Does EWTN Help or Hurt?

[CB_Catholic]

I think EWTN is so “low budget” because we mainly (the people who contribute) run the network. They remind us daily that it’s “ours”. They don’t do anything shady with the money, no one is paid high salaries (the friars and nuns, nothing), but they all feel blessed to be a part of it. If they use the money for good things and not glitzy sets, that’s okay with me. It’s the message that matters, not the setting.

I think the low budget and dependence on prayer and viewers to keep EWTN on the air is what makes them successful–they are dependent on GOD to keep them going. Too much money and slicker programming–well, just turn on your TV on Sunday morning and flip channels–you’ll see what I mean.

 

[debraran]

Those “mega” churches really turn me off…all the talking about God and giving them money in this huge stadium with all this glitz. One guy said Jesus wanted him to have the Rolls Royce and he wanted everyone else out there to have one too. (??) If they worked at it, they would have more money…well, maybe if they gave him less.

I remember a show where Mother Angelica was a little testy, because she was getting letters thinking her new chapel was being built with EWTN money. She said it was 5 benefactors and not one dime was taken from EWTN. She was almost shaking, but with all that was going on with religioius groups, that was to be expected. I wouldn’t care about the chapel, but some contributors want to know it is just going into the station.

 

[Legal_Eagle]

Legal Eagle,
EWTN is the primary reason I have cable! But one great thing
about their live shows is that you can go to the website and
either see the video (for a week or so after airing) and the audio
for a longer. When I miss a show, I try to do the video, but
definitely the audio. The Journey Home, The World Over, Life on
the Rock are the principle ones I’ve done.
So until you have it available, this would be a good way not to
miss everything.

Thanks. I’ll check it out.

 

[VictoriaR29]

All I ever watch is EWTN, Boston Catholic TV, and TCM for the old movies that don’t embarrass you every five seconds, causing occasions for sin. I receive much consolation from the traditional programming on EWTN, and have learned so much about the saints and wonderful devotions. I very much distrust a lot of the “glitzy” shows on CBN, etc. It seems there is not much substance, but a whole lot of hype. My friends and family tell me I am “out of step” with modern life, but I take that as a big compliment. We are meant to conform ourselves to Christ, not to this world. I am just another sinner, and the more I can be close to the Church that Jesus founded and its ancient beliefs and doctrines, the more I can strengthen my resolve to emulate Our Lady and all the saints. I don’t nearly attain what the Lord would ask, but I am determined to make a valiant attempt!

 

[blossom02]

EWTN is one of the best things that has happened to the CC. I believe it was brought to the airwaves by the grace of God alone(and a Nun who said yes to the Lord)

I think that without EWTN catholics would still be poorly catechecized. Catholic and the rest of the world were in great need of knowing just exactly what the Catholic Church really teaches.

The answer is EWTN doesn’t hurt a bit.

If the shows are poor due to fluff and the like it is due to lack of money and that the catholics with the time, talant and treasure are not putting them in the right places. To many see more money in hollywood, maybe.

 

[Janet_S]

My friends and family tell me I am “out of step” with modern life, but I take that as a big compliment. We are meant to conform ourselves to Christ, not to this world.

I agree. Don’t you feel proud when everybody around you is talking about this celebrity or that celebrity, about this movie or that movie, and you have no idea what they are talking about. I know I do.

 

[debraran]

I feel like that at work a lot…I don’t watch most TV except for the news, EWTN, Discovery channel and Law and Order (that’s my old favorite, but getting “old” now)
I stopped watching a lot of TV when my kids were young and don’t miss it…the shows seem so shallow and dumb. We always had some silly TV shows, but now with all the reality shows and model shows, etc. they seem more in abundance. I don’t think an hour here and there is bad, everyone needs some down time, but hours and hours, day in and day out, you start to think that stuff is normal.
I

 

[northcountrynan]

For me, EWTN has been a total blessing! I started watching it a few years ago, and I have learned so much about Our Triune God, our catholic faith and how God wants us to really live. When people ask how I know these things I tell them that I go to EWTN University lol. Like others, there is some programming that doesn’t draw me in and some people that I wish would explain the faith better, two people in particular who work together on one show. Some hosts who do a few shows, I would like to see different hosts for each shows, but all in all the things that I have learned in these past 3 years, I never learned in the previous 47. I also listen now to EWTN radio, since I do not at the moment have cable tv, and having EWTN in the world makes me feel a little more sane, especially in these days of Godlessness, materialism, hedonism, etc. Yes I am a proud student of the EWTN University and I thank God that it is there for us catholics as an oasis, I just wish that more catholics would make use of what they teach, since mose of us are not cathecized well. God bless us all! Nancy

 

[debraran]

A little off topic, but if anyone wants to see the new Mother Angelica update, EWTN had this link:
ewtn.com/mother_update.asp

 

[VictoriaR29]

I agree. Don’t you feel proud when everybody around you is talking about this celebrity or that celebrity, about this movie or that movie, and you have no idea what they are talking about. I know I do.

