CV NEWS FEED // Controversial television writer and producer Norman Lear has died at 101.
Though he was Jewish for most of his life and widely known as progressive, Lear converted to Catholicism last year, and was baptized according to a PJ Media article.
“While some of his critics characterized Lear as a classic example of a Jewish agnostic, in 2022, in what might seem an unexpected move, Lear embraced the Catholic Faith,” the article said, adding that, “Lear was inspired by one of his daughters, who converted while at Harvard.”
Lear is best known for his creation of compelling but divisive characters such as Archie Bunker, Fred Sanford, and George Jefferson, as well as the TV shows “All in the Family,” “Maude,” and “Sanford and Son.”
One of his most controversial episodes from “Maude” portrays a 47 year old woman who gets an abortion. The episode aired in November 1972—two months before Roe v. Wade legalized abortion.
Lear would later tell Entertainment Weekly in 2018: “I thought it was a wonderful idea. I thought it was something that absolutely should be addressed, and I liked tackling issues as well as entertaining.”
Furthermore, Lear referenced his support for abortion last year during a TV special celebrating his 100th birthday, in which he said: “I have a glorious daughter who disagrees with every bit of” Maude’s decision to have an abortion in the episode. He added: “This is a glorious young woman in thousands of ways, but she will disagree about that loud and clear.”
It is unclear whether Lear fully changed his views on abortion since converting.
This story has been edited to reflected that Lear was not, in fact, baptized by a priest from the Dominican House of Studies, as was mistakenly reported by PJ Media.
