Sarah Mitchell
The CBS television drama Blue Bloods follows the Reagan family, a fictional family of cops who are proud of their Catholic faith. The show has been praised for its portrayal of Catholicism, with one outlet calling it one of the few TV shows on the broadcast networks to treat Catholicism fairly. The show's success has been attributed to its depiction of family and faith, with the Reagans' Sunday dinners being a highlight for many viewers. The show's executive producer, Kevin Wade, is a baptized, practicing Catholic, and he has been credited with finalizing every script and writing the most Catholic moment in every episode. In addition to Wade, actors Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg, and Bridget Moynahan are Catholics in real life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Show | Blue Bloods |
| Genre | Drama |
| Theme | Catholic family values, police drama |
| Main cast | Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan |
| Catholic cast members | Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan |
| Catholic writers | Kevin Wade, Siobhan Byrne O'Connor |
| Catholic characters | The Reagans, including Frank Reagan, Henry Reagan, Danny Reagan, Erin Reagan, Jamie Reagan |
| Catholic portrayal | Convincing, compassionate, realistic |
| Catholic viewers | Bill Clinton, Newark's Archbishop John Myers, Bill Donohue, David A. King |
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What You'll Learn
- Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg and Bridget Moynahan are Catholic in real life
- The show angered the Catholic League with its ''Burning Bridges' episode
- The Catholic faith is on display in every episode
- Executive producer Kevin Wade is a baptised, practising Catholic
- The show draws on real-life New York City events
Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg and Bridget Moynahan are Catholic in real life
Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg, and Bridget Moynahan are three actors from the TV series Blue Bloods. All three actors identify as Catholic in their real lives.
Tom Selleck, who played the lead role of Frank Reagan in the series, is a Christian and attributes his success in life to Jesus Christ. He served in the California National Guard from 1967 to 1973 and has said that his military service left a strong impression on him. Selleck's faith has been a rocky journey throughout the years, but he believes that God guides him through life.
Donnie Wahlberg, who portrayed NYPD Detective Danny Reagan, is also a Catholic. He endorsed Republican candidate Marco Rubio for president in 2016 but later commented that it was a tough decision due to their disagreements on many issues. Wahlberg is known for his acting and music career, having been a member of the boy band New Kids on the Block.
Bridget Moynahan, who played Erin Reagan in Blue Bloods, is also a Catholic. Moynahan is an American actress and former model who began her career in commercials and magazines before transitioning into acting. She made her television debut in 1999 with a guest appearance in the comedy series Sex and the City. Moynahan received the JFK National Award in 2025, which is given to honorees with Irish heritage.
While all three actors incorporate their religious beliefs into their lives, they have also faced different journeys and explorations of their faith. Their Catholic faith has influenced their careers and personal lives, demonstrating the importance they place on their spiritual beliefs.
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The show angered the Catholic League with its ''Burning Bridges' episode
The CBS police drama 'Blue Bloods' centres on the Reagans, a family of cops who are proud of their Catholic faith. The show is unique among other hyper-realistic police dramas for its depiction of family and faith.
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights CEO, Bill Donohue, initially praised the series, calling it one of the "few TV shows on the broadcast networks to treat Catholicism fairly". He described it as a "family-oriented" programme, and his endorsement continued for several years.
However, in 2014, the show angered Donohue and the Catholic League with its 'Burning Bridges' episode. The third episode of the fifth season featured a character who was a lesbian nun and included a speech from Frank Reagan, played by Tom Selleck, in which he called the Catholic Church "behind the times" on homosexuality. This caused Donohue to completely reverse his view of the show. He accused the writers of being ""behind the times" and claimed the episode "misrepresented the sexual abuse scandal". He also said that his office was "bombarded with complaints" from viewers after the episode aired.
Despite the backlash from Donohue and the Catholic League, 'Blue Bloods' continued to highlight the Reagans' religion and present Catholic faith and family values with compassion and realism. In 2019, the Archdiocese of Atlanta's Georgia Bulletin published an essay praising the show for its portrayal of Catholicism and its ability to capture the essence of New York City.
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The Catholic faith is on display in every episode
The show's executive producer, Kevin Wade, a baptized, practising Catholic, finalises every script and writes the most Catholic moment in every episode: the Sunday dinner scene at the Reagan home. The family sits in the same seats from week to week and starts every meal by saying grace, tackling moral issues and current events.
