Christ is Risen! (For those on the Gregorian Calendar)
I want to thank all of you for your supportive comments regarding my radio programs. In deference to all of your kindness I am compelled to share some things with you regarding Relevant Radio and my programs.
The reason that Relevant Radio gave to me as to why I am no longer speaking on the theology of the body on Thursdays was because they began to think that the venue of radio was not adequate for such presentations. I had been doing the Thursday segments for over two years. They said that the morning drive time audience, which is when my segment was broadcast, was the type that would move in and out of listening such as mothers getting their children in and out of cars on the way to school, etc. Relevant Radio believed that this had the potential for some listeners to only catch incomplete versions of my presentations and due to the subject matter could be confused or even upset.
They were concerned about children catching bits and pieces of the subject matter although I did take great pains not to be too explicit about sexual terms when related subjects came up especially with callers.
Relevant Radio told me that they were dropping my Thursday segment on the theology of the body and asked me to instead do one minute meditations on the theology of the body. In the meantime they said that “Light of the East” would still be carried on Relevant Radio in Chicago and Pittsburgh as it had been.
After some time I wrote to the Relevant Radio administration to offer my assessment and some (name removed by moderator)ut regarding the change in format. I also re-submitted my plea for them to consider getting “Light of the East” on to their entire network in addition to Chicago and Pittsburgh. My point was to offer ideas that I thought would be to the advantage of Relevant Radio.
I received a polite letter from Relevant Radio in repsonse to my letter. A few days later my producer received an email communication from the Chicago office of Relevant Radio informing him that “Light of the East” would no longer be carried on Relevant Radio. Nothing was mentioned about the one minute meditations. When my producer inquired about the one minute meditations Relevant Radio said that the one minute meditations would likewise no longer be carried on Relevant radio.
I personally received no communication or explanation from Relevant Radio as to why “Light of the East” was dropped, so I honestly do not know why it was dropped.
I am grateful to be able to say that “Light of the East” is carried on over 70 cities in the United States thanks largely to EWTN radio. We are also on Ave Maria Radio from Ann Arbor, Michigan as well as on other stations in the US. We are also accessible through our website:
www.byzantinecatholic.com
Thank you again for your supportive posts. Tune in some time to
“A Body of Truth” on
www.catholicradiointernational.com as well as of course, “Light of the East.”
–Fr. Thomas J. Loya, STB., MA.