It may look like your standard slice of public television, but Father Barron is not interested in an objective, clinical examination of the faith. And this documentary is, indeed, a work of apologetics. Yet with such a grand title, “Catholicism” invites some argument about what should be included.Ī shortened version of “Catholicism” aired on several PBS affiliates in October, though at least one station declined to show it because of its explicitly Christian content. Of course, no documentary, even of this length, could touch upon every tradition within the church. Students of Ignatian spirituality, the Second Vatican Council or contemporary theology, for example, may find his treatment of the faith incomplete. (And shots of him gazing contemplatively into the distance are thankfully few.) He is an engaging conversation partner, though not one with whom everyone will always agree. (At times, the production can play like “Where in the World is Father Barron?”)įather Barron has a talent for television: He speaks confidently and cogently on camera. More than once, I was put in mind of Niall Ferguson striding across Europe to explain World War II or international monetary policy. The film hops from Mexico City to Israel to Uganda to Rome to the Philippines and a handful of other destinations, with a not unexpected stop in John Paul II’s Krakow along the way. Teaming up with Matt Leonard of “The Today Show,” Father Barron set out to convey the universal nature of the church. In addition to its impressive length, the documentary boasts exquisite cinematography and enormous range. “Catholicism” is a media project far beyond anything Father Barron has done before. Father Barron is best known (at least until now) for Web videos in which he engages with various cultural trends, from the new atheism to the theology of “The Dark Knight.” He is both a genial host and a stout defender of the church, who is not afraid to acknowledge its failings. Robert Barron, a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago who teaches at Mundelein Seminary. Produced by Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, Catholicism is written and hosted by the Rev. When you consider that The New Catholic Encyclopedia clocks in at 12,000 pages, 10 hours seems almost slight. Then again, the series under review is not telling the story of baseball or the Civil War but of Catholicism, an enormously rich tradition that, 10 years into a career in the Catholic press, I am still learning about. Even by the standards set by Ken Burns, 10 hours is a hefty length for a documentary.
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