It might seem odd to have an episode focused on Easter when it’s August, but “Mad Men” is not exactly known for fitting the TV mold. The critically-acclaimed series set in the 60s advertising world usually revels, basks, and otherwise adorns itself in storylines of moral ambiguity set against a culture on the verge of enormous change. This is exactly why I am so crazy about the show. The series has examined racism, homophobia, politics, and sexism, so I guess it is about time it sets its sights on religion. I’m just not so sure I like the direction that the latest storyline is going.
One of the juicier storylines on the show has been receptionist-turned-junior copywriter Peggy’s secret affair, pregnancy, and hush-hush birth of a son. It had been established in previous episodes that Peggy’s family is Catholic and that her mother and sister made the decision to adopt Peggy’s baby when Peggy turned her back on the child. But in the latest episode, when Peggy visits her family, she meets a dreamy new priest ( Colin Hanks) who wants to liven the church up a little bit.
The family invites the priest over for a meal, Peggy helps him liven up his Sunday message, and before you know it, jealousy rears its head in the form of Peggy’s sister. Peggy confesses to Father Gill that she is angry over the way Peggy lives her life without seeming to truly pay any consequences for her sins. In the final scene, which takes place on Easter Sunday, Father Gill hands Peggy an Easter egg leftover from the Easter egg hunt and tells her it’s for her “little one.” It’s no small moment, as divulging the fact that he knows she is an unwed mother effectively breaks the Seal of Confession, something a priest could be excommunicated for.
In my opinion, “Mad Men” is pure genius when it reflects on key moments in culture and reveals some insight into how we ended up in the postmodern mess we are in today. It has, so far, been less adept in its examination of personal redemption– whether it be Peggy’s pregnancy or Don Draper’s dark past. That’s why my guess is that with Hanks scheduled to reappear in a few more episodes this season, I can imagine an almost tryst– or maybe a real one– between Peggy and Father Gill is not too far off, although I am far more curious to see how the show will delve into Vatican II and its reforms, which were taking place at the same time in history.
posted August 19, 2008 at 5:25 pm
It is not something a “priest could get excommunicated for”
Canon 983
+1. The sacramental seal is inviolable; therefore, it is a crime for
a confessor in any way to betray a penitent by word or in any other
manner or for any reason.
Canon 1388
+1. A confessor who directly violates the seal of confession incurs
an automatic (latae sententiae) excommunication reserved to the
Apostolic See; if he does so only indirectly, he is to be punished in
accord with the seriousness of the offense.
posted August 19, 2008 at 9:18 pm
This is a direct violation of confession, not an indirect violation. So say my devout Jesuit friends.
posted August 20, 2008 at 6:32 am
He didn’t break the seal, because nowhere in the show did anyone say that was her baby. Even the sister didn’t say she was raising her sisters baby, she just said her sister had a baby out of wedlock. Also, he never said more than “for the little one” not “your little one”. I think the story was about her sister ruining the father’s friendship with peggy by making him judge her– even in private. Ask your jesuit friends if they are human. If they would change their feelings about someone based on a confidential revelation. They will understand this. Additionally, if he did break the seal, who says no one ever does that. I guess priests never have sex either. Or take drugs. That would be absolutely impossible, right? The show is about humans. Father Gill may be having as hard a time with his conscience as Peggy is. that’s why I love it.
posted November 23, 2008 at 10:43 pm
her sister isn’t raising her baby. the show — in that episode — makes you think that she is. because it is – duh – a TV show. suspense, get it? in a later episode you see that the sister was pregnant at the same time as peggy. it’s pretty obvious that the show is more subtle than most viewers: the drama doesn’t come from peggy’s sister raising her child. the drama come from peggy being reminded about her child (given up for adoption) by her sister’s child.
so far, i find the introduction of father gill to be a fascinating one… a popular TV showw actually including a storyline about the on-the-verge-of-vatican-two church!