"The Vortex" Real Catholic TV

[Gift_from_God]

I don’t like Michael Voris’ show. His attitude and presentational style are often combative, hostile, and even bitterly sarcastic. I can’t imagine that unbelievers or lax/liberal Catholics will be able to see the joy of life in Christ in these videos whose rhetoric often becomes quite uncharitable.

That in itself is bad enough, but sometimes he distorts things he’s speaking of. Two examples follow:

(a) He needlessly attacked the hymn “Amazing Grace” in one video for being unacceptably Protestant, but it’s not. He completely misunderstands the song and didn’t pay attention to the basic sentence structure and syntax. I’m very suspicious of the credibility of those who see evil and heresy everywhere they look. It’s paranoid and not helpful to the Catholic cause. “Amazing Grace” is not some terrible evil that’s infesting the Church. I mean, really? Seriously? Of all the things to focus on…

(b) In another video he implied that the Jews are no longer God’s people, but the Catechism itself refers to them as the people of God (839-840).

Of course, he’s engaging in the laudable task of attempting to combat indifferentism, but that is so not the way to go. Yes, everyone - Jews included - needs Christ for salvation, but that doesn’t mean the Jewish people still don’t have their Covenant with God. All we need to do to combat indifferentism is to point out that the Law can’t bring salvation (unless you follow it perfectly, which no one does). Their Covenant doesn’t bring eternal salvation, but they do still have it.

When Voris implies otherwise, he totally unnecessarily skirts the border of shameful anti-Semitism. I find that these videos often embody these kinds of false dichotomies that find no place for the beautiful nuances of Christian paradox.

I appreciate the effort, but I really hope as few individuals as possible discover “The Vortex.”

FINALLY! A Catholic actually agrees with me! Maybe it’s because the Catholic environment I was raised in was more friendly but firm, but he seems more confrontational to me. What made me end watching him was when he tried to talk about Obama, politics, and socialism. To me, he has no understanding of politics and socialism.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

FINALLY! A Catholic actually agrees with me! Maybe it’s because the Catholic environment I was raised in was more friendly but firm, but he seems more confrontational to me. What made me end watching him was when he tried to talk about Obama, politics, and socialism. To me, he has no understanding of politics and socialism.

Well, I guess there are 3 of us here. I find Voris unspeakably smarmy. He apes Bill O’Reilly’s mannerisms and delivery and is even harder for me to take.

 

[JugglingReferee]

Voris completely forgets about this (1 Peter 3:14-16):

Just your opinion. I would rather have him thoughts than not have those thoughts available to me. I know that I have certainly grown stronger in my faith because of him.

 

[StTommyMore]

Just your opinion. I would rather have him thoughts than not have those thoughts available to me. I know that I have certainly grown stronger in my faith because of him.

“Just your opinion” is the response of someone who has head something he doesn’t like.

 

[JugglingReferee]

“Just your opinion” is the response of someone who has head something he doesn’t like.

Huh? What does that mean?

 

[StTommyMore]

Huh? What does that mean?

When someone says “that just your opinion” it is an attempt to shut down the conversation due to refusal to actively engage or refute the points being made. Rather than try to defend the arrogance and self-righteousness of Voris, you simply draw the conclusion to a close by disparaging my argument as mere opinion. Of ourse you could try to show that I am wrong by explaining that he really is a humble, meek, and gentle person. But is really a poor method of argument by using the “opinion” card.

 

[AcolyteLector]

[Posting this here, too]

I have a question for any Michael Voris fans who might be reading this. Let me preface this by stating that I agree with virtually all of what the man has to say, and almost all of his approach.

I am wondering if anyone can verify that Michael Voris is/has (1) an ex-seminarian, (2) received an ecclesiastical baccalaureate (STB), or (3) won a Grammy for broadcast journalism.

I’ve seen all of these claims disseminated by his website and those sympathetic to his cause, but never seen them substantiated–especially the last claim. Although, the archives for the winners of the broadcast news/journalism award do not seem to be as enthusiastically recorded as the other categories.

In any case, I’m only asking because our Church is a ship in stormy water, and already Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke has visited St. Michael’s media to bless and… it seems… endorse Mr. Voris’ message. It seems right to verify this man’s (Mr. Voris) claims before we set too much store by them. That’s all.

---

 

[surritter]

I don’t really know. If this concerns you, why not contact St. Michael’s Media? They are not a secret society – they are located on Woodward Avenue in Ferndale, Michigan.