The show also features church scenes, such as those filmed at St. Patrick's Church in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, where the fictional Reagan family lives. The show's cast includes Catholics in real life, such as series star Tom Selleck, who plays Frank Reagan, and actors Donnie Wahlberg and Bridget Moynahan.
"Blue Bloods" has been praised for its portrayal of Catholicism and Catholic family values. The Archdiocese of Atlanta's Georgia Bulletin published an essay in 2019 commending the show for its empathy and respect for Catholic traditions. The show also received support from the former president, Bill Clinton, who is reportedly a devotee.
However, the show has also faced criticism from Catholic groups for its portrayal of certain controversial topics. In 2014, an episode titled "Burning Bridges" angered the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, as it featured a character who was a lesbian nun and included a speech from Frank, in which he criticised the Catholic Church for its stance on homosexuality. Despite this, "Blue Bloods" continues to highlight the Reagan family's Catholic religion and its impact on their lives and careers.
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Executive producer Kevin Wade is a baptised, practising Catholic
Wade has been instrumental to the success of Blue Bloods. He maintains that depicting the culture of Roman Catholicism is as important to the success of the show as a realistic depiction of New York City and its police department. The show centres on four generations of the Reagan family, close Catholics who all have a deep connection to the New York criminal justice system. Wade's influence is evident in the way the family's Catholic faith is on display in every episode. For instance, the Reagan family members sit in the same seats from week to week and start every meal by saying grace, tackling moral issues and current events.
Wade's Catholic faith has also influenced the show's portrayal of clergy and religious figures, which is done sensitively and realistically. The show does not shy away from controversial topics, including homosexuality and clerical abuse, but it does not have an agenda. Instead, the emphasis remains on depicting real people who happen to be Catholic cops.
Wade began his career by writing plays, and one of his earliest works was "Key Exchange", staged in 1983 and later turned into a movie in 1985. In 1988, he turned to film writing and wrote the celebrated comedy Working Girl, which earned him nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay and the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay. He has since written and produced several other successful films and TV shows.
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The show draws on real-life New York City events
The CBS television series Blue Bloods is a drama about a fictional family of cops, the Reagans, who are proud of their Catholic faith. The show draws on real-life New York City events and is filmed on location in and around the city. The Reagans are close Catholics with a deep connection to the New York criminal justice system. The family patriarch, Frank Reagan, is the New York City Police Commissioner, and his children, Danny, Jamie, and Erin, work as an NYPD detective, sergeant, and assistant district attorney, respectively.
The show captures the allure and decadence of New York City with sweeping panoramic shots of Manhattan and small moments in pizzerias, taxis, and city parks. It also showcases some of New York's great architecture, food vendors, and landmarks. The 94th Precinct House, the Reagan family home, and the Elmhurst Care Center are some of the iconic filming locations in Brooklyn. The show also highlights the worst aspects of the city, such as crime, danger, and even the occasional terrorist threat.
Executive producer Kevin Wade, a baptized, practising Catholic, joined the show midway through its first season and became showrunner in the second. Wade finalizes every script and writes what is considered the most Catholic moment in every episode: the Sunday dinner scene at the Reagan home. The family gathers for good food, good drink, and lively conversation about matters both practical and idealistic. They also discuss the moral issues they face, with Frank often having the last word.
The show's depiction of family and faith is crucial to its success and sets it apart from other hyper-realistic police dramas. It addresses controversial topics, including homosexuality and clerical abuse, but without an agenda. The emphasis is on depicting real people in both ordinary and extraordinary situations who happen to be New York City cops—Catholic cops. The show's ability to capture the essence of the city as a place and a state of mind, while presenting the Catholic faith and Catholic family values with compassion and realism, is a testament to the empathy of its cast and staff.
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Frequently asked questions
At least three actors on Blue Bloods are Catholic: Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg, and Bridget Moynahan.
Blue Bloods is a police drama centred on four generations of the Reagan family, who are Irish-Catholic and all have a deep connection to the New York criminal justice system.
Catholicism is central to the show Blue Bloods, with the characters saying grace before meals and attending church in their neighbourhood. The show has been praised for its portrayal of Catholicism, with one source saying:
> "That Blue Bloods is able to capture this essence of both the city as a place and a state of mind, while also presenting the Catholic faith and Catholic family values with compassion and realism, is a testament to the empathy its cast and staff have for special and lasting traditions."
However, the show has also been criticised by the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights for its portrayal of the Catholic Church's stance on homosexuality.
