Friday, October 20, 2006

Why CSI is great


Again, CSI has ended with inspired theological commentary by Grissom. Last week was great. This week a young pregnant woman is found crucified inside a Catholic church. Turns out she was going to leave her "boyfriend" for the young priest who was in love with her. He was going to leave the priesthood to marry her. Turns out her "boyfriend" was the priest's best friend, and in a jealous rage, he killed her. The very last scene has the murderer pass by the priest and Grissom in the hallway. Grissom turns to the priest and says:

Grissom: Can you forgive him?
Priest: That's Christ's mandate. You know what that means, don't you?
Grissom: You have no choice.

Wow!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I didn't get to see the show last night and missed a good one. Just from your blog I can tell the story line was more complex than just the ending remarks. Here is some quality banter.

My first question would be, who forgives the priest? You see a priest must take a vow of celibasy prior to becoming a priest. This vow is made between the individual, the church, and God. I make the assumption that the priest was the father?, (no pun intended) since she was pregnant and was leaving the boyfriend for the priest.

Now that assumption being made - can the priest continue in the priesthood? Is he deflocked? Is there a different level a priest is placed within God's eyes when a vow of this nature is taken? (Remeber your blog "Are All Sins Equal in God's Eyes?" dated 10/26/05?)

Here's my second question, and a leading one at that. If the church allows this priest to remain because he declares his sin and askes forgivness, then does the church become complicit if they move him to another perish and he does the same thing again?

Charles North said...

The story was way more complex than I outlined. The priest and the murdered girl had a relationship long before he became a priest. He gave her up to enter the priesthood, and was planning on leaving the priesthood so they could get married. And, no, the priest was not the father of the baby. the jealous boyfriend (who was the priest's best friend) was the father.

I think this was more commentary on how the Amish handled the shooting a couple of weeks ago - complete forgiveness. It's how ALL Christians ought to act.

Ray said...

You almost make me wish I watched more TV... :-)

Charles North said...

Good morning Ray! If you watch the right shows (CSI, 24, and House) TV is greater than it's ever been. Nice to hear from you again.

Ray said...

BTW, I have not commented on your blog lately, but the last few posts, especially the one on Muhammad Yunus have been very good...

Also, how's your brother -- haven't heard from him in a bit....

Charles North said...

Ray - Ryan is good. He and Kayla are adopting a boy - Tyler. The court date is Nov.18. Maybe me, you, and him ought to get together again.

Anonymous said...

So you do have a blog! I watch less theological stimulating shows than you do, like Smallville. The closest they got to theology is when Lex Luthor told Jonathan Kent to quite lecturing him with his santimonius platitudes. By the way, thanks again for having Sarah and me over to your place. There was something else I was going to tell you but now I forgot. Ahh! I hate it when that happens

Charles North said...

Welcome aboard David - I thought about you yesterday!

Ryan said...

Great episode as usual.

Do you remeber the episode where the guy kills his younger sister and he and Grissom discuss suicide vs. murder in the hospital chapel?