Religious shows roll out

Maybe it's Lent, or the coming of Easter. Whatever the reason, television has slated another collection of programs of religious interest. This set includes four hours about early Christians, two made-for-TV movies about nuns and a documentary about a priest-activist. And if you're not inclined to watch TV, a new book offers some interesting insights into how the media treat religion. The book is "Religion and Prime Time Television," edited by Michael Suman. It contains the texts of speeches given by spiritual leaders, academics and media figures during a 1995 conference at UCLA, as well as follow-up articles by other experts. Together, the contents come from an impressive interreligious collection of people, including Archbishop John Foley from the Vatican's communications department, Donald Wildmon from the American Family Association, critic Michael Medved, and Father Elwood Kieser of Paulist Productions. For spice, there's even a contribution from an atheist. The book's topics range from complaints from believers about why religion is often taboo on television to descriptions by producers and writers of how difficult it is to include faith on TV programs. "Religion and Prime Time Television" provides an intriguing and provocative sampler box of bon-bons. There's something for everyone, especially for believers who pray they will be able to turn on the tube and see someone express religious beliefs. Meanwhile, their prayers are being answered around Holy Week in four special programs:

* "Father Roy: Inside the School of Assassins," a documentary which will be shown on PBS stations during April (check local listings), focuses on Maryknoll Father Roy Bourgeois, a peace activist whose latest cause is the controversial School of the Americas, run by the U.S. Army to train military officers from Latin America. Critics charge that the school has turned out dictatorial thugs and human rights abusers who oppress their people. * "The Patron Saint of Liars," on CBS on April 5, focuses on a pregnant woman (played by Dana Delaney) who deserts her husband and starts a new life at a Catholic home for unwed mothers. There, she encounters a nun (Sada Thompson) who becomes her mentor and a man who becomes her new love. But the woman's lies and sins have to be dealt with before she can find faith and healing. * "From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians," which will be broadcast by PBS on April 6-7, is a four-hour documentary that examines how the first Christians understood Christ, formed a Church, and spread their new Faith against the odds of persecution and resistance. Commentaries by leading theologians probe who Jesus was, what His followers believed He wanted them to do and how they persevered despite a pagan empire's commitment to squashing them. (A more in-depth review of this program will appear in a future column.) * "The Staircase," to air on CBS on April 12, stars Barbara Hershey in the true story (or is it a legend?) of a nun in New Mexico in 1878 whose dying wish for a new chapel is granted by a mysterious stranger named Joad. The two-hour movie also stars William Petersen as the carpenter who comes up with a miraculous solution to the nun's problem.

("Religion and Prime Time Television," $55, can be ordered by calling 1-800-225-5800.)

(03-19-98)

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