Questions about EWTN

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caroljm36

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Just recently I realized I had EWTN on my new cable setup, and was amazed yesterday to see one of their Masses with much of it in Latin, all except the homily and readings, with sacramental music besides. It was wonderful. How I wish I could go to a Mass like that here, but I imagine much of the Latin has been forgotten and the cantors unable to handle the Gregorian chants. I also like the talk shows, Sister Angelica, the old Bishop Sheen kintescopes–most everything on it, since regular TV is so foul and protestant inspirational stations so–what? emotional? simplistic? in-your-face?

I guess what I want to know is, is EWTN true to the faith? Any problems here? As a fairly new Catholic I am a little leery of heresy. Time’s too short now for any more detours.
 
In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with EWTN. Mother Angelica - may the Lord grant her a full recovery from her stroke - has often gotten in trouble for defending orthodox Catholic belief. If you go to their web site, you can get a full schedule of their programming (ewtn.com). They also have excellent 24 hour radio broadcasts with programs like Catholic Answers Live and you can look on the web site to see if there are any stations carrying it in your area.
 
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caroljm36:
Just recently I realized I had EWTN on my new cable setup, and was amazed yesterday to see one of their Masses with much of it in Latin, all except the homily and readings, with sacramental music besides. It was wonderful. How I wish I could go to a Mass like that here, but I imagine much of the Latin has been forgotten and the cantors unable to handle the Gregorian chants. I also like the talk shows, Sister Angelica, the old Bishop Sheen kintescopes–most everything on it, since regular TV is so foul and protestant inspirational stations so–what? emotional? simplistic? in-your-face?

I guess what I want to know is, is EWTN true to the faith? Any problems here? As a fairly new Catholic I am a little leery of heresy. Time’s too short now for any more detours.
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EWTN is pretty much a safe bet. They tend to be very conservative and, occasionally, Mother Angelica would object to the liberals “in my Church” – but I don’t think I’ve ever heard or seen anything there that is contrary to the faith. The biggest complaint one could make is that they tend to not present the fullest breadth of the Church presenting instead a fairly consistent view that is narrow in scope.

Welcome to the Church!

Deacon Ed
 
Deacon Ed:
EWTN is pretty much a safe bet. They tend to be very conservative and, occasionally, Mother Angelica would object to the liberals “in my Church” – but I don’t think I’ve ever heard or seen anything there that is contrary to the faith. The biggest complaint one could make is that they tend to not present the fullest breadth of the Church presenting instead a fairly consistent view that is narrow in scope.

Welcome to the Church!

Deacon Ed
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It was nice to see that Roger Mahony was unable to destroy her (despite his best efforts) after she was critical about his abominable Gather Together Faithfully document.

I think Mother could be full of herself at times, but she did do a great deal of good for the faith. May God bless her.
 
It is sad that Mother Angelica’s monastery was refused the right to say the Traditional Latin Mass and televise it on TV.
 
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katolik:
It is sad that Mother Angelica’s monastery was refused the right to say the Traditional Latin Mass and televise it on TV.
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The indult will only be given if those who attend the Mass request it though their pastor. Because the great majority who attend Mass at the shrine or chapel are visitors, there is no way for them to even request the indult.
 
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Crusader:
The indult will only be given if those who attend the Mass request it though their pastor. Because the great majority who attend Mass at the shrine or chapel are visitors, there is no way for them to even request the indult.
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Well, ain’t the nuns the parishioners of this church? And the good sisters wanted the Immemorial Mass of the Roman Rite and they didn’t get The Mass of All Ages.
 
Deacon Ed:
The biggest complaint one could make is that they tend to not present the fullest breadth of the Church presenting instead a fairly consistent view that is narrow in scope.
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JMJ + OBT​

While I realize such a request could seem intended to start a flame war, I’m quite curious if you could give some examples of how the presentation is “narrow in scope” and/or what elements of the Catholic Faith EWTN would need to include in order to present “the fullest breadth?”

I’m not asking you to write a doctoral dissertation here, just one or two or five examples would be great.

Thanks.

In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

IC XC NIKA
 
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katolik:
And the good sisters wanted the Immemorial Mass of the Roman Rite and they didn’t get The Mass of All Ages.
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JMJ + OBT​

Actually, I don’t think Mother has ever preferred for the TV broadcast, for her sisters at the monastery, nor for the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word (MFVA) the celebration of the Mass according to the 1962 Missal.

She has wanted, and I’m sure would still like to see, Mass celebrated and broadcast entirely in Latin (except for the readings and homily) and ad orientem. Mass is allowed to be celebrated that way at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, AL but may not be broadcast as such. It is not celebrated this way at the studio in Irondale, AL because the bishop has promulgated a canonical regulation in his diocese that forbids it in regards to televised Masses.

