THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. BERNARD:

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. BERNARD is a confusing VHS series about an angel whom “Mr. Good Fella” (a grey-headed lab technician) sends to earth as a St. Bernard. His mission is to teach Jennifer and Daniel, both elementary schoolers, how to live godly lives.

Although the series is well intentioned and appears innocent, it is riddled with theological, technical and creative flaws. “Bernie” is a fluffy, red-blooded BEETHOVEN look-a-like who transforms into a talking muppet before the children. His voice is pipsqueeky and feminine (not exactly Jim Henson quality), and through his paw, Bernie transmits an unspecified power that alters reality. Whether this power is a `heavenly anointing’ or mind-over-matter, who knows? With the abundance of hocus-pocus present in youth programming, the last thing the Church needs is good-natured white magic or a myth about an angel-turned-dog. In any case, THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. BERNARD is weak theologically. Each video presents a moral dilemma, which Bernie helps Jennifer and Daniel resolve according to biblical principles (However, they probably would have arrived at the same conclusions without his help). Ultimately, THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. BERNARD is packaged “for all grade school ages,” but anyone over the age of five is likely to roll their eyes of embarrassment.