Grace Thompson
The CBS drama Blue Bloods follows the Reagans, a fictional family of cops who are proud of their Catholic faith. The show's success is largely due to Tom Selleck's role as Frank Reagan, the current New York City police commissioner. The show also stars Len Cariou as Frank's father, Henry, a retired police commissioner, and Donnie Wahlberg as Danny Reagan, Frank's son and a detective in the NYPD. While the show has been praised for its portrayal of Catholicism, it has also faced criticism from Catholic organizations for certain storylines.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Setting | New York City |
| Family | The Reagans |
| Theme | Catholic family values |
| Main Character | Tom Selleck |
| Main Character's Role | Frank Reagan, New York City Police Commissioner |
| Other Characters | Danny Reagan, Erin Reagan, Jamie Reagan, Henry Reagan |
| Showrunner | Wade |
| Executive Producer | Kevin Wade |
| Number of Seasons | 11 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Tom Selleck is Catholic
Tom Selleck, the actor who plays Frank Reagan in the CBS drama Blue Bloods, is a Christian. He has attributed his success to Jesus Christ, saying, "it's an individual's heart that makes plans for a lifetime, but it's the Almighty who guides him through them." Selleck's faith has been a significant part of his life and has influenced his career choices. He decided to join the army instead of pursuing acting after receiving an acting contract from Twentieth Century Fox, as he felt that was God's plan for him at the time.
Selleck has been open about his Christian faith and has said that Jesus Christ is responsible for all his successes in life. He acknowledges that his journey as a Christian has had its ups and downs, but he always tries to conduct himself ethically and let his faith guide him.
In Blue Bloods, Selleck's character, Frank Reagan, is the New York City Police Commissioner and the patriarch of a closely-knit, Irish-Catholic family. The show explores the family's Catholic faith, with Sunday dinner scenes at the Reagan home being a highlight. While the writers of the show have been criticized for their portrayal of Catholic matters, the show's success is partly due to Selleck's strong and affable portrayal of Frank Reagan, a man of integrity who does not court favors or play politics.
Selleck's own values and military background, which he credits to his parents, have likely influenced his acting choices and his ability to portray strong and ethical characters like Frank Reagan. His experience in the California National Guard has left a strong impression on him, and he takes pride in his service. Selleck's faith and military background have shaped him not only as an actor but also as a veteran and a man of integrity.
James, Son of Alpheus: Catholic Martyrdom
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The show angered the Catholic League
In 2012, the popular police procedural drama *Blue Bloods* angered the Catholic League, a Catholic advocacy group, due to the content of one of its episodes. The episode in question, "Higher Education," portrayed a Catholic priest in a negative light, which the Catholic League deemed offensive and irresponsible.
In the episode, one of the main characters, Danny Reagan (played by Donnie Wahlberg), investigates a case involving a Catholic priest, Father Albertus (played by Victor Slezak), who is accused of molesting a student at a local college. During the investigation, it is revealed that Father Albertus has been transferring large sums of money to a young man, leading to suspicions of an inappropriate relationship. As the episode unfolds, it is suggested that the priest may be involved in a cover-up of the student's death and that he could be part of a wider corruption scandal within the church.
The Catholic League took issue with the portrayal of the priest as a morally corrupt individual, arguing that it perpetuated negative stereotypes of Catholic clergy. They claimed that the episode contributed to a broader trend in the media of unfairly targeting the Catholic Church and its members. The League's president, Bill Donohue, issued a strong statement criticizing the show and its network, CBS. He argued that the episode presented a biased and inaccurate view of the Church's handling of sexual abuse cases and that it failed to acknowledge the positive contributions of Catholic priests. Donohue also pointed out that the show's writers had previously consulted with a rabbi and a Muslim cleric for other episodes involving those faiths, but they did not seek similar input from Catholic clergy for this particular episode.
In response to the backlash, CBS issued a statement defending the episode, stating that *Blue Bloods* "has always been a show that depicts stories about family, loyalty, and corruption within different walks of life, including government and law enforcement." The network also emphasized that the show's characters and storylines are entirely fictional and are not meant to represent any specific group or individual. Despite this defense, the Catholic League maintained its stance, urging its members and supporters to contact CBS and express their disappointment and concern over the offensive content.
This incident highlights the potential consequences of media portrayals that touch on sensitive issues related to religion and cultural groups. While creative works of fiction often draw on real-world issues for their storylines, it is important for writers and producers to handle such topics with sensitivity and accuracy to avoid causing offense or perpetuating negative stereotypes.
Communion Denial for Abortion Support: Catholic Church's Stance
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The show's writers are not Catholic
While the show "Blue Bloods" is centered on a closely-knit, Irish-Catholic family, not all of its writers are Catholic. The show has been criticized for its portrayal of Catholic faith and matters, with some claiming that the writers try to be savvy and sophisticated in these matters but end up being puerile and pedestrian, and that they have an ethical obligation to present the unvarnished truth about Catholicism.
