What Catholic media should be

I just read Vatican II's Inter Mirifica over lunch. This document was promulgated in 1963 (along the with Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy), and provides the Church's teaching and pastoral activity in the media of social communications.

You should read it too, and then see if so-called Catholic media like National Catholic Reporter (US) and The Tablet (UK) actually adhere to the Church's teaching on media and communications from Vatican II.

On the other hand, consider the fine programming of EWTN, Sacred Heart Radio, Ave Maria Radio, etc., and then read this paragraph from the document:

It is quite unbecoming for the Church's children idly to permit the message of salvation to be thwarted or impeded by the technical delays or expenses, however vast, which are encountered by the very nature of these media. Therefore, this sacred Synod advises them of the obligation they have to maintain and assist Catholic newspapers, periodicals and film projects, radio and television programs and stations, whose principal objective is to spread and defend the truth and foster Christian influence in human society. At the same time, the Synod earnestly invites those organizations and individuals who possess financial and technical ability to support these media freely and generously with their resources and their skills, inasmuch as they contribute to genuine culture and the apostolate. (IM 17)

Have you supported Catholic media lately?

Real Catholic TV

In addition to EWTN (which broadcasts on TV, with a live streaming feed on the Internet), there is now Real Catholic TV, an Internet-only Catholic television station which will soon be broadcasting programs produced by St. Michael's Media. It's only three days old, but it looks pretty good!

The "Vortex" is, admittedly, rather scathing and smart-alecky (which I fear might lead to people discrediting the actual arguments the host makes), but otherwise the programming is thoroughly Catholic.

The Vortex (from September 2) does make an excellent point about the Democrats' desire for abortions to be "safe, legal, and rare". If abortion is a legal right, why shouldn't we be allowed to exercise it whenever we wish? Why shouldn't abortion be permitted at will?

Humor: Weekly not-for-profit television personality

I found this video on the blog of Fr. Tim Finigan (His Hermeneuticalness). Priceless!

The Moral Law vs. God

Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J., answered a tough question on Threshold of Hope this week. Paraphrased, the question was: "Is the moral law which differentiates good from evil something that God dictates (and therefore what is good is good because He says so), or is God good because He conforms to this moral law (which therefore exists outside and before Him)?" In other words, is the moral law arbitrary because God invented it or is God subject to it because it was not created by Him?

I'll post his answer here later, but until then, does anyone want to try and give an answer? (Hint: think tertium quid.)

EWTN: Threshold of Hope Q&A on Latin!

I'm watching Threshold of Hope this morning on my computer (via EWTN's live video feed). After a commercial break, Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J., fielded a question from another priest in the audience about Latin in the Mass. Fr. Pacwa answered by explaining how the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy did not eliminate Latin, how Latin has "pride of place", how he believes the Ordinary parts of Mass (the Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, etc.) should be in Latin... then he talked about a parish that was having a lot of trouble financially, that had been having Spanish Masses and English Masses, that then decided to celebrate the Ordinary Form of the Mass in Latin, and it turned the parish around entirely.

EWTN: Threshold of Hope

So EWTN has a live video feed. I have it running in the background off and on during my work day, depending on how intensely my code-writing requires my concentration, etc.

This morning, there's a program called "Threshold of Hope" (9:00 - 10:00 AM). This is my kind of show. What's the host, Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J., doing? Reading papal documents! They're on Catechesi Tradendae (one I haven't read).

Where can I sign up? I'll read papal documents on television all day!

News: EWTN to air Ordinary Public Consistory on Saturday at 2:00 PM EST

I don't get cable at home, but this Saturday, I'll be in Allentown visiting my parents. They do get cable, including EWTN, which means I can watch this:

ORDINARY PUBLIC CONSISTORY FOR THE
CREATION OF NEW CARDINALS LIVE (1h 30m)
From St. Peter's Square, Consistory with Pope Benedict XVI
as he elevates 23 prelates to the level of cardinal.
Sat, 11/24/07 4:30 AM Live / 2:00 PM Encore