Father Mulcahy

[Gregory Matthews]

He was the Roman Catholic Preist in the TV Series MASH.  The following article suggests that he has something to say to us today. 

https://atoday.org/the-faith-of-father-mulcahy/

 

[Kevin H]

Apparently, it was a mixture of fiction and fact. When William C. died, some of the reports pointed out that he was a devote Methodist and brought that to his character.

 

I love the show MASH. My usual Air Force job was to work in Aeromedical Evacuation units. Sort of an airport for patients, we were who MASH would have sent their patients to for transportation to higher care hospitals or be sent home. Before going into the Air Force I was a Chaplain Assistant in the Army.

 

Also, between college and seminary, before joining the military I worked in a theater company in Israel, working with Christians, Palestinian Christians, Jews, and Muslims. These friendships have really sharpened my perspective of Seventh-day Adventism, the Investigative Judgment, and our role. Mrs. White has pictured us as having a pastoral role among other churches and for people. I find the chaplancy field often fits her discription of what type of church we should be, and what we see in her life. She was a very firm Adventist, but also reached out to people of all faiths pointing them to Jesus and not necessarly a specific group. She became a very popular preacher in non-Adventist churches, often preaching on Sunday mornings (and her sermons were not on the mark of the beast. They were on the beauty of Jesus, God's love for them, and the health message.) During harvest times she would bring food to the harvesters and encourage them to trust in Jesus (and most of these would have thought of the Catholic church to be where they were to go to learn more about Jesus and have a relationship with Jesus.) C. Mervin Maxwell told about how when Mrs. White was sent to Australia, that she did her job, but also, had more of a distance from doing just the church work. She did her job there, but in free time she just looked for people to leade to Jesus, not necessarly into the Seventh-day Adventist Church.  We reject her view for a view of making tithe paying members and wanting to force the church into a creed of MY SUBGROUP OF ADVENTISM NEEDS TO BE THE ONLY TRUE ADVENTIST AND ALL MUST COMPLY!

 

As I understand William Christpher was a man of faith worshiping in the Methodist community and brought this faith to his role of Father Mulcahy. I've admired his ministry in MASH. I'm glad that others see this too. (I'm a bit jealous, my sister was working in a restaurant where he came in to eat, and really liked the meal so he asked her to tell her about the meal.)

 

There is something special about people of faith that crosses not only denominational lines, but even religious lines. Three of my favorite former girlfriends includes two Israeli Jews (both were soldiers in the Israeli Army when we went out) and a Palestinian Christian (which tends to be Catholic or Orthodox). But there are people in all groups united by faith. I'm' glad that we can be reminded of the universality of faith as we see Father Mulcahy.

[phkrause]

On 6/11/2025 at 6:24 PM, Gregory Matthews said:

He was the Roman Catholic Preist in the TV Series MASH.  The following article suggests that he has something to say to us today.

Excellent article! I loved that show and definitely William C's role in the show!! Even though this was a comedy it did keep the religious/spiritual aspect free of making religion a joke!!!

[phkrause]

The Faith of Father Mulcahy

I’m watching M*A*S*H for the first time. I know I’m late to the party—I was born in the ’80s, so I missed M*A*S*H in its heyday. It’s still funny and brilliant, at the same time fun and deeply moving. 

https://atoday.org/the-faith-of-father-mulcahy/