 

[Abyssinia]

I really like Michael Voris, he is not afraid to speak the truth.

 

[Abyssinia]

[Posting this here, too]

I have a question for any Michael Voris fans who might be reading this. Let me preface this by stating that I agree with virtually all of what the man has to say, and almost all of his approach.

I am wondering if anyone can verify that Michael Voris is/has (1) an ex-seminarian, (2) received an ecclesiastical baccalaureate (STB), or (3) won a Grammy for broadcast journalism.

I’ve seen all of these claims disseminated by his website and those sympathetic to his cause, but never seen them substantiated–especially the last claim. Although, the archives for the winners of the broadcast news/journalism award do not seem to be as enthusiastically recorded as the other categories.

In any case, I’m only asking because our Church is a ship in stormy water, and already Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke has visited St. Michael’s media to bless and… it seems… endorse Mr. Voris’ message. It seems right to verify this man’s (Mr. Voris) claims before we set too much store by them. That’s all.

---

Are you claiming that Michael Voris is lying? Why would he lie about being an ex seminarian? Why would he lie about having received an ecclesiastical baccalaureate? Why would he lie about winning a Grammy?

Are their records of all the seminarians? Well if there is, Michael Voris would be listed.

Are their records of all the people with ecclesiastical baccalaureates? How would you get that information? I did not even know there was a Grammy for Journalism.

 

[AcolyteLector]

Are you claiming that Michael Voris is lying?

The answer to this is abundantly clear.

Why would he lie about being an ex seminarian? Why would he lie about having received an ecclesiastical baccalaureate?

Credibility.

Why would he lie about winning a Grammy?

cf. above–except that it would demonstrate that he was well-accomplished doing similar productions in the ‘secular’ media.

Are their records of all the seminarians? Well if there is, Michael Voris would be listed.
Are their records of all the people with ecclesiastical baccalaureates? How would you get that information? I did not even know there was a Grammy for Journalism.

Maybe it was an ‘Emmy’–I really don’t follow those awards, sorry if I made a mistake.

 

[AcolyteLector]

I don’t really know. If this concerns you, why not contact St. Michael’s Media? They are not a secret society – they are located on Woodward Avenue in Ferndale, Michigan.

Fair enough, thanks.

 

[AdvanceAlways]

Normally I find Voris way over the top but his videos on social justice are spot in. Fone Bone, I find your use of the term “neocon” to be pretty offesnive. You complain that Voris is an anti-Semite then you go and use a loaded term like “neocon.” That is quite the double standard. Your willingness to dismiss fiscal conservatives, as somehow, not truly Catholic is also very troubling and mean spirited yourself.

 

[Fone_Bone_2001]

Normally I find Voris way over the top but his videos on social justice are spot in. Fone Bone, I find your use of the term “neocon” to be pretty offesnive. You complain that Voris is an anti-Semite then you go and use a loaded term like “neocon.” That is quite the double standard.

Okay, let me clarify. I think I’ve given the wrong impression, for which I apologize.

(a) I don’t think Voris is an anti-Semite. I don’t think it would be fair to hold that the tone of that one video on Jews is representative of the content of Voris’ *personal *beliefs. It is simply the tone of RealCatholicTV’s video to which I object, and while he is of course somewhat responsible for that, I do not and would not consider it charitable, accurate, or just to draw conclusions about the content of an individual’s beliefs merely from the rhetorical tone of a video he narrates.

(b) Concerning the label “neo-conservative”…

May I assume you’re referring to this part of my replies?

Rejecting the phrase “social justice” is a rhetorical move designed to shift American Catholics toward identifying economic conservatism - i.e. conservative Republican or Tea Party ideologies - as intrinsic to or demanded by Catholic social teaching.

This is debatable at best and an utter distortion at worst. The crazy dance that American neo-conservative Catholics underwent in order to justify their positions after the Holy Father’s promulgation of Caritas in Veritate demonstrates this quite well. If we can dissent from Caritas in Veritate, then we can dissent from Humanae Vitae or any other papal encyclical. Period.

By trying to enforce uniformity over an area of applied theology where the Church permits interpretation - as good Catholics do differ over how best to apply the principles of Catholic social teaching to American political life today - Real Catholic TV does the Church a grave disservice.

