Sarah Mitchell
The CBS television show Blue Bloods showcases the culture of New York City and its police department, while also presenting the Catholic faith and Catholic family values with compassion and realism. The show's success is largely due to Tom Selleck's role as Frank Reagan, the current New York City police commissioner from a closely-knit, Irish-Catholic family, committed to law enforcement. The Reagan family, all four generations, assemble every Sunday for a dinner that never begins without saying grace, tackling moral issues and current events, such as the Church's stance on homosexuality. While the show has been praised for its portrayal of Catholicism, it has also faced criticism from Catholic groups for its depiction of certain controversial topics.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic cast members | None |
| Catholic characters | Tom Selleck's character Frank Reagan, Donnie Wahlberg's character Danny Reagan, Bridget Moynahan's character Erin Reagan, Will Estes's character Jamie Reagan, Len Cariou's character Henry Reagan |
| Catholic writers | Siobhan Byrne O'Connor, Kevin Wade |
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What You'll Learn
The cast and crew's personal beliefs
The CBS drama Blue Bloods follows the Reagan family, an Irish-Catholic family of law enforcement officers. The show is set in New York City and revolves around four generations of the family, who are committed to their Catholic faith and the New York criminal justice system.
The show's protagonist, Frank Reagan, is played by Tom Selleck, who is not Catholic or particularly religious in real life. Frank's father, Henry, is played by Len Cariou. Donnie Wahlberg plays Frank's son, Danny, a detective in the NYPD. Bridget Moynahan plays Erin, the only Reagan daughter, who works as an assistant district attorney. Will Estes plays Jamie, the youngest Reagan son and an NYPD sergeant.
The show's writers have tried to portray the Catholic faith with respect and realism. One of the scriptwriters, Siobhan Byrne O'Connor, is Catholic and married into a family of police officers. Executive producer Kevin Wade, a practising Catholic, also took a more prominent role in writing the show from the second season onwards. Wade has said that depicting Roman Catholicism was as important to the show's success as its realistic depiction of New York City and its police department.
The show has been praised for its portrayal of family and faith, with critics noting that it presents the Catholic faith with compassion and realism. The Reagans' weekly Sunday dinners, where they say grace and discuss moral issues, have been described as a highlight of the show.
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The show's portrayal of Catholicism
The show "Blue Bloods" portrays a closely-knit, Irish-Catholic Reagan family, with four generations committed to law enforcement. The show is centred around the family's deep connection to the New York criminal justice system. The great-grandfather, Henry, is a former New York City police commissioner, and his son, Francis Xavier (Frank), is the current commissioner. Frank's children, Danny, Jamie, and Erin, are also part of the NYPD, with Danny and Jamie as cops, and Erin as an assistant district attorney.
The show is known for its portrayal of Catholicism, with the family's Catholic faith and values presented with compassion and realism. The family attends Mass every Sunday, followed by a family dinner where they say grace before meals, making them the only network TV family shown praying regularly. The show also includes storylines about the seal of the confessional and Frank consulting with the archbishop of New York. It addresses controversial topics, including homosexuality and clerical abuse, without an agenda, focusing on depicting real people in ordinary and extraordinary situations.
The writers of the show, including Siobhan Byrne O'Connor, a Catholic who married into a family of police officers, have been credited with portraying Catholicism respectfully. However, some critics argue that the show occasionally conflicts with Catholic teachings and has an obligation to present an accurate portrayal of Catholicism.
The show's depiction of Catholicism has received mixed reviews. While some viewers appreciate its portrayal of a typical Catholic family, others attribute the show's cancellation to its religious, Catholic, and family-oriented closeness, suggesting that it caters to an older and more conservative demographic.
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The impact of Catholicism on the show's success
The CBS drama "Blue Bloods" has been widely regarded as one of the most Catholic shows on television. The show's success is attributed not only to its compelling portrayal of a police family but also to its sensitive and realistic depiction of the Catholic faith and family values.
The show revolves around the Reagan family, a closely-knit, Irish-Catholic family with a deep connection to law enforcement in New York City. The family's Catholic faith is on display in every episode, with Sunday dinners being the most distinctive and popular part of the show. The Reagans are shown saying grace before meals, making them the only TV family regularly portrayed praying together. The Sunday dinners also serve as a platform for discussing moral and religious issues, with Frank, played by Tom Selleck, acting as the Catholic patriarch.
