Tech Tips for Catholics

Rebecca of Catholic in Film School is currently working on a series of blogposts that take a deeper look at how our Catholic priests are portrayed in movies.  In her recent post, “Priests on film series: An Introduction,” Rebecca highlights some of the different stereotypes often found in Hollywood films.

1. The Jolly Priest: is just a fun, one-dimensional character that gives one-liners and the occasional dopey, yet still fatherly advice.
2. The Old Creeper Priest: is usually found in thrillers like The X Files, and is placed to further exaggerate the general freaky deakyness of the film.
3. The Epic Priest: Despite the positive portrayal, the “Epic Priest” also tends to be one-dimensional.
4. The Secular Priest: The “Secular Priest” and what I would deem the “Non-Catholic” priest character presents a set of unique problems, because there is nothing discernibly ”Catholic” about either of these characters. (I’ll talk more about this later in the series.)
5. The Non-Catholic Priest aka “Fr. Morals & Values:”

I too often get agitated at how priests are portrayed in movies.  Nuns also seem to get painted with a broad brush in more recent films.  Stereotypes are often born of lack of knowledge or inexperience.

“Negative stereotypes are bad for everyone, but when films stereotype Catholic clergy they create division and disharmony not only between the Church and the secular world, but within the Church as well between the laity and the clergy,” Rebecca explains. “Imagine for a second, an agnostic teenager who has never had a conversation with a priest beyond a, “Good morning, Father” on Sundays after mass even though he’s been going to church his entire life. If that teenager sees the despicable film “Quills” for example, what is he supposed to think about the Church and the call to the priesthood? Not much, in my estimation.”

If you watch many of the prime-time TV shows, you would think every Catholic priest is a pedophile.  Rebecca says, “the church is in a post-apocalyptic/post-9/11 era due to the sex abuse scandal (that has not ceased in some parts of the world.)”  I would have to agree.

Rebecca will be breaking down each stereotype on her blog so be sure to bookmark Catholic in Filmschool or subscribe to her RSS Feed. Also, check out Rebecca’s contributions to Catholic Tech Tips.

Below are some related links to this topic:

• Philip Hoffman vs. Mark Shea
• Quote: The Priesthood
• Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFR)