The viewer of the film can follow the evolution of the relationship between Mustard and her mother Debbie, one of Flickinger’s first victims. Debbie was permanently traumatized by her father’s crimes, so it is still instinctively difficult for her to admit her father’s evil and guilt. Debbie’s mother, Flickinger’s wife, on the other hand, defended her husband for decades, fully aware of what he was doing. Everything was well known to the judicial system as well, but Flickinger got away several times with only a reprimand or a finger shake. Probation once, license revoked the other – nothing particularly painful, so the sex crimes could be continued with peace of mind. The film clearly shows how a serial pedophile is able to slip through loopholes in the law.
The church also played a role. The Flickingers were staunch Christians, and divorce was not permissible for them. When Debbie was still a child, she used to sing in the church choir with her family. Incredibly, when Mustard visits one of Flickinger’s former patients and victims at his former practice in Harrisburg, his former boss passively condemns Mustard for not forgiving her grandfather for his sins as a Christian.
In the film, Flickinger himself just rambles on about getting to heaven, not even considering that in his belief system, his path after death might actually lead to a completely different place.
Bill Flickinger died in a nursing home in Miami, Florida, but the exact cause or time of death is unknown. He had been abandoned by all. The family decided to donate his body to science, because no one needed Flickinger’s grave, a memorial.
Anyway, if hell really exists, Flickinger must be boiling in one of its cauldrons right now. If there is no hell and heaven, then it could be said that Flickinger did not receive the punishment, because he died holy convinced that God had forgiven him for everything.
The article was written in cooperation with “LMT Viedtelevizija”.
2023-12-22 22:03:57
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