There was a thread earlier on this too! These women are all incredible
BTW you sound catholic to me! I don’t see too many EWTN fans among even catholics lol
You probably don’t run into too many Catholic EWTN fans because it does not appeal to the average Catholic. EWTN is a wonderful network for the person who is either an serious enquierer about the faith or if you are interested in advanced level thelogy and mystical theology. It’s programming does not speak to the person in the middle who has the basics of the faith, but it not interested in the systematic and mystical theology of the fiath, because that level of religious studies requires a wide knowledge of other branches of theology, philosophy, history, linguistics, literature, art, ecclesiology, sacramentology, and speculative theology.
The liberal Catholic goes for speculative theology, but does not like classical philosophical thought. The traditionalist loves classical philosophical thought and liturgy, but hates mystical theoloogy and ecclesiology. Those are two more segments of the Catholic population that EWTN are not going to lure in. Now we have four segments of the Catholic population.
Finally, there is the clergy and religious brothers. Most of the theology on EWTN is taught by apologists, very few of them are theologians. Deacons, priests, bishops and religious brothers have an ancient history of theological studies. The content on EWTN is going to be a review and too bried. Not enough opportunity to ask questions or enter into a debate, as you would in a workshop or university classroom. Now, many women religious are earning theological degrees. EWTN is losing that audience too.
I think they’re tyring something good. They’re targeting younger people who are higher educated than the average American young person. Unfortunately, this way of life, it not attractive to the average American young adult, precisely, becuase this person does not always have the education level to think in such abstract terms. They’re idea of consecrated virginity is NO SEX. It’s very black and white.
This is not just the fault of the Church, but the entire education system: secular and religious education. Western society has dummed down its education system to the point that the average high school graduate does not know the difference between virginity, consecrated virginity, celibacy and consecrated celibacy. It all translates into NO SEX. Which is the physical outcome. But unless you understand at least a smattering of the different branches of theology and philosophy that I mentioned above, what I call at least CCC level, which is as simplistic as it can get, consecrated virginity is difficult concept to understand as a calling to live within the Church as a sign of the coming Kingdom.
In closing, allow me to share an anecdote. Before I became a Brother, I was married and fathered three children. My wife died and I raised my children and became a Brother. Several months ago, my adult children visited me for Father’s Day. They called me Dad. Some one asked me, “Brother, I’ve been thinking about joining a religious order or becoming a priest. But I have children, just like you do. What did you have to do to become a virgin again?”
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
