Pope Francis' "New" Catholicism

For ten consecutive Tuesday nights this summer starting on June 26th at 8:00 PM the Knights of Columbus will be showing one episode of the ten part documentary "Catholicism" in their hall at 1211 Highland Ave. in Needham. These one hour showings are free of charge and open to the public, with popcorn and refreshments available at no cost. This extraordinary series, which first aired on PBS stations across the country, covers the history, beauty, traditions, teachings and impact of the Catholic Church on human civilization since the time of Jesus. With the extraordinary popularity of Pope Francis, the world is taking a new look at this ancient religion, and this documentary is an excellent means to do so.

In March 2013 Jorge Mario Bergoglio was chosen by the College of Cardinals to lead the Catholic Church, the largest Christian religion in the world. As Pope Francis, he rapidly became both a popular and controversial figure. Catholics had wide-ranging opinions of some of his public statements. Non-Catholics and non-practicing Catholics thought he was changing the Church's teachings on a variety of important issues and enthusiastically welcomed the idea.

The reality is that Francis has simply broadened the Church's message, not its teachings. This is not a new Catholicism. Each papacy seeks to focus on its own theme based on what the times call for. This is simply a decision to try to expose the world to a more complete picture of the Church and its teachings, such that they are seen in their full context.

This broadening of the world's understanding of the Church's teachings has been dramatically enhanced with the release of the documentary "Catholicism". This is a global project, filming around the world and exploring the Church's contributions to civilization in areas like art, education, healthcare, science, law, and culture. The teachings of Jesus Christ form the foundation upon which the Church is built, and they are visited again and again and woven into the fabric of the film as its unifying theme. It is a dizzying and spectacularly beautiful trip across time and place, and it delves deeply into the Church's teachings, rituals and beliefs, explaining their original context and their applicability today in our contemporary world.

The documentary's creator and host, Bishop Robert Barron, is both scholarly and extremely easy to listen to. His comfortable, down to earth manner and reasonable, fact-based approach to telling the story of the Church, for better or worse, and its underlying faith, is compelling. He draws you in with an irresistible mix of the Church's breathtaking beauty, and a calm unfolding of its true teachings and the lasting impact which remains with us today. Many will be surprised to hear what the Church actually teaches and why, versus the stereotypes and common misunderstandings which have become prevalent in contemporary society.

Whether you are a devout Catholic, a non-practicing Catholic, or a non-Catholic who is simply interested in learning more about the oldest institution in history you are likely to be left stunned by this comprehensive exploration of a fascinating faith. Even those who consider themselves devout Catholics will learn a great deal and come away with an entirely new and greatly expanded perspective. The scale, scope and impact of the institution is unparalleled. The teachings and very person of Jesus have been controversial from the moment He started His ministry over two thousand years ago and remain so today. His claim to be the Son of God is explored as well as many of the faith's prominent figures, saints, and leaders, both good and bad. The documentary is an unforgettable experience and shouldn't be missed.