One of the program's scriptwriters, Siobhan Byrne O'Connor, is a Catholic who has married into a family of police officers. O'Connor, along with Mitchell Burgess and Robin Green, are credited as responsible for the script. The show also had a practicing Catholic executive producer, Kevin Wade, who took a more significant role in writing the show in its second season. Wade maintained that depicting Roman Catholicism was essential to the show's success.
Despite these Catholic influences, it is unclear if all the writers of "Blue Bloods" are Catholic. The show has been accused of occasionally presenting a conflicting view of Catholicism and not always depicting matters of Catholic faith accurately. For example, the show has explored controversial topics such as homosexuality and clerical abuse but has been criticized for not always doing so truthfully and respectfully.
While the show's writers may not all be Catholic, they have created a program that presents Catholicism with compassion and realism. The show has been praised for its portrayal of family and faith, with the Catholic faith being a crucial aspect of what makes the show unique among other recent hyper-realistic police dramas. The writers have also been commended for their sensitive and realistic portrayal of clergy and religious figures, as well as their exploration of the family's relationships, beliefs, and journeys within the context of their Catholic faith.
Catholic Diocese in Kenya: A Comprehensive Overview
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Catholicism is central to the plot
The show's depiction of Catholicism has been praised for its compassion and realism, with the Archdiocese of Atlanta's Georgia Bulletin publishing an essay in 2019 commending the show for its portrayal of Catholic faith and family values. The show's executive producer, Kevin Wade, a practicing Catholic himself, has stated that depicting the culture of Roman Catholicism was just as important to the show's success as a realistic depiction of New York City and its police department. The show also tackles controversial topics within the Catholic Church, such as homosexuality and clerical abuse, although it has been accused of misrepresenting the Church's stance on these issues.
In one notable episode, "Burning Bridges," Frank Reagan criticized the Catholic Church for being "behind the times" on homosexuality, which angered the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. Despite this, the show has also received praise from the Catholic League, with president Bill Donohue calling it one of the few TV shows to treat Catholicism fairly. The show's writers have tried to depict matters of Catholic faith with savvy and sophistication, but some viewers and critics believe they have fallen short, accusing them of trying to embarrass the Church.
Overall, Catholicism is an integral part of the "Blue Bloods" narrative, influencing the characters' values, morals, and decisions. The show's portrayal of a Catholic family in modern-day New York has resonated with viewers and contributed to its success.
California's Catholic Bishops: A Comprehensive Count
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![A Question of Faith [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81M0I2oEwwS._AC_UY218_.jpg)
![Finding Faith [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71teRY+YW0L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
The show's portrayal of Catholicism
The show "Blue Bloods" portrays Catholicism as a central aspect of the Reagan family's lives. The family is depicted as a closely-knit, Irish-Catholic family, with members who are committed to law enforcement. The show integrates Catholicism into its narrative by featuring religious practices and discussions of moral issues.
One of the most notable aspects of the show's portrayal of Catholicism is the Sunday dinner scene at the Reagan home, where the family gathers around the table and says grace before discussing the moral issues they face. This scene has been described as the "most Catholic moment" in each episode. While the show has been praised for its sensitive and realistic portrayal of Catholicism, with one source noting that it "never shies away from controversial topics, including homosexuality and clerical abuse", some have criticised the writers for allegedly trying to embarrass the Church.
The show also explores the intersection of Catholicism and law enforcement, with characters who are cops or otherwise involved in the criminal justice system. For example, Frank Reagan, the New York City police commissioner, is shown to be a man of strong faith and conviction, respected for his leadership and integrity. His son Danny is a zealous detective on the NYPD, and his other children, Jamie and Erin, are also involved in law enforcement as a police officer and assistant district attorney, respectively.
Marital Chastity: Do Men Accept Catholic Women's Choice?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Blue Bloods is a TV drama about a fictional family of cops, the Reagans, who are proud of their Catholic faith.
Tom Selleck, who plays Frank Reagan, and Len Cariou, who plays Henry Reagan, portray Catholic characters. Donnie Wahlberg, who plays Danny Reagan, Bridget Moynahan, who plays Erin Reagan, and Will Estes, who plays Jamie Reagan, also portray Catholic characters.
It is unclear whether any of the actors on Blue Bloods are Catholic in real life. However, showrunner Kevin Wade, who joined midway through the first season, is a baptized, practising Catholic.
Catholicism is a central theme in Blue Bloods. The show has been praised for its "convincing portrayal of Catholicism" and for presenting "Catholic faith and Catholic family values with compassion and realism". However, it has also been criticised for its portrayal of the Catholic Church's stance on homosexuality and for misrepresenting the sexual abuse scandal.
