Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)

Silence (2002)

Christopher Meloni: Detective Elliot Stabler

Quotes 

• [Father Michael knows of a priest who molested young boys, but cannot reveal his name] 

  Father Michael Sweeney : What about my vows?

  Elliot Stabler : What about the children?

• Father Michael Sweeney : I have to protect the penitent.

  Elliot Stabler : And what of the faithful, Father? Who protects us?

• Donald Cragen : Elliot...

  Elliot Stabler : Not a problem, Captain.

  Donald Cragen : Well, if it becomes one, you can take a back seat.

  Elliot Stabler : You know, I try to be a good Catholic, raise my kids as good Catholics.

  Donald Cragen : Something like this shakes your faith.

  Elliot Stabler : I know. If I didn't see through this guy, how could a 14-year-old? How could an 8-year-old?

• Elliot Stabler : [after Father Michael is released from jail]  Bobby Douglas was placed in a cell with a lifer. His name is Dale Farrelly. Bobby kept trying to tell Dale how much Jesus loved him till Dale stopped him by stabbing him 57 times with a homemade shiv. This is the interesting part though, Father. Bobby had no defensive wounds on him. He had no cuts on his arms and his hands. He never even tried to put up his arms to protect himself. That boy'd given up. Now maybe you think he deserved it because he killed that kid and he burned your church.

  Father Michael Sweeney : No. No. Bobby was a victim.

  Elliot Stabler : Yeah. Whose victim? Come on, Father, you and me, no badge...

  Father Michael Sweeney : What do you want me to tell you?

  Elliot Stabler : No collar. Come on. Bobby's dead! You're free as a bird. Be a man, confess to me!

• Elliot Stabler : [to Father Michael]  You priests, you got it all figured out, don't you? You confess to each other. You forgive each other and you go right on sinning.

  Father Michael Sweeney : I'm sorry.

  Elliot Stabler : Go to hell.

• Elliot Stabler : [to Father Michael Sweeney]  Silence is a sin, Father.

• Alexandra Cabot : The details of Darius' abuse were true. He was alone with a priest, and he watched porn videos, and he was molested. Mom sued, a priest was defrocked, the diocese settled. Mom wants more.

  Elliot Stabler : If someone abused my son, I'd do more than sue them.

  Alexandra Cabot : I doubt you'd make false accusations.

• Dr. George Huang : An alcoholic must avoid bars, a pedophile must stay away from children.

  Elliot Stabler : Well, an alcoholic is still an alcoholic and Father Michael is still a pedophile.