Father James accepts
confession from an unseen man, a victim of
priest sexual abuse. The penitent says his abuser is dead and the Catholic community is largely indifferent, so he will murder an innocent priest to draw greater outrage. The penitent gives James until next Sunday to put his affairs in order. Bishop Montgomery advises James to inform the police: the sin is pending and forgiveness was not sought, so James would not break the
seal of confession. James is visited by Fiona, his daughter from his pre-ordination marriage. James mentions her attempted
suicide, but she blames it on her ex-boyfriend. James continues his
parochial duties, encountering antagonism from many locals. James hears butcher, Jack Brennan, has hit his wife, Veronica, for having an affair with mechanic, Simon. Jack blames Simon, and the couple attests they want a divorce. Simon refuses to talk with James, citing violent
missions in his native Africa. James struggles to discuss Simon with Father Leary, who suggests ignoring everything, as Simon could accuse them of racism. James takes supplies to Gerald, an elderly American writer working in a cottage. Gerald asks James to bring him a gun, afraid of succumbing to pain or senility. James visits Inspector Stanton and borrows an antique
revolver from the
Anglo-Irish War. Stanton confides that he once arrested a priest on rape accusations but was reassigned while the priest escaped as a missionary. Banker, Michael Fitzgerald, requests a house visit from James. Michael drunkenly brags about his
exploitative wealth, bemoans detachment from his family and reality, and insults James. James responds that penance requires seeking forgiveness; Fitzgerald responds by urinating on a
rare painting. At the hospital, James performs the
last rites for a fatally injured tourist. He comforts his widow, Teresa, who bravely accepts her husband's death. James visits cannibal prisoner, Freddie Joyce, who is flippant about his crimes, but still asks for forgiveness. James accuses Joyce of insincerity, but pities that nobody can understand him, if not God. While everyone is at a village pub gathering, the church is destroyed by arson. Montgomery blames James's would-be killer and presses him to report him; James refuses, noting every villager has grievances with him or the church. Fitzgerald offers a large sum for a new church, to the delight of Leary, and the distaste of James. Fiona confronts James, saying he abandoned her after her mother's death, first by his alcoholism and later by the celibacy of the priesthood. James apologizes and they embrace. That night, James finds his dog, Bruno, dead with his throat cut. James tearfully buries Bruno, concealing his death from Fiona as she departs. While on a walk, James starts a conversation with a young girl. Her father arrives and confronts him, believing he is attempting to groom her. At the pub, James is mocked by the locals and relapses. James drunkenly destroys the bar with the revolver before fighting publican, Brendan. Leary finds James, bloody and drunk, and chides him, as Brendan is Buddhist; James berates
Leary's ignorance and his uselessness as a priest. James wakes to find Leary entering a taxi. Leary confesses religious doubts and James apologizes, telling Leary he does not hate him but that Leary has no integrity. James decides to fly to Dublin but happens across Teresa. Seeing her husband's coffin being disrespected by airport staff, James returns to his parish. On Sunday, James meets Gerald, who boasts about finishing his book, and James wishes him luck. James calls Fiona, saying sin is emphasized too greatly over virtue and forgiveness, and they fully reconcile. James throws the revolver off a cliff immediately before a suicidal Fitzgerald appears. James promises to visit later and embraces the tearful Fitzgerald. James waits on the beach as Jack Brennan appears with a gun. Jack confesses to arson, and hitting Veronica, but denies killing Bruno. Hearing James's remorse for Bruno, Jack asks if he cried for children abused by priests. James admits feeling detached, and Jack shoots and wounds him. An altar boy witnesses the shot, and runs for help. James assures Jack that it is not too late to stop. Jack tells James to say his prayers; James says he already has, and Jack murders him. In a brief tableaux, the parishioners and Teresa go about their quotidian lives. The final scene ends as Fiona visits Jack in prison, both picking up their phone handsets as the scene fades to black. ==Cast==