The Blind Guides of EWTN

Catholic Family News ^ | October 2003 | Christopher Ferrara

[sydney smith]

It isn't appalling. Just silly, trite, meaningless and unnecessary. Who does she love? What does she mean by love? Most likely it sounds 'good'and makes her feel 'good' so she says it. Like I said, the show's for women.

[Salvation]

Good to have you back and voicing the truth.

[jt8d]

"Ferrara is a professional bitcher. Gripe, complain, whine, bellyache about anything that happened in the Church after 1965, except the schism by Lefebvre.

I will think this REMNANT crowd (Ferrara, Drolesky, Matt) is more than just a bunch of gratuitous iconoclasts when I read one positive thing from their pens."

RE:

Sinkspur, ideologically I do not know from where you come, nor could I ever be successful in determining exactly what Catholic truths you stand for. However, I do notice that not "one positive thing" ever flows from your "pen."

Sinkspur, Catholics who do not share in your opinion that Vatican II represents an ecclesiastical nirvana--'the' zenith of Catholic revelation--which is exactly what this new-age sixties-style lovefest has come to represent in the the post-conciliar revolution, and coincidently, is the one single development that you obviously embrace as being a faithful and organic representation of the Catholic Church, are labled by you to be schismatic. Good Catholics who are tired of smelling the stench of rotten fruit wafting in from Rome, and who still are able to muster the courage enough to "call a spade a spade" are, in your mind: dissenters, misfits, malcontents--and, oh yes, least I omit "bitchers." Sir, you do not argue a point; rather, you belittle with calumny--a gross and unjust attack upon personal character, which you tritely apply to any who do not embrace your viewpoints. Apparently, you do so without a wince of conscience.

Sinkspur, not once have I ever read, on this forum, a posting offered by you that directly and concisely answers a reasonable question that has been put to you. Neither, sir, have I ever read, here, any work of grace from your "pen." You offer rhetoric as rebuttal to a contested point without presenting concrete fact--such as would be the case if you concisely presented an infalable Catholic teaching--in context--regarding a specific topic.

Dogmas of the Catholic faith, as might be found within the original writings of the Doctors of the faith: the Saints, the Matyrs, the Holy Magisterium of the Catholic Church--all these would be acceptable sources. But, alas, the only words from your pen, Sinkspur, are those of "professional bitcher"--thus it would appear that it is you who excells in the art of "gripe, complain, whine, and bellyache." And this carrying-on is most vitriollic where matters pertaining to the Church, as she existed BEFORE 1965, are discussed. In fact, sir, you write as though the Catholic Church did not come into being until Vatican II made it so.

Sinkspur, I do read this forum occasionally, even regularly--but I mostly choose to hold back from issuing replies, rather than waste my precious time in jousting with disingenuous purveyors of liberal nonsense. However, I grow weary to read with increasing frequency your attacks upon faithful traditional Catholics. In that one aspect of religious conversation you do quite well--and, I note, with much enthusiasim, sir. Everyone is a schismatic--excepting you, of course. Hit and run attacks without reasoned moral argument are the hallmark of a coward. Your all-too-handy reliance on such tactics, even against people of high professional merit and unfailing moral character--qualities of which I doubt that you possess in equal capacity, causes me to question the veracity of your remarks made against most of the posters here. Is there anyone whose opinion you do respect, save but yourself? Sinkspur, I ponder the motives that animate your presence on this forum, as I rarely see any resemblance of Catholic charity within your caustic responses.

[sinkspur]

Good Catholics who are tired of smelling the stench of rotten fruit wafting in from Rome,

I appreciate you venting your ample spleen toward me, but this comment tells me all I need to know of whence you come.

Sinkspur, not once have I ever read, on this forum, a posting offered by you that directly and concisely answers a reasonable question that has been put to you

Utter nonsense, bub. You've got an agenda, the same agenda of all the Novus-Ordo-haters around here.

But, you're entitled to whine all you want.

However, I grow weary to read with increasing frequency your attacks upon faithful traditional Catholics.

I don't attack "faithful" traditional Catholics, just the pseudo kind, like Ferrara, who make a living attacking those who follow John Paul II.

Is there anyone whose opinion you do respect, save but yourself?

Sitetest, Catholicguy, sandyeggo, NYer, salvation, St. Chuck, just to name a few.