It is, however, not all bad. I was impressed with the precision and compassion of the video “Catholic & Homosexual” (on youtube).

If so, I feel compelled to point out that “neo-conservative” is a legitimate term in American political philosophy, not an insult. The term has been embraced by prominent neoconservatives such as Irving Kristol, and it’s a helpful label for those who seek a way to distinguish and contrast their brand of post-9/11 conservatism, which features an increasingly active, interventionist foreign policy that is often in tension with the fiscal restraint that defines conservatism, with its older, pre-21st century counterpart.

The shift from a more libertarian paleo-conservative approach to a neo-conservative one is obvious, I think, from watching the old Bush vs. Gore debates of 2000 with full 20/20 hindsight. Some of Bush’s eloquent criticisms of his predecessor’s decisions sound like critiques of how he himself would one day carry out foreign policy.

This video - starting at 1:20 - illustrates what I’m talking about.

Now, I admit that the label “neo-conservative” has, in the past eight years, often been used as a pejorative. But it really shouldn’t be considered one, since it is a legitimate political term, and I certainly didn’t intend it as a pejorative in the quote I reproduced above.

Your willingness to dismiss fiscal conservatives, as somehow, not truly Catholic is also very troubling and mean spirited yourself.

I did no such thing. Take a look at the above quote again:

Rejecting the phrase “social justice” is a rhetorical move designed to shift American Catholics toward identifying economic conservatism - i.e. conservative Republican or Tea Party ideologies - as intrinsic to or demanded by Catholic social teaching.

This is debatable at best and an utter distortion at worst … By trying to enforce uniformity over an area of applied theology where the Church permits interpretation - as good Catholics do differ over how best to apply the principles of Catholic social teaching to American political life today - Real Catholic TV does the Church a grave disservice.

I have many friends who are far better Catholics than I am who are solid fiscal conservatives, and I respect their position.

What I do have a problem with is some politically conservative American Catholics’ choice to present their economic political philosophy as the only correct one for Catholics and to lump together the positions of anyone who disagrees with them under the rightfully insidious umbrella of “socialism.”

You see this attitude in snideful comments made against our nation’s bishops for their positions on health care and immigration. Again, it would be fine for American Catholics to say - as many do - “I don’t agree with our bishops on these issues.” But some go further and imply that they are spineless, sniveling weaklings who capitulate sycophantically to “the liberals” because it’s just easier. That is what I object to.

But I fully and wholeheartedly acknowledge that many loyal, intelligent Catholics who are fiscally conservative in their political philosophy do no such thing. As I said, I know many of them myself, including some who were among my favorite professors in college.

 

[lil_flower_luv]

Michael Voris is always a bit down on the bishops. He is a great witness, however, and I agree with most of what he says (because it is in line with Church teaching). We need more like him.

 

[Cliff_Jumper]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again Michael Voris ROCKS!!!

 

[RB2]

Its all good!

I’m learning things from him. His analysis and supporting rhetoric, his insight, his incisive slant etc. Its all good. In 6 months of 3-5 videos a day though, it will become old hat and I will listen less because the adept student gets bored and becomes a sponge somewhere else.

Same with radio political analysts.

 

[The_Reginator]

Here’s a great Vortex. I started a thread about it, but (as far as I’ve seen) it hasn’t been noticed a whole lot. It is quite different in that Michael isn’t ‘exposing lies and falsehoods’ but rather encouraging and challenging us:
The Will of God.

 

[RB2]

[Posting this here, too]

I have a question for any Michael Voris fans who might be reading this. Let me preface this by stating that I agree with virtually all of what the man has to say, and almost all of his approach.

I am wondering if anyone can verify that Michael Voris is/has (1) an ex-seminarian, (2) received an ecclesiastical baccalaureate (STB), or (3) won a Grammy for broadcast journalism.

I’ve seen all of these claims disseminated by his website and those sympathetic to his cause, but never seen them substantiated–especially the last claim. Although, the archives for the winners of the broadcast news/journalism award do not seem to be as enthusiastically recorded as the other categories.

In any case, I’m only asking because our Church is a ship in stormy water, and already Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke has visited St. Michael’s media to bless and… it seems… endorse Mr. Voris’ message. It seems right to verify this man’s (Mr. Voris) claims before we set too much store by them. That’s all.

---

This is a bit of an inane post/request.

