"I haven't ruled out the Catholic church, and the show has had a lot to do with that," says Anderson. In the research process, he's "seen some exciting priests who bring the church down to a more human level." These men — like Father Ray, he hopes — "make the rituals applicable, not ritual for ritual's sake. I think that's why the show has been threatening to [some] groups."
To be fair, the first episode's subplot — Father Ray and a married ex-girlfriend consider an affair — has as much to do with the backlash as departure from rituals. But Catholics who've come out in favor of the show, like best-selling author and priest Andrew M. Greeley and the Catholic weekly America (which called it "the best series ever produced about the rich and often complicated lives of American Catholics"), don't consider such sexual temptation an unreasonable stretch. "Talk to any priest who's strayed, or not — they'd say a situation like that is very believable," argues Anderson. Just as "any priest I talk to says, 'Of course there are moments where I don't feel God exists.'"
The producers decided Anderson was the conflicted man for them after seeing him play another tormented soul in the upcoming indie film Eye of God. "He's got a great Midwestern quality," says Kramer (a thirtysomething vet). "He's smart, but he's not glib." And, like the sarcastic, combative Father Ray, a little wary of the establishment. "I'm like that, very mistrusting of people," says Anderson. His suspicion might even extend to Sacred's controversy-besieged producers and network, ABC: "I've sensed [the writing] might be pulling back a bit, to be candid. If they water it down to basically giving masses every week, I'm not interested."
Not that Anderson wants a dark night of the soul every Thursday, either. "The doubting Thomas is a very interesting part of this guy. But," adds Anderson, "even that aspect of his character [must] eventually turn around. At a certain point he'll need to have some catharsis that reignites his interest in the priesthood, or he'll turn into a very somber, cynical guy. It's sort of like, 'S--t or get off the pot--you're a priest!'"
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