(Continued from previous post)
The television portion of EWTN reaches 600 million people in 104 million homes in 114 countries. There is a separate 24-hour operation broadcast in Spanish. EWTN has the largest, privately owned short-wave radio station in the world, reaching around the globe in English and Spanish. There is also a 24-hour radio network, with its own live programming, and a Web site (
www.ewtn.com) that, in my opinion, is better than the Vatican site, especially with the huge document and audio library. Live television and radio feeds can be heard at the Web site 24 hours a day. I listen to the radio feed very often since no local radio stations broadcast any EWTN programs, which is a shame. Wonder if anyone will ever start a station around here. Hint! Hint!
Okay, so now you know what EWTN is. What is the secret of its success? To put it in one word, the success is based on “faithfulness” — to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI, the Magisterium and to the truth. Mother Angelica did not compromise on the official teachings of the Catholic Church, which many times put her in dutch with some bishops, priests, nuns, theologians and lay people. There are plenty of dissenters in the Church — some of them wear collars and habits. Those are the wolves in sheep’s clothing we’ve been warned about. I’ve read about many of them and met a few here and there. Some are very vocal and easily identified, some are a bit sneaky. When you come across one that proposes, insinuates, suggests, opines or flat-out declares that a Catholic Church doctrine can be, may be, could be, should be, ought to be, or will be changed, realize they’re living a delusion, because it ain’t going to happen. And if they earn a salary from the Church, they should, in all honesty, give it back if they’re spreading that garbage.
When EWTN came on the scene, it filled a void that was left after Vatican II when Catholic Church teachings — especially in the United States — were misrepresented or ignored, replaced by some fanciful modern-day “gospel” that promoted disobedience to authentic Church teachings and practices while attempts were made (and still continue) to provide an some false theological opening where abortion, artificial contraception, sex outside of marriage, divorce and remarriage, and homosexuality can or should be acceptable.
Before anyone complains, I do not blame Vatican II. I blame those who decided to ignore Vatican II and come up with their own “spirit of Vatican II” baloney. What we’re left with is a Catholic Church in America where the number of Catholics who go to Sunday Mass regularly (that means EVERY Sunday) and holy days of obligation is less than half what it was before Vatican II. Most American Catholics don’t believe in the Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist, don’t go to confession regularly, if at all, and believe that official teachings can be ignored as long as they’re following their “conscience.” And don’t get me started about liturgical abuses. Pope Benedict is working on his first encyclical that reportedly will be on the liturgy and I can’t wait.
So, at a time when the catechesis of the laity had been twisted or ignored, God provided the faithful with a feisty nun who took true Church teachings and broadcast them around America and the world. God will never let those people who truly seek Him on His terms be abandoned.
These are tough times for believing Catholics, with scandals inside and enemies outside. We need more Mother Angelicas to preach the Word and say it like it is. Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you shall be my disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” That’s a truism proven over and over again. Let’s not forget it.
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Their WYD coverage was really good.
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