EWTN

[BubbaGump]

Diocesan priests do not take a vow of poverty. A good used general aviation aircraft costs about the same as a decent new mid-sized car. I in fact own and fly my own plane, a 4-seat Beechcraft. While it is not a “cheap” hobby, it certainly is in line with other hobbies such as motorbikes, golf club membership, etc.

I’m a pilot as well…you can rent a plane as well. About the same cost as the motorcycle i used to ride…

Gas, insurance, payment…cheaper to rent a plane.

 

[JHow]

networkgonewrong.org/

Magdalina:

Since you posted the link, I assume you agree with the content? The book you linked to purports to substantiate the following charges against EWTN (but to get the detail, I would need to read the book), are you able to substantiate these claims?

Cheers,

JHow

First, that EWTN promotes, defends and advances the “New Mass” and all the other “officially” approved “reforms” of the liturgy which have broken with Tradition in precisely the ways demanded by the Protestant rebels of the sixteenth century, and practically destroyed Catholic worship and Eucharistic faith over the past forty years, as even high-ranking Cardinals have admitted;

Second, that EWTN has, under the guise of a “new understanding” of Catholic dogma since Vatican II, helped to undermine Catholic adherence to (a) the infallibly defined dogma that outside the Roman Catholic Church no one can be saved; (b) the closely related constant teaching of the Roman Pontiffs that the only means of achieving Christian unity is the return of the Protestant and schismatic dissidents to the Catholic Church; and (c) the abolition of the Old Covenant in favor of the New Covenant in Christ Jesus, and the consequent objective necessity of Jewish conversion for the salvation of the Jews;

Third, that EWTN has promoted and encouraged a Judaizing tendency in the Church not unlike that which confronted the original Jewish Apostles in the first century;

Fourth, that EWTN has excused, defended and promoted sacrilege in Catholic holy places in the name of “interreligious dialogue”;

Fifth, that EWTN is contributing to a tendency to replace Roman Catholicism with a common-denominator natural religion that deemphasizes adherence to revealed truth as necessary for salvation;

Sixth, that EWTN has advocated a senseless and un-Catholic quasi-idolatry of the Pope’s person that does a grave disservice to the Pope, his office and the Faith;

Seventh, that EWTN is leading the destruction of the traditional Rosary;

Eighth, that EWTN promotes a cult of sexual gnosticism and “Natural Family Planning” (NFP);

Ninth, that EWTN has generally corrupted the Faith by trying to combine it with rock music and show business in a vain effort to make Catholicism “cool” (EWTN’s own word) and appealing to the base instincts of a mass audience;

Tenth, that EWTN attacks and attempts to ostracize from the Church the defenders of Roman Catholic Tradition, and especially those, such as Father Nicholas Gruner, who defend the traditional Catholic understanding of the Message of Fatima and its prophetic relation to the crisis in the Church.

 

[Waiting]

Are their any sources with credible scrutiny of EWTN to determine their consistency and efficacy in transmitting the faith? Are there any sources measuring dioceses conformity to the faith?

I have been a student of the faith all my long life. For many years I taught the faith, always using the Baltimore Catechism, which contains all the truths taught by the Church. For a number of years I followed Mother Angelica on EWTN, until her health failed. She would not allow anyone or anything to taint the truths found in the catechism. Deacon Bill is doing the same. At no time has anything I have seen or heard on EWTN been contrary to what is taught in the catechism. As to measuring dioceses conformity to the faith, I don’t know how that can be done. My present pastor is one who is very orthodox, so I’m comfortable with his leadership. I feel compassion for the uncatechized who rely solely on the homilies for their knowledge of the faith. They can’t know when the information given strays from orthodoxy. Everyone should have a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and be familiar with its contents,

 

[CatholicFireman]

networkgonewrong.org/

Yeah, riiiiight.

I’ll stick with EWTN, thank you.

 

[CatholicFireman]

Everyone should have a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and be familiar with its contents,

Absolutely. Father John Corapi has a wonderful series that explains the CCC and you can read along. Sunday nights on EWTN.

 

[OraLabora]

I’m a pilot as well…you can rent a plane as well. About the same cost as the motorcycle i used to ride…

Gas, insurance, payment…cheaper to rent a plane.

