Revelation (2020) User Reviews

Fine reportage

[mcgrathmartin · 9/10 · 1 June 2020]

This is how you do it. Sincere, respectful and incisive

In depth journalism at its best

[guauen · 9/10 · 2 April 2020]

Revelation examines the historical sexual abuse of vulnerable children by priests in regional Australia from the 1950s to the 1980s, and the institutional power, impunity and cover up of that abuse by the Roman Catholic Church.

This is groundbreaking and finely crafted documentary making by the wonderful Sarah Ferguson and Nial Fulton, with support from a great crew and excellent researchers. The focus is local and deeply personal, but the topic and themes are universal.

In an interview for ABC News, Sarah Ferguson said: "Throughout the long-running scandal of clerical abuse in Australia, there was one voice we hadn't heard and that was the perpetrators. I wanted to ask them how they led their double lives and how the church enabled them, but how do you interview men whose crimes are so vile and disturbing, who've committed crimes against vulnerable children? It was a struggle not to let my revulsion at their crimes drag me off course."

Revelation was broadcast by ABC TV (the national broadcaster) at 8:30pm to moderate audiences over three weeks in Australia.

an absolute must watch!

[ricewithaspoon · 9/10 · 31 March 2020]

There is not much to add to the summary... it is a raw record. this lady deserves another 20 awards in my opinion. i have never ever been so satisfied with how the interviews were conducted. as for the 'subjects'..well there is not much to say. it just gives you a really really good insight.

seriously, this is a must watch. it's hard because it gets to you - but Ferguson with her demeanor and neutral, factual confrontation pulled me through it. (she should have interviewed scully imo)

ground breaking

[ikeane-07212 · 10/10 · 22 April 2020]

A must see, absolutely fantastic journalism from a wonderful team. This series will be etched in your mind forever.

Reporting at its finest

[jobiwan-89768 · 10/10 · 23 April 2020]

In a world of corporatised information, fake news and corruption.... thank goodness for reporters like Sarah, and the ABC for supporting her incredibly important work. The system is f$&ked, we cant continue to look away. Thankyou to the survivors for telling your stories... I believe you.

Outstanding series Revelation

[rosinagallace · 10/10 · 2 July 2020]

This series brought to light the horrendous crimes committed to innocent and vulnerable children of all ages. Sarah and the team presented a professional and determined account of these crimes, and showed great sensitivity to the victims and their families. Well done and great series.

Expose the truth

[looluio · 10/10 · 16 May 2020]

Excellent piece of investigative journalism. What a tradegy and a farce the Catholic church has turned out to be. Delusional in their self rightous pontification !

It will stay with you for a long time

[seaborn-27626 · 10/10 · 26 August 2020]

Incredible series bringing viewers face to face with the sins and cover ups of the Catholic Church. Heart wrenching, difficult to watch but a must see. Thank you to the producers and Sarah Ferguson for the compassion you showed to the brave survivors who shared their stories throughout the series.

Poorly Edited and Inaccurate

[voyager-46056 · 1/10 · 5 February 2021]

It is difficult to believe the content of this series went through the fact-checker process. It is full of half-truths and simple errors of fact. The producer also seems to have cherry picked to suit her own narrative. Very disappointing as a serious documentary and hardly a balanced contribution.

Revelation

[janninecallaghan · 10/10 · 12 July 2020]

I think the most outstanding aspect of the whole gruelling journey on which Revelation took us was the integrity and courage with which the subject matter was handled. It was such a far cry from the sensational, cynical and invasive way the commercial channels handle tragic and sensitive subjects (eg; the disappearances of Madeleine McCann or William Tyrell). I have already been a big fan of Sarah Ferguson. I am in awe of her ability to never succumb to the attempted "charm factor" of politicians who use every trick in the psychology book to woo and bamboozle their interviewer. They need not waste their time with Sarah, as certainly as the paedophile priests and brothers in Revelation need not have wasted their time with any schmaltzy, crocodile-teared attempts to break Sarah's resolve to extract the truth from them. The heroes of Revelation, of course, are the victims whose broken lives are laid before us in all their shattered desolation. Some have managed to salvage enough of themselves to be able to present a veneer of normalcy, but most who have somehow kept living, admit that every minute of every day is an ordeal to be endured. We owe it to them to witness their dismantled lives and to become an active part of the movements for justice for these heroic survivors.

Disappointing nonsense

[Tony-Tornado · 1/10 · 3 May 2023]

Painting the whole church with same brush just because of the actions of a few despicable men.

Bias and plotted.

Some Interviews are light on fact..... coupled with dramatic music to try and add value.

Most witnesses that you suggest are credible are clearly not, they are opportunists clearly leading unhealthy lives looking for someone to blame for their failures.

You should be embarrassed of your attack on Pell.... He is not guilty, this is a fact.... Why can't you give up and go away?

Nothing you present here adds anything notable, just soft useless attempts at 'evidence'.

Shame on you.

Appaling and not worth watching.

A must see for everyone.

[megnair · 10/10 · 14 July 2020]

Another excellent piece of investigative work, sucks you in fromtfrom get go with it's depth of research following the crumbs, the abject corruption, greed and innocence lost. I don't know what's worse, the excuses put forward by the church members interviewed or the lies they stand so firmly by. Every single Australian for a start needs to see this documentary. In this age of enlightenment - this is a must see.

A must watch doco

[stevegoodlass · 10/10 · 1 July 2020]

Helps to expose some of the depth of child sexual abuse and cover up in Australia. Some shocking details are revealed about Vince Ryan confessing his abuse to priests (who did nothing) and how Fr Brian Lucas is the churches fixer and completely lacking it what the rest of us would call "normal" ethics and morals.

Bernard McGrath, Maloney et al and the Christian Brothers showed how abusers traveled between Australia and New Zealand destroying young boys lives.

Watch this with someone you love because you'll need each others support.

Astonishing documentary of sexual abuse in the Church

[rogerstgmarch · 10/10 · 1 April 2020]

Sarah Ferguson serves up a devastating investigation of the coverup of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in Australia. Extraordinary interviews with convicted paedophiles.

Superb Reportng on a Difficult Subject

[monicamgilbert · 10/10 · 26 August 2020]

Like a car crash that you can't look away from ... Revelation is a must-watch for everyone, not just catholics. My former parish priest was one of the perpetrators and it makes me feel ill thinking how this "man" can continue to be called "priest". The catholic church is an empire and it must fall.