Sinkspur, I ponder the motives that animate your presence on this forum, as I rarely see any resemblance of Catholic charity within your caustic responses.

"Ponder" at will. You see what you want to see, in your blind animus against Novus Ordo Catholics.

Interesting that you use your entire post to accuse me of uncharity, and you do it in the most uncharitable of terms.

Do you even recognize your hypocrisy?

[LadyDoc]

not that any one cares, but this is not "catholic" news, but a schismatic group.

Catholic means universal, and except for a small core of dogma, a lot of freedom of opinion is allowed in the Catholic church.

EWTN is an example of true catholic renewal, as opposed to the terrible stuff done in the name of "the spirit of vatican II" which alas usually means destroying church belief doctrines etc.

[malakhi]

Who does she love? What does she mean by love? Most likely it sounds 'good'and makes her feel 'good' so she says it.

"Love your neighbor as yourself" must be trite and meaningless, too.

Like I said, the show's for women.

Are you a misogynist?

[Maeve]

Thank you. Very well said.

[sydney smith]

Looking into a camera and saying "We love you" to an anonymous audience is something only an idiotic woman would do. And no, I'm not a misogynist.

[malakhi]

...is something only an idiotic woman would do. And no, I'm not a misogynist.

LOL! The irony of this juxtaposition is just too much.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

There seems to be enough venom on both sides to go around.

[american colleen]

EWTN is a silly network for Catholic women. It is not for serious Catholics. Did you ever see anyone as ridiculous as Penny Lord? At the end of her show she says "We love you." Give me a break.

Yeah, Bob and Penny Lord are rather sugary sweet for my taste as well - but they have written quite a few Catholic books as well as traveled the world to bring many beautiful religious stories to television. EWTN sure doesn't have the dollars to finance expensive pilgrimages, so the network plugs into people who do have the money and time to bring religious sites to an audience who would otherwise not see or hear about them. Ya do what ya gotta do!

As far as EWTN being a "silly network for Catholic women" - that is kind of a dopey comment to make. Obviously you don't watch "World Over Live" (w/Cardinal Arinze this Friday) or "EWTN Live" with Fr. Pakwa or "The Journey Home" with Marcus Grodi - they are not silly women shows. The Mass that EWTN airs is beautiful and often has wonderful visiting priests saying them. Great especially for shut-ins. The coverage that EWTN provides of the bishops meetings or the travels of Pope John Paul are not found anywhere else.

Many, many people have accidentally paused on EWTN while channel surfing and they stay... and learn about what the Catholic Church teaches. EWTN is spreading the Gospel to a huge audience.

It's too bad that the St. Pius society doesn't have it's own network... maybe someone should think about starting one and see what happens.

And the progressives absolutely froth at the mouth at the mere mention of EWTN - it's really predictable and funny to watch - not that they have anything to offer as a Catholic media alternative to EWTN... they just hate it and they hate Mother Angelica even more. Try to find mention of EWTN in your local parish bulletin or even in Commonweal or National Catholic Reporter. You won't unless it is mentioned as a passing slap or put down.

Find a liberal bishop on EWTN...no... but quite a few if not all of the more conservative bishops have been on that network. It's funny... EWTN is almost some sort of litmus test.

Here's a good article on ETWN found in the National Review Online.

[malakhi]

It's too bad that the St. Pius society doesn't have it's own network... maybe someone should think about starting one and see what happens.

But would the broadcast of the Latin mass include subtitles?

[american colleen]

Are you kidding? No way! ;-)

[american colleen]

Are you kidding? No way! ;-)

[sydney smith]

Would the broadcast of an orthodox Jewish service in ancient Hebrew(or a bar mitzvah) require subtitles?

[Maeve]

Hello to you!!! I'll tell her.

My mother is doing well. Her cornea got scratched by an overly affectionate son -- and so she's had to wear a patch, then dark glasses. My father says that the dark glasses have made her look like "an international woman of intrigue" -- I think she rather likes that thought. Even so, she has her hands full with the little ones (and the teenage one), but she tells me she is very happy there.

[Maeve]

EWTN is a silly network for Catholic women. It is not for serious Catholics. Did you ever see anyone as ridiculous as Penny Lord? At the end of her show she says "We love you." Give me a break.

Where would you like the break? I would be happy to oblige.

[sydney smith]

You are a woman(silly status unknown). You are defending EWTN. Case closed.