The show's writers, including baptized Catholic Kevin Wade, have emphasized the importance of accurately portraying Roman Catholicism. Wade, who joined the show during its first season and became showrunner in the second, has been credited with finalizing every script and writing the most Catholic moments in each episode. The show has been praised for presenting the Catholic faith with compassion and realism, tackling controversial topics such as homosexuality and clerical abuse without an agenda.
The success of "Blue Bloods" can be attributed to its unique blend of a police procedural drama with a family drama that explores faith and family dynamics. The show's portrayal of Catholicism has resonated with viewers, offering a realistic representation of a Catholic family that struggles with faith and contemporary issues. The show's treatment of Catholicism has been described as fair and positive, with Bill Donohue of the Catholic Civil Rights League commending the show for casting a good light on Catholicism.
In conclusion, the impact of Catholicism on the show's success is significant. The sensitive and realistic portrayal of the Catholic faith and family values has contributed to the show's popularity and resonance with its audience. The show's exploration of Catholicism, through the lens of a practicing Catholic family, has offered a unique perspective within the landscape of television cop shows, solidifying its place as a long-running and well-received series.
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The show's treatment of controversial topics
The CBS drama Blue Bloods centres on four generations of the Reagan family, a closely-knit, Irish-Catholic family committed to law enforcement. The show has been praised for its respectful treatment of religious issues and its depiction of family and faith. The show's writers have tried to be sophisticated in matters of Catholic faith, and the show has been described as presenting the Catholic faith and Catholic family values with "compassion and realism".
The show's protagonist, Frank Reagan, is the current New York City police commissioner. Frank's son Danny is a detective on the NYPD, and two other children, Jamie and Erin, are also part of the NYPD and the district attorney's office, respectively. The family dynamic is a crucial aspect of what makes Blue Bloods unique among other recent hyper-realistic police dramas. The show portrays the Reagans as a family with strong Catholic values, and the family's Sunday dinners, which include saying grace before meals, are a prominent feature of the show.
While the show has been praised for its portrayal of Catholic faith and family values, some critics have argued that the writers' goal has been to embarrass the Church. The show has also been criticised for perpetuating the myth that police officers could overdose on fentanyl by merely touching it and for downplaying or apologising for systemic racism in law enforcement.
Despite these controversies, Blue Bloods has been a successful and long-running series, with a dedicated fan base who appreciate the show's portrayal of family and its interesting storylines. The show has also received recognition for its writing, with writer-producer Siobhan Byrne O'Connor receiving multiple Edgar Award nominations for her work on the show.
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The show's influence on viewers' perceptions
The police procedural drama TV series Blue Bloods revolves around the Reagans, a closely-knit, Irish-Catholic family with a deep connection to the New York criminal justice system. The show has been praised for its strong family values and realistic portrayal of law enforcement, with the Sunday dinner scenes being particularly well-received for enhancing character and family dynamics.
The show's depiction of family and faith are crucial aspects of what makes Blue Bloods unique among other recent hyper-realistic police dramas. The program centres on four generations of the Reagan family, all of whom are strong and have the courage and faith to stand up for what is right. This is drawn from their traditions and beliefs. The show has been lauded for its engaging storylines and realistic portrayal of police procedures.
The show has also sparked conversations about the accuracy of its portrayal of Catholic faith and traditions. Some viewers and critics argue that the writers' goal has been to embarrass the Church, with their means being puerile and pedestrian. They argue that the writers have an ethical obligation to present the unvarnished truth about Catholicism, rather than a "cute, slippery deception".
The show has also been criticised for its handling of political and social issues, perceived lack of depth, and specific character arcs. Some viewers have found the storylines repetitive and the family dynamics unrealistic. Despite these criticisms, the show has maintained a steady viewership, with the pilot episode garnering a total of 13.02 million viewers. The highest (non-pilot) live viewership of 12.93 million occurred in episode 14 of season four ("Manhattan Queens").
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Frequently asked questions
I cannot find evidence of any cast members who are Catholic. However, the show's executive producer, Kevin Wade, is a practising Catholic.
The show centres on the fictional Reagan family, who are Irish-Catholic and have a deep connection to the New York criminal justice system. Catholicism is featured in every episode, with the family gathering for a meal and saying grace in each one.
The show has been praised by the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights CEO, Bill Donohue, who called it one of the "few TV shows...to treat Catholicism fairly". However, in 2014, Donohue criticised an episode called "Burning Bridges", which featured a lesbian nun and a speech from Frank Reagan calling the Catholic Church "behind the times" on homosexuality.