Depends on how many hours you fly. In my case I rent out block time to a couple of friends, which mitigates the costs significantly (basically pays for my insurance and annual inspection).

Also where I live there’s only one small flying school with two planes to rent, which severely limits on when and how far you can fly.

One other factor is that for the most part, used aircraft hold their value remarkably well (although values did tank with the economic crisis), compared to motorbikes and snowmobiles which depreciate like a rock.

I still don’t see though, what connection that poster saw between flying a light aircraft and the quality of the priest-pilot’s teaching.

 

[SummitJim]

I think the poster may be thinking that an airplane is so much more expensive than a car, and how could a parish priest possibly afford/justify it. Since parish priests generally do not take a vow of poverty, some priests have more money than others, perhaps coming from families with money.

I once knew a pilot-priest who would fly to a distant parish 150 miles away on Sunday afternoons to say Mass when there was no one else available to do so. He could do this without spending most of the day travelling by car. Maybe the Church picked up the cost of gas for that trip, I don’t know. But the airplane enabled that priest to be more effective than he otherwise could.

 

[BubbaGump]

Depends on how many hours you fly. In my case I rent out block time to a couple of friends, which mitigates the costs significantly (basically pays for my insurance and annual inspection).

Also where I live there’s only one small flying school with two planes to rent, which severely limits on when and how far you can fly.

One other factor is that for the most part, used aircraft hold their value remarkably well (although values did tank with the economic crisis), compared to motorbikes and snowmobiles which depreciate like a rock.

I still don’t see though, what connection that poster saw between flying a light aircraft and the quality of the priest-pilot’s teaching.

Sounds to le like the poster was trying ti say that if a person had money, they couldn’t be holy. Or, was under the belief that all priests too the vow of poverty. Regardless, I just miss flying - lost my medical.

I never let my friends pay to fly…of course, I know as a private pilot they can not pay more than their pro-rata share…I just loved seeing the look on peoples face when in hand them hold the controls for the first time.

 

[OraLabora]

Sounds to le like the poster was trying ti say that if a person had money, they couldn’t be holy. Or, was under the belief that all priests too the vow of poverty. Regardless, I just miss flying - lost my medical.

I never let my friends pay to fly…of course, I know as a private pilot they can not pay more than their pro-rata share…I just loved seeing the look on peoples face when in hand them hold the controls for the first time.

There’s also a mistaken notion that only rich people fly. There’s an old aviation saying: “How to become poor? Start out rich and buy an airplane”.

Same applies to sailboats from what I hear

Most of my flying buddies are just ordinary middle-class guys and gals who love to be in the air, and make sacrifices like stretching out the old jalopy to 15+ years or not going for vacations in the sun every winter, in order to do so.

I see nothing wrong with a diocesan priest being able to afford to fly. He may have had family money, and some even had a career before hearing the call. Plus diocesan priests do earn a salary, and often have very low housing costs.

To put some perspective on it, in the US these days you can pick up a good 4-seat aircraft for around $35k, and a two-seater for around $20k. Nobody would criticize the priest for buying a new Chevy, Ford, Honda or Toyota… except that the car will be worth toast in 10 years, and the plane will have retained its value and maybe even appreciated.

 

[Barbkw]

The best two days of a boat owner’s life - date of purchase and the date the boat is sold.

Mechanics spent more time on our boat than we did.

 

[Joannm]

Magdalina:

Since you posted the link, I assume you agree with the content? The book you linked to purports to substantiate the following charges against EWTN (but to get the detail, I would need to read the book), are you able to substantiate these claims?

Cheers,

JHow

I am not a big fan of EWTN but the arguments that are in the link you posted just show that it is some reactionary traditionalist (as compared to your ordinary traditionalist), that sees anything that they don’t agree with as heresy and modernism and the like. EWTN is like the most conservative Catholic programing on television.

 

[stevusmagnus]

Rory,

Your local parish sounds like your typical Modernist/ quasi-Protestant meeting-place where never a discouraging word is heard and the priest presides over the assembly and the communal meal while really never feeding anybody.

