The Academy-Award-Voting Nun

So I just learned that one of the voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a former actress who became cloistered Benedictine nun: Mother Dolores Hart. Entertainment Weeklyhas a great article describing her film career, her decision to become a nun, and her involvement in the academy.

I really enjoyed some of her quotes.

Why she doesn’t share or recommend all of the films to the sisters in her community –

I don’t think that they would be shocked by the gore and the sex and the violence in the movies as much as they would just feel that their time had been wasted.

Why a nun is watching an R-rated film –

Movies reflect the time. It’s not so much that movies are ugly, it’s the ugliness of the time that is reflected. To me that indicates what we have to pray for and pray about.

And what’s lacking in some of these movies –

When I see Natalie Portman masturbating [in Black Swan], I hear the kids come in and talk about their problems with masturbating. What offends me is, Is the movie itself going to leave people without hope? You have to help them know that there is a way through their grief and their pain.

On her previous acting career and her religious vocation-

If you’re an actor, you have to have that freedom of being able to give yourself over to the experience of another being. You’ve got to get that truth and you’ve got to find it within yourself.

The article closes with a great line.

At the Abbey of Regina Laudis, Mother Dolores believes she has found the role of a lifetime, performing daily for an audience of One.

Many social conservatives won’t even admit that they watch the Academy Awards. I understand that people may not want to support some of the values that are flaunted in these venues. Totally get that. But I still think movies have an amazing power to influence and we ought to use them for that. In fact, I know of a priest who teaches a high school morality class using mainstream movies. I can’t think of a better/more relevant way to start some of these conversations.

In the Gospels, we see that Jesus led a very ordinary life. He socialized, went to parties, and “even” spent time with “questionable” people. I’m not suggesting anyone compromise themselves, but I am suggesting that it’s not a bad idea to engage the culture surrounding us, as well as the people who participate in that culture. That’s the work of evangelization, no?

See you at the Oscars…at least virtually!