By Marilyn Lanford
Catholic News Service

ROGERS, Ark. (CNS) — The film “Fireproof” is causing a stir in Catholic marriage advocacy groups around the country.

The movie, produced on a $500,000 budget, has become a hit around the country, first appearing in 839 theaters when it was released Sept. 26. As of Oct. 23, the movie had shown in 905 theaters and grossed $21.5 million, more than 40 times its budget.

The Rev. Michael Catt, senior pastor at Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga., and executive producer of the film, spoke about the project at an event in Rogers Oct. 16 and in an interview with KDUA radio from St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers.

Kirk Cameron stars in a scene from the movie “Fireproof.” CNS PHOTO/GOLDWYN

“Fireproof” tells the story of a firefighter and his struggles to save his marriage. A book, “The Love Dare,” which was originally a plot device in the film, was a No. 1 best-seller on The New York Times’ paperback advice books list.

In promoting the film, Rev. Catt said, “We learned — take it to the people. We didn’t have a multi-multimillion-dollar advertising budget. We had grass-roots word of mouth. We are very grateful for the support the Catholic Church has given us.

An effect on our culture
“I think anything that can impact marriages is a positive thing,” he added. “If we can save a million marriages this year, the ripple effect on children who will not be from broken homes, who will not be abused, who will not be growing up in homes where Mom and Dad are yelling and screaming, that will have an effect on our culture — it will have an effect on our churches.”

On a related “Fireproof” Web site, www.fireproofmymarriage.com, are links to Catholic marriage resources such as the Archdiocese of Chicago Family Ministries, Retrouvaille, the National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage.

According to Frank Hannigan, director of family ministries for the Archdiocese of Chicago, the film has had great popularity in the Catholic community because of its pro-marriage, faith-filled message.

“When marriage is under such an attack, to have in the popular medium a movie like ‘Fireproof’ was a wonderful gift for us,” he said. “We hope it will be something that will help couples strengthen their marriages.”

Archbishop endorses
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., chairman of the bishops’ Subcommittee on Marriage and Family Life, endorsed “Fireproof,” saying the film portrayed, in a “convincing and realistic way, . . . how a married couple was able to honor their marriage in the context of how easy it is today for couples to walk away from this commitment in the midst of incredibly hectic and complicated lives.”

“In the end it is clear that their faith in God is central,” he added. “While this is not a film with a uniquely Catholic theological perspective, I believe that the core message is one that can be profitably received by Catholic married couples and ultimately all married couples.”

The USCCB’s Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
The project grew out of a desire to make Christian films, Rev. Catt said.

“It was early 2000 when we were on a staff retreat down in Florida,” he said. “Alex Kendrick, one of the writers for the screenplay ‘Fireproof,’ was on our staff. I was talking to the staff, asking them, ‘What do you want to do with your life? How do you see God using your life?’ Alex responded by saying he would like to make Christian movies. I don’t know if I was having a moment of weakness or God just struck me, but I said, ‘Why not? Bring me a script and a budget and let’s see if God is in it.’”

It began a series of three films made by Sherwood Pictures. The first film, “Flywheel,” which was released in 2003, had a budget of $20,000 raised from private donations. The next film, “Facing the Giants,” was released in 2006 and was produced with a $100,000 budget.

Based on the success of the two earlier movies, Provident Films/Sony provided the $500,000 budget for “Fireproof.” All the films have been made with the support of volunteers from the church and the community in Albany. All the actors, with the exception of Kirk Cameron, the lead actor in “Fireproof,” are from Georgia.

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