You are right to feel upset that you are not being fed there and your Catholic sense recognizing that there is more Truth through EWTN is most definitely a grace. You are beginning to receive the grace of true conversion. Please don’t let this opportunity pass. God put these questions and frustrations inside you. He wants you to explore them and find the Truth. There is only one Truth and we are all called to seek it.

I encourage you to start a daily rosary if you haven’t already and put your search in the hands of Our Lady.

 

[Scoobyshme]

The best two days of a boat owner’s life - date of purchase and the date the boat is sold.

Mechanics spent more time on our boat than we did.

Same happened for us. The mechanic said that the definition of a “boat” was a hole in the water surrounded by metal, wood, or fiberglass, into which one threw money.

 

[Barbkw]

EWTN is like the most conservative Catholic programing on television.

As a lay person, we have no idea what our Priests deal with from the laity.

Fr. Corapi said he gave a homily at a visiting parish, about the 10 Commandments and the sins of this generation and sure enough, he got an earful out in the Church courtyard after Mass. From a woman who was using ABC.

Personally, I wish more priests were capable of those talks in the homily (chastity, noncelibate same sex attraction, homosexuality, contraception, abortion) but I can understand how difficult that is in the mixed company of a Mass.

To be honest, EWTN can and should openly discuss all the moral issues of our times, there is no other media better suited or place where it is more appropriate to do so.

And, individual parishes must provide the settings for those talks.

The problem is, getting people back to the parish after Mass. My RCIA instructor said that they have had NFP seminars scheduled and not one person from the parish attended.

 

[OraLabora]

Same happened for us. The mechanic said that the definition of a “boat” was a hole in the water surrounded by metal, wood, or fiberglass, into which one threw money.

Planes fly on the same principle: keep throwing money overboard until you’re light enough to fly.

As we speak my bird is in the shop with a defective fuel selector valve (to select between fuel tanks… mission critical!). Which brings up another pilot’s saying: “flying: a rapid means of transport for people who aren’t in a hurry”.

 

[CatholicFireman]

This is just IMHO

Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t bother to pick up a book or do the research online (since alot are online anyway) or even sit down to watch EWTN to know the faith. They either just go through the motions of attending mass or if they go to a seminar it’s about reflection or spirituality (which is good) but not instruction. As far as NFP is concerned, the one at our parish was $75.00 for the material. I understand this, but some people see the fees and aren’t willing to part with the money.

Just my buck fifty (inflation and all).

Pax†

 

[BubbaGump]

This is just IMHO

As far as NFP is concerned, the one at our parish was $75.00 for the material. I understand this, but some people see the fees and aren’t willing to part with the money.

Just my buck fifty (inflation and all).

Pax†

$75 is about right…it’s also a bargain, it’s been a long time since ABC has been used in my house, but it used ti be $30 a month for a little package of pills. You pay for NFP by the time you finish learning the method.

 

[CatholicFireman]

$75 is about right…it’s also a bargain, it’s been a long time since ABC has been used in my house, but it used ti be $30 a month for a little package of pills. You pay for NFP by the time you finish learning the method.

I agree it is a bargain. You know how it is, people see a fee and complain or just won’t attend.

I’ll tell you a story sometime about our $75.00 “donation”. lol

 

[Scoobyshme]

As a lay person, we have no idea what our Priests deal with from the laity.

Fr. Corapi said he gave a homily at a visiting parish, about the 10 Commandments and the sins of this generation and sure enough, he got an earful out in the Church courtyard after Mass. From a woman who was using ABC.

Personally, I wish more priests were capable of those talks in the homily (chastity, noncelibate same sex attraction, homosexuality, contraception, abortion) but I can understand how difficult that is in the mixed company of a Mass.

To be honest, EWTN can and should openly discuss all the moral issues of our times, there is no other media better suited or place where it is more appropriate to do so.

And, individual parishes must provide the settings for those talks.

The problem is, getting people back to the parish after Mass. My RCIA instructor said that they have had NFP seminars scheduled and not one person from the parish attended.

