Agnus Dei

Frank and poignant testimony from a young man who was sexually abused by a Mexican priest in his childhood days. Agnus Dei endeavors to disrupt the silence on child abuse in the Catholic church.

Having come to terms with his past, Mexican Jesús Colin can now talk honestly and openly about his  abuse. It all started with a visit to the priest’s home during his training to become an acolyte. At first, he was asked to take off his clothes, but soon had to engage in sexual acts. Jesús was torn between pain and affection. The fact is, he loved the priest, but more as a father. Jesús' personal testimony exemplifies a widespread phenomenon that the Catholic church would rather cover up. The film shows that all those involved – the Vatican, priests, churchgoers and parents – seek to downplay their responsibility. The documentary’s painful apotheosis, in which Jesús visits the priest to confront him with his acts, symbolizes the great silence.