Janet, I honestly don’t know who any of the young celebrities are anymore. Yet, I was watching Fr. Benedict Groeschel last night talking about the Pope’s wonderful book, Jesus of Nazareth, and my heart was pounding with excitement: I couldn’t wait to continue reading it! I walked to work today in the brisk air, and I saw the truly awesome works of God’s hands in the scarlet, orange and gold leaves, the sweet wind, and I feel very blessed to be so out of touch with the entertainment industry.

 

[KathleenElsie]

Thanks. I’ll check it out.

We do TV and Short Wave. We don’t have any local CATHOLIC radio stations that we can tune into. So we have two SW radios one on each floor of the house. Radio shack has them for around $99.

We don’t have time to watch TV 24/7 and the radio lets us listen to things we can usually let the kids hear. If it is not kid friendly then they will tell us to turn it off or have the kids leave the room for a couple of minutes. Can’t say that for broadcast TV or radio.

 

[KathleenElsie]

Janet, I honestly don’t know who any of the young celebrities are anymore. Yet, I was watching Fr. Benedict Groeschel last night talking about the Pope’s wonderful book, Jesus of Nazareth, and my heart was pounding with excitement: I couldn’t wait to continue reading it! I walked to work today in the brisk air, and I saw the truly awesome works of God’s hands in the scarlet, orange and gold leaves, the sweet wind, and I feel very blessed to be so out of touch with the entertainment industry.

Same here. We live out in a rural area and people call us “AMISH” and we condiser that a good thing if they mean we don’t worship at the “worlds” feet but God’s. We are very blessed with the things that matter most.

 

[wigglebrick]

ANOTHER SLANT FOR ALL THOSE DISAPPOINTED:

What kinds of programming would you like to see on EWTN?.

I love EWTN because it affirms the fire of my own faith. I’m able to appreciate strong content beyond weak production. How do we reach sleepwalking Catholics and those not already in the pews?

High quality Catholic podcasting may be one way. That Catholic Show is orthodox catechesis that also appeals to all walks.

Check out That Catholic Show

The Catholic faith has given us the best of art and culture in centuries past. We need more quality Catholic programming in music, movies, TV and video games. A billion Catholics in communion with the Saints can do better.

 

[flyersfan1088]

Is it to us to judge the heart of believers, most of them would say the same thing about the way you view the eucharist you know!

Keeping your screen name in mind, it’s interesting that you don’t believe in the Eucharist as Martin Luther did.

 

[crenfro]

I don’t watch EWTN very often. In fact, almost never.

I listen to the programs on the radio. In fact, one of the comments I heard, about a selection from St. Faustina’s Diary, got me curious enough to buy a copy of her Diary, which after I read it, got me going to Confession more regularly, which got me going to Mass on time and sometimes even early, which got me to quit some intrinsically evil habits I’d developed over the years. I still have a long way to go though.

Who I love to listen to is Fr. Corapi, Fulton J. Sheen, all the call-in programs concerning apologetics and Pro-life issues, the book reviews, the recited rosary, which I can say along with them as well as the Divine Mercy chaplet. I also like to hear Dave Durand, I think that’s his name, answer employment-work related questions. These are gifts.

What I dislike, and, this is my opinion, they’re like noses as the saying goes, are a few of the women commentators, who, to me, come off as very self-righteous. I’d rather hear a woman commentator who’s converted from a bad, sinful life and found the Lord than some of the women commentators who sound holier-than-thou ( well, they do to me). I don’t listen to them. I put my headphones away when they start speaking.

Whenever I’m flipping through the channels looking for something interesting and I come to EWTN, I’m not impressed with what I see.

Maybe it would be more helpful to listen. Wisdom can come in some strange packaging.

my :twocents:

 

[Pier]

I listen to the programs on the radio. In fact, one of the comments I heard, about a selection from St. Faustina’s Diary, got me curious enough to buy a copy of her Diary, which after I read it, got me going to Confession more regularly, which got me going to Mass on time and sometimes even early, which got me to quit some intrinsically evil habits I’d developed over the years. I still have a long way to go though.