I may be wrong about this, but I lived, worked and prayed with the MFVA for a week, next door to the studio, and this was the impression that I received.

In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

IC XC NIKA
 
whosebob said:

JMJ + OBT​

While I realize such a request could seem intended to start a flame war, I’m quite curious if you could give some examples of how the presentation is “narrow in scope” and/or what elements of the Catholic Faith EWTN would need to include in order to present “the fullest breadth?”

I’m not asking you to write a doctoral dissertation here, just one or two or five examples would be great.

Thanks.

In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

IC XC NIKA
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Well, I have noticed that EWTN is very much focused upon the affairs of the Latin church, which is fair I suppose because most Catholics in this country are of the Latin church. About the only person I’ve heard mention the other particular churches outside of the “Light of the East” program (which I guess never really got off the ground) is Fr. Mitch Pacwa, who is a bi-ritual Jesuit (Latin and Maronite). I think that many people in this country could better respond to the truths of the Catholic and Orthodox Faith if exposed to the Eastern presentation of these truths. It is, afterall, the Global CATHOLIC radio/TV network, not just the Global Roman Catholic radio/TV network. Sometimes speakers or homilists will downplay the importance of Eastern traditions and customs. I vividly remember one priest speaking before Benediction one Sunday afternoon. He said something to the effect of “Unless you double genuflect before the tabernacle and receive communion upon your knees, you are a servant of Satan.” That sorta flies in the face of years of Eastern (and Latin too!) Tradition.

I also think that despite their best efforts to inform people about the beliefs of Protestants and how to combat them, the beliefs of the Anglicans and Lutherans are widely ignored (then again, that could be because even the Anglicans and Lutherans don’t know what they believe anymore) and while it was relatively easy for me to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church, I want to know why it’s so difficult for most Lutherans and Anglicans I know to make that final step… Where are the works of Newman and Chesterton? Relegated to the wee small hours of the morning (now obviously I could go to a library but where’s the fun in that?!).

But… that aside, I LOVE EWTN. Mother Angelica is wonderful, most of the Open Line and EWTN Live hosts are wonderful (particularly Fr. Pacwa, who’s most certainly not afraid to get into the ‘meat and potatoes’ of the faith. Huzzah for faithful Jesuits!), and I’m reaaaally excited about Fr. Benedict Groeschel’s new show!
 
There’s only 24 hours in a day.

EWTN is a totally listener supported operation which operates on a month to month basis with that support.

They would need a second channel to provide all the additional programming that is requested.

As big as the operation is, it is only a blip in the American television presence. If somebody can figure out a way to increase their income, I’m sure they would be thrilled to expand their operation.

If you’re looking for something unique, don’t forget that most of their past series programs are available for viewing in their library at www.ewtn.com.
 
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whosebob:
While I realize such a request could seem intended to start a flame war, I’m quite curious if you could give some examples of how the presentation is “narrow in scope” and/or what elements of the Catholic Faith EWTN would need to include in order to present “the fullest breadth?”
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Perhaps the most glaring omission from their programming is anything from the long tradition of Catholic social justice teaching. They also tend to equate “Catholic” with “Roman Catholic” and that’s not a good thing to do.

Having said that, they did have the “Light of the East” program, and Fr. Mitch Pacwa is a bi-ritual priest (he has Maronite faculties, and I’ve attended a Qorbono that he’s celebrated).

Deacon Ed
 
Welcome home, caroljm36! 😃

EWTN is definitely orthodox Catholicism. I watch it almost exclusively… though sometimes I’ll turn on a TV program that’s secular that I enjoy (The Apprentice, American Idol, West Wing, ER).

No… nobody’s forgotten Latin. Priests have to learn it so that they can say the Mass in Latin as well as the language of the country where they, themselves, are located.

In any case, the words of the Mass are in the book that you see on top of the altar that the priest is turning pages for each part of the Mass. It’s not that the priest doesn’t KNOW the words of the Mass… it’s that some parts of the Mass may have slightly different wording for that part of the Mass, depending on what day that Mass is celebrated.

I’ve read the posts to this point, and have just a couple of comments.

1.) I’m a cradle Catholic who until I was a teenager the only language that the Mass was “said” was in Latin. Like everyone else, I had the missal that has the Latin on the left hand page and the English translation on the right hand page for each part of the Mass. Kept me from fidgeting during Mass because I would look back and forth between the pages, comparing the languages.

I’m fine with the Mass being in English… but I truly miss of the tone of a Mass in Latin. Somehow, the Latin language comes across to me as more sacred and solemn than does the English language. Yet, when it comes to a Mass that’s televised we need to remember that the people who watch it on TV do NOT have the “luxury” of a missalette that they can hold in front of them that has the Latin-to-English translations in front of them as Mass goes along.

