The Catholic Church in 100 Days

A little background first -- I will be writing a response to my viewing of the film 100 Days. The film exposes the injustice and brutual reality that was the Rwandan genocide. While the film follows a few main characters, as it is a docudrama, it is ultimately through these individuals and the fellow Tutsis murdered along with them (with the exception of Josette and her boyfriend who still must live to experience the aftermath of the genocide) that the audience is able to fully realize the horror of the Rwandian genocide ( an experience that many cannot or choose not to comprehend).

What I found to be one of the most interesting issue explored throughout the movie was the hypocritical role of the Catholic Church. One such representative of the church, the Catholic priest from the West, tried to indoctrinate Rwandans into the catholic faith through his Bible preachings. This same priest is later speaking to a French man and expressing his view of the Africans he is "trying to help". Not only does he refer to Africans as "dogs" but he also expresses his belief that "they are like children" and therefore, "their souls are more open". This priest represents the internalization of a colonized understanding of Africa and the people within it. The priest has internalized this faulty sense of superiority, one that ultimately deems the people of Africa, as inferior to Westerners. In his eyes, his position is to "help" these lower beings in a quest for salvation. But who is it that really needs salvation? It is more scary that he asserts that because they are like children, 'their souls are more open', for that means he ultimately wants to control their ideology rather than encourage them to think and question for themselves. His purpose is not to help them establish their own ideas of religion, but rather to brainwash them into believing the only choice is his way (the only choice is the predominate religion of the West). While some may view his presence in Africa as harmless, I feel that he represents all that is wrong and potentially dangerous about the Catholic Church itself. Ultimately, when the Rwandans are in serious need, he leaves back to the West, having "helped" or "saved" no one.

The Catholic Church is not only represented by a white, Westerner, but also by an African priest as well. Though this priest masquerades under the guise of a helper of the Tutsis and an advocate for preventing genocide, in reality, he perpetuates the murder of thousands of indviduals and his own rapture of young girls by manipulating people's view of him as a priest. It is disgusting that the priest pretends to be helping the Tutsis find refuge in the church, while ultimately knowing (and participating in ) their upcoming deaths. In fact, it was easier to attack and kill a multiplicity of Tutsis that were hiding in the church, then it was to seek and find them individually. The church itself represents the hypocritical nature of this priest that represents it because on the surface it seems as if it is a safe haven, when in reality it is quite the opposite. It is also disturbing that the priest, pretending to save Josette and other women like herself, rapes them instead. Not only is he preying upon their trust in him (as he is a priest) but also their fear of a brutal death. He exploits these young women's bodies and minds with no remorse. Though many would like to argue that this is an unfair representation of the Catholic Church, it would be detrimental to ignore this issue, an issue not isolated to one or two incidents.

What I think is particularly effective about this is that it explores this issue with both a Western priest and an African priest. It exposes the injustices perpetuated and internalized by the representatives of the Catholic Church, in the name of the "greater" good from both standpoints. While the Western white priest internalizes and outwardly expresses his superiority over the Africans, the African priest uses his position in the Church for his own corruption.

Ultimately, the problem that can no longer be ignored (an issue exposed throughout the film in its relation to the Rwandan genocide) is the Catholic Church itself.