Who I love to listen to is Fr. Corapi, Fulton J. Sheen, all the call-in programs concerning apologetics and Pro-life issues, the book reviews, the recited rosary, which I can say along with them as well as the Divine Mercy chaplet. I also like to hear Dave Durand, I think that’s his name, answer employment-work related questions. These are gifts.

What I dislike, and, this is my opinion, they’re like noses as the saying goes, are a few of the women commentators, who, to me, come off as very self-righteous. I’d rather hear a woman commentator who’s converted from a bad, sinful life and found the Lord than some of the women commentators who sound holier-than-thou ( well, they do to me). I don’t listen to them. I put my headphones away when they start speaking.

**

Maybe it would be more helpful to listen. Wisdom can come in some strange packaging.**my :twocents:

EWTN’s Audio Library has much of its programming available online, making it easy to listen in while you’re on the net, including:
**
Bookmark** with Doug Keck:
ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?seriesID=6132&T1=bookmark

**Catholicism: The Heart of History **with Joanna & James Bogle:
ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?seriesID=6755&T1=catholicism%3A+the+heart+of+history

The Journey Home with Marcus Grodi:
ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?seriesID=-6892289&T1=journey+home

To name but a few of my faves.

 

[Lady_K2]

Haven’t read through the whole thread yet, just the 1st couple of posts.

I’m surprised, to be honest. As a non-Catholic, I actually enjoy EWTN. Go Figure!

And I love Mother Angelica; the older and the newer stuff from her. I think she is an absolute sweetheart… and FUNNY! I have left the TV on when she is praying the Rosary just so I could listen to it being recited. During this, they explain what you should be meditating on (the various mysteries and so forth) and I have found this very interesting and it has helped me in my spiritual development.

I have never even thought about the production of the various shows.

I have watched more EWTN over the past year than the Protestant Christian stations which I have started to get tired of. Too many new preachers with too many programs. (I’ll still catch my former Pastor whenever I can because he is such an awesome teacher, but that’s about it).

I even watch the children’s programming on Saturday mornings; what is probably “old news” (bad term, I know) to lifelong Catholics is brand new to me, so even the kids’ stuff is educational.

 

[toaslan]

The worst thing in my life is that Catholics don’t know the Catholic faith. So so many are now members of some protestant denomination, or just nominally Catholic, or unchurched–bad Catholics. When I see a teenager going up to communion chewing gum–it’s the worst thing. When their parents, skipping Mass themselves, just drop kids off to Mass so they can be admitted afterwards to Confirmation Class–what chance do these kids have of becoming good Catholics?

A man of faith is faithful in two ways. First:
he holds with his mind as true what the Church proposes for his belief
Second:
He loves with his will as good what his minds holds as true.

Catholics have to know their faith as well as love and live it. We have had 35 years of faithlessly noxious catechetical experimentation–which has resulted in disbelief and loss of church membership.

The first time I happened on EWTN programming (over the radio) I remember the weather, what I was doing, where I was. It was a huge moment. Somebody was saying out loud to thousands of people what I thought–somebody was teaching what the Church teaches, with a forceful, happy, live voice. It was amazing.

Anybody who helps me teach anybody else what the Church teaches, I am forever grateful. God bless Mother Angelica–who did what the entire hierarchy of the most powerful country on earth couldn’t do and doesn’t even, IMO, care to do–broadcast clearly and confidently what the Catholic Church is all about.

I could care less about production values–I am sick of the over-produced assault on the senses and appetites which is TV. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE CONTENT, BABY! The few EWTN/WEWN shows/hosts I don’t like–I ascribe that to inevitable personality or interest conflict–big deal.

 

[KathleenElsie]

Oh yeah, I even have figured how to listen to the Short Wave in the car. Lots better for the soul then the junk music and many of the talk shows.

 

[THurifer2]

Don’t watch TV. Read a good book, pray, go for a walk, talk to someone you love, write a letter, play with your kids, weed your garden, pray, go to the sarcraments, learn latin, give your wife/husband a shoulder massage, pray, paint, cook good food from scratch, read Shakespeare, balance algebra equations, argue with a fool, do the laundry, pray. I don’t believe tv is worth the time we waste on it no matter what’s on. ever

I know people who were converted to Catholicism watching EWTN…saving one soul makes EWTN worth it.