God Is With Us, Even If We Think Not

Every now and then, prime-time TV takes God seriously and treats people of faith like beings with both brains and souls. Take the season finale of NBC's "The West Wing," a brilliant drama set in a fictional White House. President Jed Bartlet, portrayed by actor Martin Sheen, is having a bit of a day. Dozens of Americans are being held hostage at the embassy in Haiti, and a tropical storm is bearing down on Washington.

Meanwhile, Bartlet has just disclosed publicly he has multiple sclerosis and has been lying about it for eight years. He might be facing criminal charges, or worse. He's on his way to the funeral of his personal secretary, Mrs. Landingham, who was killed by a drunken driver. And he's still recovering from last season's assassination attempt that nearly took the life of Josh Lyman, a trusted assistant.

After the funeral at the National Cathedral, Bartlet, a deeply religious man, orders the cathedral doors sealed. The grieving, angry president, a man who prays on his knees and often quotes Scripture chapter and verse, has something he wants to say privately to God. He curses God. "(Mrs. Landingham) bought her first new car and you hit her with a drunk driver," he continues. "What? Is that supposed to be funny? I think you're just vindictive. What was Josh Lyman? A warning shot? That was my son. What did I ever do to your son but glorify and praise his name?"

Tough stuff, but he isn't done. Bartlet, raised in pre-Vatican II Catholicism, finishes his tirade in Latin. "Haec credam a deo pio? A deo iusto? A deo scito?" he starts.

Raised in post-Vatican II Protestantism, the only Latin I know is "e pluribus unum." So I called Warner Bros. and got the official translation: "Am I really to believe that these are the acts of a loving God? A just God? A wise God?" Bartlet says. "To hell with your punishments. I was your servant here on Earth. And I spread your word and I did your work. To hell with your punishments. To hell with you."

Continued on page 2: »