BOB ABERNETHY: The Oscar ceremony takes place on Monday night. As millions of viewers tune in to see who takes away the coveted statues, our own Maureen Bunyan went to Hollywood to look for meaning among the stars. Maureen.

MAUREEN BUNYAN: Bob, only one film with a spiritual theme made it onto the Oscar nomination list this year -- THE APOSTLE, with Robert Duvall for best actor. There is a growing number of writers, producers, actors, and directors of all religions who are struggling to keep the faith in a town some would say worships false idols.

Mann's Chinese Theater is a shrine to Hollywood's history. Millions of Americans come here to worship their favorite stars. To some, it may seem that the worship of celebrity and money is the religion of Hollywood, but that's not necessarily so.

It's certainly not true for the hundreds of actors, writers, and producers gathered on a Sunday morning at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. They have come to celebrate mass and to honor the positive portrayals of complex religious and spiritual themes in TV and film, at an awards ceremony hosted by Catholics in Media Associates. It is one of several groups serving the growing spiritual needs of industry professionals. Ron Austin, a veteran TV screenwriter of shows like CHARLIE'S ANGELS, has worked in Hollywood for over 40 years.

RON AUSTIN (Screenwriter): Ten years ago I think you would have had to look very hard to find any really overtly religious group within Hollywood. Now there's half a dozen Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, of media professionals. People like myself, young, old, who are trying to find some way to relate their faith to the work in the industry.

BUNYAN: Decades ago, people of faith in Hollywood used to hide their spiritual and religious beliefs for fear it would keep them from getting work. Today, the open practice of religion is more accepted, but there is still a struggle going on -- how people of faith can integrate their spiritual values into their work?

Mark Schiff is celebrating the Jewish holiday of Sukkot with his family. Mark is an observant Jew and a nationally known comedian. He struggles to maintain a successful career and meet his religious obligations, particularly the observance of the Sabbath.

MARK SCHIFF: It's a tough thing. It's probably one of the toughest things to wrestle with in this way of life, because there are opportunities you have to pretty much turn down. I do what I can do, but it's a difficult thing, because I'm still at the area where I have to support my family. You know, if I'm in Las Vegas, it's really hard to say to the owner of Caesar's Palace, "I can't do a show for you tonight, you know, because" -- so it's -- if one is to not work on Friday or Saturday, you pretty much have no career.

BUNYAN: Dyan Cannon, currently starring in the Fox TV series ALLY MCBEAL, turned to religion after trying a number of substitutes for spiritual contentment.

DYAN CANNON (Actress): I tried anything that the world promised that would make me feel better, including drugs, including alcohol, including, as I said, wealth and fame, which is a big, big seductive thing. Ten years ago when I kind of stopped working, I turned down so much of what was sent to me, so much of what was violent and had no redeeming qualities to it at all, and that was tough, because, you know, when you turn it down, they stop coming to you after a while. But I don't feel like I've lost anything, I feel like I've gained in every area in my life.