I was recently putting together an article related to media and priests and came across this video.

This West Wing scene finishes with President Bartlett with a rosary in his hand taking a knee in the Oval Office on the carpeted Seal of the President and receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The casting of the priest was not accidental. The West Wing producers chose Karl Malden in his last performance before his death. Forty-five years previous to his portrayal of Father Cavenaugh, Malden portrayed Father Barry in an Oscar nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role in On the Waterfront.

The article goes on to suggest that we can no longer sit back and await on Hollywood to provide positive portrayals within the media of priests. No longer can we expect to find Bing Cosby’s Father Chuck O’Malley of Going My Way, Spenser Tracey’s Father Flanagan of Boys Town, nor Father Gregory Peck’s Monsignor O’Flaherty of The Scarlett and the Black.

Yet, to complain about Hollywood’s recent inability to portray an heroic priest is “old media” thinking.  We need to harness the “new media” of social networking and internet tech like blogs and video-casts.  For instance, hope you are enjoying our Year for Priests series.