I hope the film addresses the distortions brought on by the theology of baptism, according to which, since Mortara was secretly baptized, he "belonged" to the church, and not to his own family. That is the only way to understand why otherwise rational church officials could have entertained the thought of removing a child from his family and stonewalling the many attempts of his father to find him. They kidnapped the child so that he could live out his sacramental life. Bad theology leads to bad practice. In this case to cruel practice.