Rorgg - you say "I don't think so" and proceed to sound like you're agreeing with me about the need to play Flynn as innocent.  The church is on trial here - as with society in  general - because it engendered and fostered a secretive atmosphere that allowed mistrust, distrust, and hypocrisy to flourish.

BTW - My own take on Flynn's role when I researched the role was that at the previous school he heard the confession of one of the other priests who was molesting students.  (Priests often hear each others' confessions.)  That way when he says to Sr. Aloysius that he can't tell her things she's demanding, it's because of a confessional confidence.  And that any extra effort he made with Donald was simply recognizing the feelings of an "outsider" and wanting to help.  That way he wouldn't even have anything of a personal nature to hide, other than knowledge obtained in sacrosanct circumstances.

I think you and I both agree that Flynn has to be played as 100% innocent - that is, the actor has to believe that he is - otherwise you're playing against the author's intent.

I just finished directing "Doubt" and was worried about finding a black actress for the part. I asked everyone I knew for recommendations and I started recruiting long before I had auditions, and was blessed enough to get an amazing Mrs. Muller (she got applause every night after her scene). Had I not had Raquel to play Mrs. Muller, I had considered making her Hispanic. If not, then Donald would have been born of a mixed marriage and I would have added a line to the play referencing that fact. Hang in there!