When Fr. Corapi was just ordained, he told his spiritual director, the head of his order, that he thought that at times he would be in trouble. His spiritual director corrected him and said, “No, you will always be in trouble.” LOL

He said he was invited to one diocese to teach the faith. A group of priests got together and went to the bishop and DEMANDED he be fired or they would “go on strike.” The bishop told them that if he was teaching something other than the faith, that we would fire him. They had no answer to that. Fr. Corapi told the bishop, “You missed your chance! You should’ve drawn a line in the sand and said, 'Okay, boys. Who’s first? Step across the line.” And the first one that did, he would remove his faculties and fire him. Make an example of him!

Until our priests have what it takes to stand up in the pulpit and tell the faithful what they really NEED to hear, we will continue to experience weak, Winn Dixie Catholics (Catholics who like to stroll through the aisles of life, picking and choosing what they want to believe out of the Church’s teachings). That’s why we have 75% of people in the U.S. who claim to be Catholic, but don’t go to Mass on Sunday and Holy Day’s, and who practice artificial birth control, support abortion, etc.

I have seen priests, like Fr. Corapi, who don’t sugarcoat anything. They give it to us right between the eyes, where we need it most! And the people LOVE those sort of priests! They satisfy our hunger for truth! The ones who are weak-kneed, poorly formed, worldly priests don’t do much good for us in the long term.

 

[Roy5]

Okay. Let me respectfully dissent.

I have watched many hours of EWTN - and still do. But I see it as the ‘Old Guard’ within Catholicism. Much that is good is presented, but the overall impression I get is that the Church needs to remain pat, resist any and all change, and even turn the clock back aways.

Let me cite three programs that trouble me. One is 'Women of Grace'. I know the women leader means well, but she is too dogmatic. I have been especially perturbed by those guests who have so strongly condemned other groups. Take the Masons. I'm not interested in defending the Masons, but why alienate so many by launching such questionable attacks on them? These accusations may have been justified in Europe 200-300 years ago, but we live in the USA in 2010, and the Masons are among our leading citizens and they do wonderful work through their 22 Shriner Hospitals and other humanitarian efforts. And they take, for example, children of any faith, whether or not the families can pay, and for however long it takes to heal them. They should be respected instead of attacked so viciously.

 Second, "Journey Home". I know the host tries to sound moderate, but most of the time it is bent on not-so-subtly assailing Protestantism in one form or another. Gosh, the Reformation happened nearly 500 years ago. We live in an ecumenical age. Since Vatican II there has been a new sense of fellowship among most Christians. Why mess it up by featuring those who leave one Christian group for another? Besides, around here at least, there seems to be a major exodus from Catholicism. especially to evangelical groups. And a number of their prominent ministers are former Catholics.

Third, Fr. Corapi. Yes, I know. He tells it like it is. And he tries to sound humble. And he's a powerful speaker with an agile mind and a large supply of knowledge. But I hear, also, an arrogance that can sound offensive. He preaches the old Catholicism that emphasized unquestioning obedience to the Church. Hey, we live in 2010 and Americans are much better educated and most of them, especially the young, are turned off when they are told that they must obey Mother Church. He doesappeal to the militants who place their tribal loyalty above everything, but this can be alienating, too. At least to me. I much prefer, say, a Fr. Benedict and others. Oh, I'm not all that swayed by Scott Hahn. He certainly can pour forth with doctrines and history, but .... well, again, too dogmatic for me. 

 We need to understand that his world is a big place, maybe a billion solar systems, and certainly filled with magnificence and majesty and mystery. We need to be tolerant of those who can't accept each and every story they hear on EWTN. When I hear the Lords, for example, and some of the miracles they attribute to various saints I want to cry out: "Please, give me a break!" St. Padre Pio levitated and bilocated? I have trouble with tales like that, and I suspect that millions in the Church feel as I do.

 Catholicism needs to provide a big tent, allowing more freedom when it comes to some matters of doctrine. 

 In conclusion, I chatted with two priests fairly recently. I mentioned EWTN, just to get their reaction. One said he never watched it. He was embarrassed by it and wish it would go away. The other said whenever he watched it he had trouble sleeping that night!

 Oh, nothing personal in this. I certainly respect the devotion and diligence and creativity of Mother Angelica, but I must, in all honesty, question the overall tenor of EWTN. It could present such a positive view of Catholicism instead of spending so much time sounding defensive and arbitrary.