'Everybody Loves Raymond' Actress Patricia Heaton Says 'Media Runs With Idea That Christians Are Bad Guys'
Catholic actress and star of the upcoming movie, "Mom's Night Out," Patricia Heaton has said that the media often falls victim to pejoratively stereotyping Christians, rather than portraying them as real people.
"You know, my older sister is a Dominican nun, and nuns are always portrayed as weird, sexually repressed, old maids who are bitter. Listen, I went to Catholic school, there are a few of those, but the Dominican sisters that I know are lovely, lovely ladies," Heaton told The Blaze. "So I think there has been this idea out there and the media kind of runs with it, portrays Christians as bad guys."
Heaton also suggested that despite Hollywood's "godless" reputation, the entertainment industry she has interacted with has helped her own faith grow.
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"The arts are [about] being creative — I mean, God is a creator, he creates constantly, and when you're in a creative place like Hollywood, there's a lot of opportunity to talk and share and find common ground," she said.
She also suggested that regardless of the faith traditions practiced in Hollywood, the work of many has been inspired by God.
"Most creative people have a deep spiritual well that they're drawing from even if they don't know it," Heaton said.
Beyond faith, the former "Everybody Loves Raymond" and current "The Middle" star said that acting professionally and courteous towards others on set has gone a long way in gaining credibility in Hollywood.
"If you're on a set everyday with 12 people, they get to know you and see how you treat number one on the call sheet and number 49 on the call sheet and how you act," Heaton said. "Whether you act entitled or whether you are kind and generous and compassionate, and also, do you show up on time? Do you know your lines? Are you professional? All of that stuff speaks volumes."
This is not the first time that Heaton has spoken out against Hollywood's depiction of Christians.
In 2011, Heaton told PopEaster there was "a need for Christians to stop being portrayed in our industry as crazies."
"Christians – whether as a priest, a nun, a minister, whatever – have just been stereotyped to death. You try to be a model of kindness and love and forgiveness to all those around you, because you have received kindness and love and forgiveness from God through Christ. That's what Christianity is," she added.
