Ministers and their Parishes: On the Waterfront

The other day I watched an old movie: On the Waterfront. It was my second time watching it. It stars Marlon Brando and it is set during the depression era. Workers on the docks are taken advantage of by the mob. If the workers don't give kick-backs to the mob, they don't work. If they get up the courage to tesify against the mob, they find themselves in deep danger.
One thread of the movie follows a priest who decides to take up the cause of the workers after a good young man, Joey Doyle, is killed for agreeing to testify. The priest makes an agreement with another worked, K.O. Dugan, that they will work together to take down the mob. The next day, however, Dugan finds himself the victim of an "accident" while working on the docks. When the priest arrives at the scene, he makes a powerful speech to the others workers. I was so struck by it, I watched it again so that I could write it down. Tell me what you think of it:

I came down here to keep a promise. I gave K.O. my word that if he stood up to the mob, that I’d stand up with him. . .all the way. And now K.O. Dugan is dead. He was one of those fellas who had the gift of standing up, but this time they fixed him. Oh, they fixed him for good this time. Unless it was an accident, like Big Mack says.
Some people think the crucifixion only took place on Calvary. They better wise up. Taking Joey Doyle’s life to stop him from testifying is a crucifixion. And dropping the slean on K.O. Dugan because he was ready to spill his guts tomorrow, that’s a crucifixion. And every time the mob puts the crusher on a good man, tries to stop him from doing his duty as a citizen, it’s a crucifixion. And anyone who sits around and lets it happen, keeps silent about something he knows has happened, shares the guilt of it just as much as the Roman soldier who pierced the flesh of our Lord to see if He was dead.
(Here someone yells, "Go back to your church, father.")
Boys, this is my church. And if you don’t think Christ is down here on the waterfront, you have another guess coming. Every morning when the hiring boss blows his whistle, Jesus stands alongside you in the shipyard. He sees why some of you get picked and some of you get passed over. He sees the family men worried about getting their rent, getting food in the house for the wife and the kids. He sees you selling your souls to the mob for a day’s pay.
(Looking up at the mob bosses) Now, what does Christ think of the easy money boys who do none of the work and take all of the gravy? And how does He feel about the fellas who wear $150 dollar suits and diamond rings on your union dues and your kick-back money? And how does He, who spoke up without fear against every evil, feel about your silence?
Do you want to know what’s wrong with our waterfront? It’s the love of a lousy buck? It’s making the love of a buck, the cushy job, more important than the love of man. It’s forgetting that every fella down here is your brother in Christ. But remember, Christ is always with you. Christ is in the shape-up, He’s in the hatch, He’s kneeling right here beside Dugan. And He’s saying to all of you, if you do it to the least of Mine, you do it to Me. And what they did to Joey, and what they did the Dugan, they’re doing to you. And you. You. All of you! And only you, only you with God’s help have the power to knock them out for good.
(Looking down at the body) Okay, K.O.
Amen.

I thought this brought up a great question about ministers being primarily in churches, or primarily in the community. It also made me think of positive depictions of ministers in movies. Here are my top five that I thought of. Feel free to suggest yours.
5. Father Bobby in Sleepers.
Played by Robert De Niro. Tough subject matter, but a very worldly priest who genuinely looks out for the best of the boys in his parish.
4. Judge Coglin in Amistad.
Played by Jeremy Northam. Maybe technically not a minister, but a devout Catholic who is brought in as a judge in the case of the African slaves who were illegally taken from their homes. He is brought in specifically because of the pressure that will be on him to find in favor of the slave traders, but, after being seen in the church praying the night before, makes the difficult decision (socially and politically) to find in favor of the Africans.
3. Father Barry in On the Waterfront.
Played by Karl Malden. Already spoken of above.
2. Sister Helen Prejean in Dead Man Walking.
Played by Susan Sarandon. A nun working with an unrepentant murderer on death row, while the families of the murderer's victims rage against her.
1. Father Grabriel in The Mission.
Played by Jeremy Irons. A priest goes to a dangerous tribe in South America and brings God's healing message to them. He then heroically stays with them while armies converge to force the native people out.