c. 1997 Religion News Service
(Andrew M. Greeley is a Roman Catholic priest, best-selling novelist and a sociologist at the University of Chicago National Opinion Research Center. Check out his home page at http://www.agreeley.com, or contact him via e-mail at agreel(at)aol.com.)
UNDATED _ In the new ABC-TV series”Nothing Sacred,”the lively arts have given the Roman Catholic Church its best public relations coup since the film”Dead Man Walking.” A Catholic parish makes an ideal setting for a TV drama. Where else can you encounter in a single day so much tragedy, comedy, lunacy and glory; so much pettiness and so much generosity; so many grim problems and so much compassionate warmth?
Moreover, it is in the parish _ through its priests and people _ that Catholicism lives in all its richness of color and humanity. Hats off to all those responsible for the series: the producer, the Jesuits who have cooperated in its production, the actors _ especially Kevin Anderson who plays Father Ray, the lead character _ and ABC for its courage to try the series.
Most Catholics would be delighted to have Father Ray as their pastor. He is young, compassionate, energetic, kind to kids, and preaches a good sermon. Moreover, he presents a more humane and appealing image of the church than do pedophile priests and tongue-tied Vatican officials.
Father Ray has his faults, as do we all. But he’s a better priest than most of us would make. He has doubts about God _ who doesn’t? _ but the doubts are in his head, not his heart. He gets angry too easily, but let the one without sin throw the first stone. And he can be outrageous, but his parishioners understand his job could drive anyone to such outbursts.
The immense and astonishing success of CBS'”Touched by an Angel”seems to have convinced those in the TV industry that programs with religious messages can be very popular. And”Nothing Sacred”has a good shot at success precisely because it poignantly addresses human problems with sensitive religious insights.
Of course, ideologues on the left and the right are upset with”Nothing Sacred.”Some liberals patronize it as a yuppie sitcom (from a narcissistic review in the National Catholic Reporter). Some conservatives call it”anti-Catholic”and”one more sick look at priests”(William Donohue of the Catholic League).
Despite what the critics say, I’m not sure that Father Ray’s pastoral responses to the problems he faces are wrong. For example, he tells a young woman contemplating abortion that the church teaches against it, but in the end she must follow her own conscience. Conscience is ultimately the norm of all moral decision-making. Obviously, a Catholic must seriously take into account the church’s teachings when making moral decisions.
Many priests might argue that a gentle approach in the confessional to a woman considering abortion is more likely to be successful than hellfire and brimstone. But in the series opener, since the young woman is faking her dilemma so she can tape the priest’s reply, we don’t know whether Father Ray’s compassion works or not.
However, conservatives like Donohue apparently expect priests to lay down the law without any sympathy, understanding or pastoral skill. In their view, the staunch, unwaivering priest is the only kind that should be characterized on television. But most priests don’t act that way. The purpose of art _ whether it be fine or lively _ is to illumine, not to edify.
And”Nothing Sacred”illuminates the compassion of priests and the humanity of the church with rare clarity. It may have its flaws, but Catholics should celebrate it instead of being nitpicky.
The ideologues trying to destroy”Nothing Sacred”_ as they have tried to destroy everything new and exciting in the church during the past 20 years _ will fail.
MJP END GREELEY
