Mark Ruffalo and ‘Spotlight’ filmmakers protest outside L.A. Catholic church

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 28 (UPI) — The makers of the Oscar-nominated movie Spotlight and one of its stars joined a group of about 20 protesters in front of a Los Angeles Catholic church to protest sexual abuse just hours before Sunday’s Oscar ceremony.

Most of the protesters, actual victims of abuse by Catholic priests, invited the actor Mark Ruffalo and writer/director Tom McCarthy and co writer Josh Singer to join the protest, staged outside Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels in downtown Los Angeles.

The group called on the church to take serious action against abuse and also asked the names of abusers be released. The Los Angeles protest was just one of 20 organized across the country by Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

“I’m here to stand with the survivors and the victims and the people we’ve lost from Catholic priest childhood sex abuse,” Ruffalo said.

the group. Organizers wanted to use the Academy Awards, which takes place Sunday night, was a way to draw attention to their cause, Blaine said.

“We wanted to use this moment with all of the attention on the movie ‘Spotlight’ because that movie tells our stories and gets it right,” said Barbara Blaine, the president and founder of SNAP. “Every Catholic should see this film.”

Spotlight, nominated for six Oscars, including best picture and best supporting actor for Ruffalo, tells the story of the Boston Globe’s investigation into the Catholic church’s sexual abuse scandal.

“No matter which Hollywood types walk away with those statues tonight, kids are the real winners,” said Blaine. “They are safer because the movie Spotlight has prompted hundreds of thousands to think, talk and take action about child sex crimes and cover ups, even or especially in trusted institutions.”