Father Flynn is clearly homosexual and is sympathetic to boys who he intuits are being isolated because they are also homosexual. I can't say whether he is guilty or not. However, sending the boy back to class a bit tipsy and clearly upset...well, what would you think of a priest who dragged a boy out of class, got him a bit drunk, and sent him back upset? This is the first instance of arrogance we see in Flynn, which comes up in later scenes when Beauvier confronts him. He appears guilty by his puffed-up-ness.
The point of the movie is that the women in the church are true spiritualists while the males hold the power and the prestige. That is why Flynn is promoted to a higher position even though he is removed because of accusations of child molestation.
As for doubt Beauvier has, I thought it was quite clear that she has religious doubts. After all, she is trying to do the old school religious thing of obedience, chastity, and poverty were any enjoyment is considered sinful and meanwhile the higher ups are enjoying fine food and rewarding possibly sinful males with promotions. Plus the church is modernising by wanting to bring in secular Christmas music which she sees as a pathway to damnation.
Perhaps there is no God, she is beginning to think? Or maybe she is doubting the hierarchy of the church being full of corrupting priests?
No matter what, she trusts her intuition and is certain that Flynn was in an inappropriate relationship with the boys whether physically real or just in fantasy. Both are considered the same in the Catholic Church.
reply
share