Popcorn Post-Passion

By Rebecca Winters

The pomp of the new Pope's appointment has passed, and that most anticipated churchcentric film, The Da Vinci Code, is still a year away. Fortunately, we're seeing a, well, mass of Catholic faith-based films and shows--including Kingdom of Heaven, starring a conflicted, crusading ORLANDO BLOOM--to keep audiences in the spirit.

Viewers are tuning in as if it'll be the end of the world if they miss NATASCHA MCELHONE as a nun helping Bill Pullman delay Armageddon in NBC's mini-series Revelations.

In the lay-hero category, TED DANSON is a lawyer taking on the church in Our Fathers, a May 21 Showtime movie about the sex-abuse scandal.

As a priest in Saint Ralph, due out in June, CAMPBELL SCOTT helps a Catholic-school boy aiming for a sports miracle. No, Notre Dame fans, this is not a remake of Rudy.

Spanglish's PAZ VEGA will play the mystic feminist saint in Teresa. The real saint entered a convent at 20, so don't look for Adam Sandler to play a big role.