The song "Altered Boy" by Exodus is a scathing critique of the Catholic Church and its handling of the widespread issue of child sexual abuse by members of the clergy. The lyrics express outrage and condemnation towards pedophile priests who prey on innocent children while being protected by the church hierarchy. The song starts by using strong and provocative language to describe these pedophile priests as "unholy" and accusing them of preying on the vulnerable. It criticizes the papacy and refers to the priests as "so-called men of enlightenment" who have taken a vow of chastity but have instead ruined many lives through their abuse. The chorus refers to these priests as "Chickenhawks of the Catholic Church," suggesting that they are both predatory and cowardly. They are described as being driven by a desire to save and destroy at the same time. The line "he's become an altered boy" is a play on words, with "altered boy" referring to a victim of molestation, but also alluding to the phrase "altar boy" which is a role typically held by young boys in Catholic church services. The song continues to criticize these priests, highlighting their position of trust and the devastating impact of their actions on the lives of their victims. The lyrics mention the church as their "Golgotha," which is a reference to the biblical location where Jesus was crucified. This suggests that the church itself has become a place of suffering and betrayal. There is also a mention of "multi-million dollar payouts" and "restitution for their crimes," which refers to the numerous financial settlements made by the Catholic Church to victims of clergy abuse. This highlights the church's attempts to cover up the abuse and avoid public scrutiny, while attempting to compensate the victims. Overall, "Altered Boy" highlights the anger and frustration towards the Catholic Church's mishandling of the child sexual abuse scandal, as well as the devastating impact it has had on the lives of the victims. It serves as a call for accountability, justice, and an end to the cycle of abuse within the institution.
