Frank Wessling in The Catholic Messenger Feb. 19 claims EWTN shortchanges its audience in (1) social justice and (2) the Holy Spirit working through lay people. We argue EWTN does cover these areas, faithfully follows the Catechism of the Catholic Church and proclaims all the beautiful documents of Vatican II.
Recent social justice programs included “Where God Weeps,” on the aftermath of earthquakes in Peru and on the plight of Iraqi Catholic refugees, and “On Faith and Culture,” in which Colleen Campbell discussed moral issues with Dr. Edward Pellegrino, chairman of the President’s Council of Bio-Medical Ethics. Numerous third world bishops and missionaries are interviewed on weekly programs such as “EWTN Live with Fr. Pacwa, S.J.,” “Sunday Night Live with Fr. Benedict Groschel, F.F.R.,” “The World Over with Raymond Arroyo” and “Rome Report.” Rhonda Chervin and Anne Lassiter address widows in “Widow’s Walk.” On Feb. 26, “Life on the Rock,” directed to youth, Fr. Mark and Doug Barry discussed an apostolate to drug addicts. Like St. Francis, the station collects and lives only on monthly donations.
Programs showing the Holy Spirit working through the laity include “Choices We Face with Ralph Martin,” an authority on spirituality and the workings of the Holy Spirit; “The Abundant Life,” with Johnnette Benkocvic on women’s spirituality; “The Journey Home” with Marcus Grodi on conversion stories; “Crossing the Goal” with Danny Abramowicz for men’s spirituality; Scott Hahn, Edward Sri and Tim Gray in Scripture; Crystalina and Jason Evert and Christopher West for marriage and Theology of the Body; Alice Hildebrand for philosophy; Patrick Madrid for apologetics; Dale Ahlquist on G. K. Chesterton and Joseph Pearce on ecology and Shakespeare.
Isn’t this evidence enough that EWTN is indeed “The Catholic Channel” with free world-wide coverage of the whole scope of the church teachings through radio, television, Internet, short wave and in various languages?
Joe and Kay Fisher
Newton
