His choice of protecting the Church at the expense of one of his parishioners, combined with his knowledge that he is breaking other Church rules, places him in the jaws of a crushing moral dilemma. Still the acting is magnetic with especially good performances from THE MT VOID Page 9 Roache and Wilkinson. It is perhaps ironic that members of the Catholic Church should choose this film to protest. McGovern's script could easily have made the Church appear entirely wrong. A lesser writer might have done that.
Most American films make it obvious which side is correct in any conflict.
But the dilemma in this film really is a dilemma and there are good arguments on each side. McGovern leaves it to the viewer to decide whether Greg has done the right thing or not. That is genuinely refreshing.