To begin with, duty is the main point of the Kantian philosophy. It is the categorical imperative explained as “an objective, rationally necessary and unconditional principle that we must always follow despite any natural desires or inclinations we may have to the contrary” (“Kant’s Moral Philosophy”). In other words, duty is the main aspect that should be taken into consideration while evaluating the ethical background of any decision. Of course, the duty can be autonomous. Any person can state: “I am the author of the law I have the duty to obey” (Sandel 125). Nevertheless, in the case of the Kantian philosophy, it refers to the universal law. Whether criminal or the religious rule, according to both of them, the priest had to tell the truth and reveal the criminals. He refused to do so and this decision goes against one of the main principles of the categorical imperative.

The next point that Kant suggests is that the morality is not just merely a matter of the prudential calculation. However, Michael Sandel emphasizes the fact that morality is “not the kind of thing that science can prove or disprove” (Sandel 126). As a result, it is more appropriate to refer to the notion of the universal law already elaborated by some people rather than to rely on any calculations that would leave the situation indefinite anyway. As it was already mentioned, such an approach would eventually lead to the disapproval of the priest’s decision from the film “Sleepers.” He preferred to act according to some personal calculations and denied the universal law.

The only point of the Kantian ethics that can support the priest’s decision is the one, which requires to treat other as “not means, but ends in themselves” (“Kant’s Moral Philosophy”). In his turn, Sandel contrasts it to the Golden Rule according to which people should treat others according to their own wishes concerning the treatment of themselves. The categorical imperative establishes its own principles of the right and respectful treatment of others. In this case, there is a possibility to say that the priest evaluated the killers as ends in themselves. He refused to destroy their lives, as the motive of their crime is quite understandable, and the characters themselves even deserve some respect for their brave decision.

All in all, according to the two premises of the Kantian categorical imperative, the priest from “Sleepers” had to reveal the truth about the main characters of the film, who had killed their abusers. At the same time, the third premise of the Kant’s ethics can be used to support and justify the priest’s choice. Generally, Kantian ethics is more against the decision made by the character; however, it still cannot provide the definite evaluation of this act. It means that the question of the correctness of the priest’s choice still remains open.