Posted on 03/07/2006 9:39:17 AM PST by Slugworth
What Went Wrong at EWTN?
Hoping to avoid a takeover by the American bishops, Mother Angelica resigned from the board of directors of the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) in March of 2000. She relinquished all control over the network she had founded in 1981. With the departure of that feisty and combative nun, EWTN underwent a change for the worse.
This sure-to-be-controversial book contends that since the departure of its foundress, EWTN has been purveying to millions of Catholics a strange brew of the orthodox and the heterodox, the sacred and the profane. The anti-liberal Popes before the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) would have viewed much of EWTNs content as Modernist corruptions of the Faith.
Pope Saint Pius X condemned Modernism as a deadly system of errors. The Modernist views every aspect of the Faithfrom liturgy, to doctrine and dogma, to Catholic practices and devotionsas subject to change and updating in keeping with modern times. St. Pius declared: [T]here is no part of Catholic truth from which they hold their hand, none that they do not strive to corrupt.
Basing itself on extensive evidence taken from EWTNs own content, and comparing that content to the perennial belief and practice of the Church, the book shows that EWTNs moderately Modernist version of the Faith is precisely what St. Pius X had in view when he condemned Modernism in all its forms, including what His Holiness called the Modernist as reformer.
The book places the problem with EWTN in the larger context of the post-Vatican II crisis in the Church, which resulted from a Modernist insurrection during and after the Council.
The author notes that this breakthrough, with all its disastrous consequences, was foreseen by the future Pope Pius XII when he was still Vatican Secretary of State. Referring to the Blessed Virgins messages to little Lucy of Fatima, the future Pope spoke of this persistence of Mary about the dangers which menace the Church. He warned of the Modernist innovators all around him in the Church, who were poised to attempt the suicide of altering the faith, in her liturgy, her theology and her soul. He predicted that a day will come
when the Church will doubt as Peter doubted.
Four years after the death of Pius XII in 1958, that day came with the commencement of the Second Vatican Council. Forty years after the Councils conclusion, any reasonable observer of the postconciliar crisis in the Church would agree that Pius XIIs dire warnings, uttered in light of the prophecy of the Mother of God at Fatima, have come to pass. The Modernist innovators have triumphed, and the Church has been afflicted by a collapse of faith and discipline on a scale not seen since the Arian heresy spread throughout nearly the entire Church in the fourth century.
The author shows that the moderately Modernist version of Roman Catholicism EWTN purveys on television and over the Internet to millions of Catholics embodies much of what the innovators feared by Pius XII had in mind. The result is far more insidious than any open heresy, for EWTNs fans are induced to imbibe spiritual poison along with seeming spiritual goods. The unwary thus accept under the guise of orthodoxy many of the errors and abuses the Church condemned before the Council.
At the same time, EWTN uses its power and influence to marginalize as extreme traditionalists faithful Catholics who try to defend their Church against the suicide of altering the faith, in her liturgy, her theology, and her soul, which EWTN is helping to advance.
The author demonstrates that while EWTN holds itself out as the gold standard of Catholic orthodoxy today, it is actually a major promoter of Modernist innovation in the Church. EWTN is therefore a major obstacle to the widespread return to traditional Catholic belief and practice in all its integritythe only way to end the crisis in the Church. Catholics thus have a duty to oppose what EWTN is doing and to call for its correction.
This book will shock and outrage many, but the overwhelming evidence it presents will convince the open-minded that EWTN is indeed a network gone wrong.
I hope you have your flame suit on. ;-)
This article is useless in that it cited no examples of EWTN going wrong.
I swear more extreme Traditionalist Catholic humbug in this book. THis too will pass. The schismatic Catholic groups are seperating into so many little factions they will be a non factor in a few years.
I am sure what this book wants is for EWTN to denounce Vatican II as a council of the devil. It also prob miffed that EWTN has not condemmed POpe John PAul the II on daily basis.
Referring to EWTN as "liberal" or "Modernist" is like calling Hillary a centralist. You can say it, but it doesn't make it true. I watch the programming of EWTN and I'm a conservative Catholic and I sure can't see anything liberal about it.
Thats true. I guess I nned to start paying attention to the Remenant crowd again. I guess I was so disheartened when two prominent Catholic Apologist went over to that side recently. Esp since they were converts. Well I guess only one went that way totally(Matetics) but even Robert Sungenis who wrote two of the best apologetic books I have read is getting wackier it seems.
Please cite one statement from EWTN that is unorthodox and not compatible with the Deposit of Faith.
BTTT
The 'last hurrah' before the SSPX is reunited to the Magisterium.
I am curious if they are going to be reunited. I hear alot of so called reliable news that its in the works. BUt then its followed by a alot of denials. I mean the latin mass issue can be resolved. How though is SSPX going to swallow all these feeling as to Vatican II. It seems the SSPX has just hardened in those issues to me or at least the laity in those groups have.
The trads have already begun to splinter amongst themselves. Assuming the SSPX returns to the fold, expect some to splinter of into a new group. This is what happens to those who separate from the Magisterium.
I watch Father Corapi all the time. No way is he a liberal.
Another pet peeve I have about EWTN is that I really appreciate them broadcasting the Pope's Masses but the person who translates the Popes homilies is a woman. That is so annoying to me that I do not watch it. One time they had a woman translating during the consecration. I know they receive a feed from Vatican radio but I still do not like listening to a woman voice coming out of the Pope.
It is nice to have a Catholic TV Network.
Did you forget the SCHISMATIC BARKING MOONBAT alert again?????
Slugworth may well have a point; yet I am so grateful for EWTN even so. Just look at the Protestant networks, the insipid Inspirtional one run by Benny Hinn (oh how I wish for a Benny HILL network!) and the unspeakable TBN--the Pink-Haired Lady, aka Jan Crouch, is the only thing I can bear on them! (OK, also the reruns of that movie The Robe!)
Even with its faults, EWTN is the only religious channel I trust--and I'm a Presbyterian! (Not to be confused with PresLEYtariansim, the truest American religion.) Where else would I have seen (more than once) the truly moving funeral of kind John Paul the Great? Where else would I be so moved by good Bishop Sheen, the man for all seasons?
All I can say is that, rightly or wrongly, I am grateful for what is there.
Most likely a nun from Vatican Television. The times I've watched Mass from the Vatican on EWTN when Archbishop Foley hasn't been giving running translation it has been either of two nuns, one has an English accent.
Good heavens! I think this is just not a reasonable article.
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