Profile acquires 'Spotlight' tie-in

Profile has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to Betrayal: Crisis in the Catholic Church, the investigation into widespread child abuse in Boston which inspired the Oscar-nominated film "Spotlight" (2016).

On 31 January 2002, the Boston Globe published a report that "sent shockwaves around the world". Their findings, based on a six-month campaign by the ‘Spotlight’ investigative team, showed that hundreds of children in Boston had been abused by Catholic priests, and that this pattern of behaviour had been known – and ignored – by the Catholic Church. "Instead of protecting the community it was meant to serve, the Church exploited its powerful influence to protect itself from scandal – and innocent children paid the price."

The publisher said: "This is the story from beginning to end: the predatory men who exploited the vulnerable, the cabal of senior Church officials who covered up their crimes, the ‘hush money’ used to buy the victims’ silence, the survivors who found the strength to tell their story, and the Catholics across the world who were left shocked, angry, and betrayed. This is the story, too, of how they took power back, confronted their Church and called for sweeping change."

Cecily Gayford, Profile Books editor, said: "I’m delighted to have acquired Betrayal – as well as being the only comprehensive account of the investigation that inspired the film 'Spotlight', it’s a superb piece of investigative journalism: sharp, dogged, unrelenting in its pursuit of the perpetrators and deeply compassionate to those who suffered because of them. This is an important book on an issue that – sadly – is as relevant today as it ever has been."

The film, starring Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton and Rachel McAdams, is up for six Oscars – best film, best director, best supporting actor, best supporting actress, best film editing and best original screenplay.