Would the Real Father Brown Please Stand Up?

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LilyM said:
You accuse the BBC of making an “imposter” Father Brown. How can a fictional character ever be anything other than an “imposter” to start with? Whether developed by Chesterton or the BBC or anyone else?
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Literary criticism. The character is not Father Brown. Chesterton in fact based the character on an actual priest. And the persona transcribed in his books (hence, his character) does not occur in the BBC Series.

There is always artistic license, to s sense and degree. However, none of the personality and facts of the person in the BBC drama really unfolds as the priest I know from the actual stories.

The Brown in the BBC is a nosebody. He doesn’t even appear to take a vacation. Or in another area. In fact Poirot travels on more occasion like the real Father Brown. In many respects, Agatha Christie’s Poirot has been on vacations, and end up investigating crimes. Poirot is much more close to the genius of Chesterton’s Father Brown. Not the Brown in the BBC series.

The Brown in the BBC (the character) wants to play and dress as Chesterton’s writ. But it isn’t him. Quite much it’s a man who dresses up in priest clerical style, giving last rites, and going around like a priest seeking crimes to investigate.

However, if the BBC wanted to save the series to Father Brown. I’d suggest they ought to have revealed after a long time, that this was actually an impersonation. And perhaps, just perhaps, the person impersonating Father Brown, would be Flambeau. And that would be a turning point in the series. And I think a grace, if they followed it. But, what I see from the BBC, they are full of their own folly. And want to condemn actual Orthodoxy of the Catholic Church, by showing this Brown to be dubiously against the real crux of Church matters: Penance.

I like the real Father Brown. The man who strode the pages of Chesterton, depicted by Kenneth More in the Acorn Media series,. And the one played by Alec Guiness in the movie: “The Great Detective.”

Perhaps, and yet another perhaps the BBC could do (but I imagine they’d be set against it.) Is that they would consider the real Father Brown to inspire people, who were watching the program, to become truly Catholic, and maybe a priest. And if they are lapsed Catholics, to maybe…to go to: Confession.

But I doubt it.
 
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While what you’re talking about isn’t what put me off to the show, I’ve always been more than a little disturbed by how the BBC’s Father Brown uses the things he hears in the confessional to help solve his murder mysteries.

He’s always careful to never outright break the seal of confession, but he’ll regularly use the information he’s heard in the confession to help push the civil authorities in the right direction. I have to wonder how knowledgeable the show’s writers are of the religion they’re trying to imitate.
Can. 984 §1. A confessor is prohibited completely from using knowledge acquired from confession to the detriment of the penitent even when any danger of revelation is excluded.
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Can. 984 §2. A person who has been placed in authority cannot use in any manner for external governance the knowledge about sins which he has received in confession at any time.
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Clearly the show’s Father Brown is in very serious violation of canon law.
 
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Using information from confession is what bothers me the most. There is a priest who the show consults with. That doesn’t mean the show heeds all his direction.

I’ve learned to overlook my complaints and enjoy the show as is. As far as shows go on TV these days it is far and away better than most.
 
BoyGenius said:
a story of a time machine traveler who is an atheist. And that perhaps he chooses to find a priest. Wherefore he is set out to prove the priest wrong, or to have him question his assumptions/presumptions/belief. That would be an interesting saga.
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Can I steal that idea?
 
Agree, I like the actors, the production, usually; sometimes the plots are a little silly. It is better than most stuff on TV. I agree none of it seems particularly Catholic, more Unitarian, Anglican. This is a close to likable Catholic as the BBC can get - and that means pretty watered down. And technically wrong I think a fair amount of the time.
 
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hmikell7 said:
While what you’re talking about isn’t what put me off to the show, I’ve always been more than a little disturbed by how the BBC’s Father Brown uses the things he hears in the confessional to help solve his murder mysteries.
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Perhaps that is where the BBC misunderstands Chesterton, the priest whom he actually wrote about, and the character of Father Brown himself.

Father Brown, a priest no doubt, and a Jesuit. Has heard every dark mastery of sin in the hearts of men/women. He knows the dark side of the soul, so-to-speak. And hence, has been a discerning way he has been able to pick on clues most police/detectives miss. Because he understands the hearts of men, and their mind more so than the authorities. As he has heard what dark ways men are capable of in Confession.

And so that makes him a really good detective, though a priest. In truth, I am not sure how the BBC entails in using this. In my mind, and from your observation, it’s likely the BBC thinks their idea of Father Brown would be able to stop pedophile priest’s, but utilizing other sorts of crime drama to depict and sell this idea. And hence, where you see essentially breaking the seal of Confession.

Which, the real Father Brown never breaks. He just knows as a source/background from Confession what men are capable of. And how to look/see clues that are imprints of the human mind/intellect. Consider the stories where Father Brown caught up with Flambeau. Interesting from Father Brown’s observation. He didn’t see Flambaeu as a criminal. Mainly, because, Flambeau’s interest in stealing was for the mere adventure of it. Not for gain, but for thrill. And in every encounter, where Father Brown calls him out. Flambeau actually stops committing the crime. And thus, you see Father Brown’s sidekick later. Or could call a convert. Perhaps, and just perhaps, Flambeau is really about Chesterton himself. And his conversion to the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
 
Cruciferi said:
Team up Fr. Brown with Sherlock Holmes and time travel with Dr. Who!
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Perhaps a true Orthodox Priest, Sherlock Holmes, and Dr. Who! And priest, an agnostic, and an atheist.

I think that would be a good story/start.
 
I’m a fan of the Chesterton stories, and this show is misusing the name to promote political correctness.
 
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