Seems like some of the things you want to verify arent valid made claims.
Okay, you made a mistake on the word grammy–it was Emmy.
Other things are simple phone calls which you can do yourself to either Notre Dame or Sacred Heart Major Seminary/Angelicum in Rome like anyone else does for these things. He’s high profile enough with enough enemies in the right places to have had any psuedo acccomplishments exposed.

Claims of 2 Bachelors Degrees and being an ex-seminarian hardly follow into the category of claimed Masters, Phd degrees that are prevalent and sometimes through phony degree mill , get your diploma by mail and cashiers check operations.

theonetruefaith.tv/index.php?nav=01&content=18
Michael Voris - President

Michael Voris is a graduate of University of Notre Dame in Communications. He has spent over twenty years working in the television industry as a CBS News affiliate anchor, Emmy Award-winning broadcast news reporter and producer, and independent production company bureau chief. In the 1980’s he spent two years in seminary at St. Joseph’s Seminary in New York. In recent years he has been a frequent host on Michigan Catholic Radio and guest speaker at various parishes. He founded St. Michael’s Media in 2006 and hosts the television program The One True Faith.

realcatholictv.com/about/bio.php

Biography of Michael Voris

At 49, Michael Voris, S.T.B., president and founder of St. Michael’s Media, is among the generations of Catholics who simply didn’t receive thorough and accurate catechesis. Through his Catholic television show, The One True Faith, and his collaboration with www.realcatholictv.com, Mr. Voris intends to change that.

EDUCATION

Voris graduated from Notre Dame in 1983 with a degree in Communications and concentrated studies in history and politics. Equally impressive is his theological education. He not only trained as a young man in theology at the doctrinally-sound St. Joseph’s Seminary in New York, but in April of 2009, he received his Sacred Theology Baccalaureate (STB) from Sacred Heart Major Seminary/Angelicum in Rome – Magna Cum Laude.

TELEVISION

He spent a number of years working as a CBS affiliate anchor, producer and reporter, in various markets, winning multiple Emmys for his work in broadcast news. Working in the secular media provided him with not only the technical knowledge to produce excellent television programming, but a profound grasp of the need to produce programs that leave the viewer improved spiritually rather than merely entertained.

On May 8, 2006, Voris opened St. Michael’s Media, a new state-of-the-art digital television studio, dedicated to the archangel who Scripture promises will lead the victorious battle against Satan at the end of time (Rev 12:07). Located in Ferndale, MI, it is the production center of broadcast quality Catholic programs, designed to educate a generation of Catholics largely ignorant of Church teaching and to save souls from eternal damnation.

INTERNET

On September 1, 2008, he partnered with www.realcatholictv.com - the first ever online Catholic television station. Realizing that the internet is where it’s at, Voris and St. Michael’s Media began producing daily Catholic programming for viewers and subscribers of www.realcatholictv.com. Catholic News Roundup, The Shadow Priest and the ever popular, The Vortex, of which Michael Voris is the creator and host and which has been seen by millions of viewers, are just a few of the many innovative programs you will find on www.RealCatholicTV.com.

With a passion for saving souls, Voris epitomizes what it means to be a member of the Catholic laity today - to live out each day, what is meant by the new evangelization, utilizing the tools of the 21st century.

Michael Voris Timeline

2008
Started RealCatholicTV.com

2006
Founded St. Michael’s Media

2004-2006
Frequent host on Michigan Catholic Radio network

2003-2005
Guest speaker at National Shrine of the Little Flower and other metro Detroit parishes

1997
Began operation of independent TV production company

1992-1996
Won four Emmys in broadcast news production

1989-1997
Broadcast news producer and reporter for Fox 2 in Detroit

1986-1988
Seminarian at St. Joseph’s Seminary in New York

1984-1986
CBS affiliates anchor in Albany, Duluth and Cheyenne

1983-1984
Began career at CBS News, New York

1983
Graduate of the University of Notre Dame in Communications

 

[Samuel63]

This is the top program for hitting the relevant topics of our day. The content is in line with church teaching. The delivery is concise. What a relief after listening to meandering discussions by supposed experts.

The relevancy combined with concise and truly catholic content makes this arguably he most effective show to watch anywhere.

I like it so much, that I am a subscriber and have been watching the apologetics classes most recently.

Support a good cause! Forget the CCHD and its funneling of parish money to ACORN. Give good $ to causes that count and have an impact. Subscribe to RealCatholicTV.

Michael Voris indeed rocks!