| "Silence" | ||
|---|---|---|
| ← | SVU, Episode 3.23 | → |
| Production number: E3103 First aired: 17 May 2002 | ||
 | ||
| Written By Patrick Harbinson Directed By Steve Shill | ||
The murderer of a priest blames his crime on the sexual abuse that he had to endure as a child.
Plot
The murder of an adolescent prostitute in a Catholic church, along with arson, results in the SVU team uncovering evidence of sexual abuse by priests. They also discover evidence of hiding the fact that it occurred. After a false allegation against a suspect briefly interrupts the investigation, Stabler must convince one priest to break the sanctity of Confession to prove that the reach of the abuse scandal goes much higher than the priests themselves.
Summary
Episode summary
Cast
Main cast
- Christopher Meloni as Detective Elliot Stabler
- Mariska Hargitay as Detective Olivia Benson
- Richard Belzer as Detective John Munch
- Stephanie March as A.D.A. Alexandra Cabot
- Ice-T as Detective Odafin Tutuola
- Dann Florek as Captain Donald Cragen
Recurring cast
- Tamara Tunie as M.E. Melinda Warner
- Ned Eisenberg as Defense Attorney Roger Kressler
- Charlayne Woodard as Sister Peg
- Tom O'Rourke as Judge Mark Seligman
- Jayne Houdyshell as Judge Ruth Linden
- B.D. Wong as Dr. George Huang
- Judith Light as Bureau Chief Elizabeth Donnelly
Guest cast
- Eric Stoltz as Father Michael Sweeney
- Patrick Collins as Bishop Mallinson
- Sean Dugan as Bobby Douglas
- Robert Harte as Ben Campion
- Jordan Charney as Rory O'Halloran
- Lizbeth MacKay as Mrs. Douglas
- Davis Sweatt as Darius Retafian
- Edward O'Blenis as Todd Ramsay
- Hardy Rawls as Detective Jimmy Moresco
- Nance Williamson as Lara Retafian
- Christopher Mann as CSU Technician
- Kris Eivers as Gus Yoder
- Rick Johnson as Court Officer
References
References
Quotes
"Please! Don't touch me. I'll go where you want... but don't touch me."
"Looks like we got us a racist."
"I'm a Jew. Is that better or worse? "
- - Gus Yoder, Odafin Tutuola and John Munch
"Sit down Gus, you're making me nervous."
"I'm not sitting there. It's disgusting."
"It's a chair."
"It's filthy! Think of all the scum that has sat there!"
- - John Munch and Gus Yoder
"So he's really clean."
"And really dirty."
- - Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler
"The murder of a transvestite who caught him trying to burn down a Church? I could try that in my sleep."
- - Alexandra Cabot
"What about the faithful, Father? Who protects us?"
- - Elliot Stabler
Background information and notes
- The episode title "Silence" was also used for the Law & Order second season episode, "Silence (L&O)".
- Actress Charlayne Woodard makes her first appearance as Sister Peg.
Episode scene cards
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sister Peg's |
Columbus Avenue |
Chelsea Soup Kitchen |
Douglas Residence |
| 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|
|
Office of Special Victims Unit |
Rikers Island |
Chambers of |
| Previous episode: "Competence" |
"Silence" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 3 |
Next episode: "Chameleon" |