Church Leaders Prep Dioceses Prior To Release Of Spotlight Movie

High-ranking leaders of the Catholic church have sent talking points to U.S. dioceses in advance of the wide release of "Spotlight," a movie detailing the Boston Globe's 2002 investigation into the church's cover-up of clergy abuse.

The Boston Globe reports the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops formulated the guidance, complete with statistics, in September in anticipation of the film's Nov. 20 nationwide release.

A spokesman for the group, Don Clemmer, says church officials wanted to prepare clergy members for speaking with victims who might be experiencing pain coinciding with the movie's release, and to show that the church has changed.

Bishop Edward Scharfenberger, of Albany, New York, says he hopes the film "will be a vehicle to communicate the truth and advance the dialogue regarding the protection of children."  (Associated Press)