he had a pretty public fall from grace. If we put all our eggs in those baskets, we are setting ourselves up for disappointment.

Do you enjoy reading about the saints? I would encourage you to get a good book on the lives of the saints. They make for far better role models.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

The way Mark Ruffalo promoted it was especially difficult for me. The day of the Academy Awards was really tough because he protested at a church on Sunday, which the day to respect God according to the Ten Commandments.

I hope you will examine your expectations of this or any actor to respect your feelings about something. He doesn’t know you, he doesn’t owe you that.

Remember the scene in the movie Ever After, where Drew Barrymore’s character runs out of the castle after her stepmother exposes her and she cries in the pouring rain feeling like all was lost. That was how I felt.

I feel sad for you that you felt this way. Not because of a celebrity’s actions, but that you are affected by them in this way. It isn’t healthy or typical of fans. He is an entertainer but he has his own life and his own values. If you can’t separate his activism from his craft, then you should be able to not follow his as a fan anymore without becoming so distressed. For the time being I’d avoid his work and anything related to avoid the distress you are feeling but I’d also seek help to overcome the unhealthy what-ever-it-is. Even if you watch wholesome shows, or reading wholesome books, someone is likely to fall short of your expectations if those expectations are not reasonable. You should be able to enjoy things without becoming distressed or if you don’t like something, shake the dust from you feet because what you described is way more emotion, thought and energy than it deserves. In a situation like this I wouldn’t even recommend praying for that person and instead add him to a prayer list at a monastery and not think on it again until you can manage not to become overwrought. Please take care.