From the back cover of The Church on TV: Portrayals of Priests, Pastors and Nuns on American Television Series, by Richard Wolff (New York: Continuum, 2010):
Sister Bertrille. Father Dowling. Reverend Camden. These three characters span the history
of television's depiction of church leaders, from The Flying Nun (1967-1970) to The
Father Dowling Mysteries (1989-1991) and 7th Heaven (1996-2007). Each exemplifies one of three trends in television's chronicle
of the church, from shows of the 1960s-70s that focus on internal conflicts in
the church, to those of the 1980s and early 1990s that illustrate the church's
struggle for relevance in the modern world, and finally those of the 1990s
through today that portray the church in the family context. This book examines TV's depiction of
church leaders and the issues they faced over time, examining seventeen programs
in depth. It considers how
television's portrayal of the church of each era compares to actual trends in
American church history, why television's depiction of the church appears as it
does, and what this says about U.S. popular culture. The book discusses the programs' depiction of various issues
facing the church of their times, including: the role of women in the church; clerics reconsidering their
call; the sexuality of clerics; the ecumenical movement; and the church's
response to abortion, homosexuality, racial injustice and illegal
immigration. Ultimately, it finds
that the more successful programs take a light-hearted approach to depicting
the church, whereas those focusing on controversy -- no matter how realistic or
relevant -- fare poorly in ratings and longevity. What emerges is a popular mythology of the church and its
leaders that, while reflecting many contemporaneous trends in actual churches,
either waters itself down for mass consumption or faces widespread rejection.
"What Wolff analyzes and subjects to a highly skilled critique is the way Church and society relate." --The Church Times