So, anybody anywhere in the world who doesn’t know Latin is pretty well disconnected from what’s happening at any moment once the Liturgy of the Bread (second half of the Mass which is said in Latin on EWTN) begins…

…unless they’re Catholic and so can recognize what’s going on because of the sequence of events during the Mass are recognizable without even knowing Latin.

2.) There’s a program on Chesterton on EWTN on Saturday afternoons. It’s called “GK Chesterton: The Apostle of Common Sense.”

ewtn.com/series/chesterton/index.htm

3.) As for the choice of programming on EWTN… let’s face it… the Church has got TONS of topics that could be covered… and there’s only 24 hours in a day.

ewtn.com/series/index.htm
 
Veronica Anne:
So, anybody anywhere in the world who doesn’t know Latin is pretty well disconnected from what’s happening at any moment once the Liturgy of the Bread (second half of the Mass which is said in Latin on EWTN) begins…

[
/QUOTE](http://[/QUOTE)]

And how do you connect to the Mass?

What in the World is the Liturgy of the Bread? I hope its not the Liturgy of the Eucharist or the Mass of the Faithful… The “liturgy of the bread” is just another sign of the degradaation of the Most Blessed Sacrament, becuase to some it is just bread :crying: :gopray2:
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CatholicNerd:
Well, I have noticed that EWTN is very much focused upon the affairs of the Latin church, which is fair I suppose because most Catholics in this country are of the Latin church. About the only person I’ve heard mention the other particular churches outside of the “Light of the East” program (which I guess never really got off the ground) is Fr. Mitch Pacwa, who is a bi-ritual Jesuit (Latin and Maronite). I think that many people in this country could better respond to the truths of the Catholic and Orthodox Faith if exposed to the Eastern presentation of these truths. It is, afterall, the Global CATHOLIC radio/TV network, not just the Global Roman Catholic radio/TV network. Sometimes speakers or homilists will downplay the importance of Eastern traditions and customs. I vividly remember one priest speaking before Benediction one Sunday afternoon. He said something to the effect of “Unless you double genuflect before the tabernacle and receive communion upon your knees, you are a servant of Satan.” That sorta flies in the face of years of Eastern (and Latin too!) Tradition.

I also think that despite their best efforts to inform people about the beliefs of Protestants and how to combat them, the beliefs of the Anglicans and Lutherans are widely ignored (then again, that could be because even the Anglicans and Lutherans don’t know what they believe anymore) and while it was relatively easy for me to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church, I want to know why it’s so difficult for most Lutherans and Anglicans I know to make that final step… Where are the works of Newman and Chesterton? Relegated to the wee small hours of the morning (now obviously I could go to a library but where’s the fun in that?!).

But… that aside, I LOVE EWTN. Mother Angelica is wonderful, most of the Open Line and EWTN Live hosts are wonderful (particularly Fr. Pacwa, who’s most certainly not afraid to get into the ‘meat and potatoes’ of the faith. Huzzah for faithful Jesuits!), and I’m reaaaally excited about Fr. Benedict Groeschel’s new show!
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Anglicans and Lutherans are Protestants per the Catholic Church.
 
Ray Marshall:
If you’re looking for something unique, don’t forget that most of their past series programs are available for viewing in their library at www.ewtn.com.
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JMJ + OBT​

Well, not for viewing, but for listening . . . EWTN makes available for free, public download the audio content of their past programs and program series. They do not, as yet, make available the video content of the archived programs.

The audio files are in RealPlayer format (small size, fast downloads), but with the proper software, one can transcode them into .wav or .aiff or .mp3 files and then such can be burned to CD and listened to on your car stereo – which is great for long commutes and/or road trips.

In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

IC XC NIKA
 
Back six or seven year ago I shelled out over $700 to get the Dish network so I could see Mother Angelica.

That’s how much I value her EWTN. $700 was a lot just to get one channel back then!
 
I am temporarily living in Riga, Latvia where I teach English. Having EWTN Radio (and sometimes Television if the connection happens to work well enough at the moment) on the internet 24 hours a day is a true blessing. Riga in my opinion has a very strong Catholic community, but the language barrier is quite more than you would find in Western Europe since I don’t speak Latvian or Russian, so it has been great to have EWTN. I’m sure if I thought hard enough I could think of something that could be better, but everyone is human and the programming is usually not only good but great and inspiring. At any rate I haven’t heard anything contrary to orthodox Catholicism on EWTN, and actually hear much to contradict some of the less orthodox posters on this forum. I especially wish more posters could spend more time watching or listening to it.
 
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