A Catholic priest (Nigel Patrick who also directed) in an Irish village is called to calm things down when an atheist writer (William Bendix) upsets a small mob of Catholics. I thought the priest might tell the mob that the writer was entitled to his opinion or that physically attacking someone for not sharing your religion was against the law. Instead, the priest berates the writer and assures his parishioners that God will take care of him.
Just then, a man (Aldo Ray) walks up and shoots the blasphemer. The priest asks him who he is and what he did that for. The man doesn't know his own name, but an unseen force told him that he must kill this guy. The villagers think it's a miracle.
Since Aldo Ray can't remember his name, the press dubs him "Johnny Nobody". The judge at his trial decides that's a good enough name since they don't know what else to call him.
"Such a good, gentle God? How is it possible?"
"Want to know why?"
The priest is called to testify. The defense attorney asks him if he believes that the murder was the direct intervention of God Almighty.
The prosecution objects. It's Friday afternoon and the judge says he will rule on the objection Monday morning.
"Father? I want to tell you something."
The priest wracks his conscience. How would he answer the question? How can he be a priest and not believe that God sends amnesiacs to gun down unbelievers?
It was more murder mystery than religious drama with an idiotic plot, murdering a guy on the assumption that Irish Catholics will believe anything and refuse to convict.
Contrast the priest in this movie with the vicar in Straw Dogs (1971) who has fun arguing religion and science with Dustin Hoffman, or the bishop in Bunuel's The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972) when a peasant woman tells him:
"Then tell me, my child."
"I really don't like Jesus Christ. Even as a little girl I hated him."
"Such a good, gentle God? How is it possible?"
"Want to know why?"
"Let me tend to this sick man first, then we'll talk."
Seemed like a nice fellow. Not that he was above shooting people.
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