Review:

EWTN: A Network Gone Wrong

By: Christopher Ferrera

Softcover

Length: 276 pages

ISBN: 0-9663046-7-5

Good Counsel Publications

Order Here: http://networkgonewrong.com/index.htm

 

I checked my mailbox one day and I received a package from the Fatima Center. I started receiving materials from them ever since I ordered a documentary from them a year ago called, Heaven’s Key to Peace. I wondered why the package was thicker than usual this time around. When I opened it, I discovered a new book, this book. The title immediately grabbed my attention: EWTN: A Network Gone Wrong. “Hold the phone, I love EWTN”, I thought to myself. What sort of propaganda is this? I had my doubts and debated on whether I should read it. I even wrote Dr. Robert Sungenis, an apologist and Scripture scholar I trust, and his response is attached below. After five sittings, I finished it.

 

I will not go into detail because I would desire all who read this article to pick up this book for yourselves and read it. I could describe it in depth but it would only make the skeptics more skeptical. It outlines and documents all of its resources and quotations as Mr. Ferrera is making his case, and what a case it is!

 

Recently, I read the Syllabus Condemning the Errors of the Modernists, Lamentabilii Sane (1907). I think I must have highlighted no less than 26 out of the 65 doctrines it condemns, as some teaching I have heard taught in some place or other, be it in the pulpit or in a textbook. This is shocking enough as it is. But, the question remains, if the local “teachers” of the faith don’t have it exactly right, then who does?

 

Those who have been “faithfully” keeping up with my blogs for the last few years will know, if possible, when a question arises for me or from me, I leave no stone un-turned. And this book is an instrument, I think, for God’s illumination of the Catholic mind. Whether we like it or not, admit it or not, sometimes we compromise. We may even willingly and consciously choose the lesser of two evils, as opposed to rejecting all evils outright, and embracing the good.

 

In Ferrera’s 19 chapters, he outlines what he sees wrong with the presentation of EWTN, as it supposedly presents to us the fullness of the orthodox Catholic faith. He has to add, as I would, first of all, a disclaimer, that not all if EWTN’s programming is “heretical”. Lot’s of it is good, in fact. But, as Ferrera defines in chapter 5, this is the core of what the Modernist heresy is all about. That is, a presentation of novelty, heterodox doctrines unheard of to the sum of 2000 years of Catholic Tradition, is mixed in with “solid” orthodox Catholic doctrine. In other words, the good and the bad are presented together as truth. In this case, an honest, and perhaps ill educated Catholic novice may approach this “teacher” and under the assumption that the resource is “sound” and “orthodox” will accept all messages with little discretion. And voila, we have the Modernist heresy. This is the very thing Fr. Shannon Collins, who had a show on EWTN, Does the Church Still Teach That?, mentioned on his program: “The Devil would be happy to give you 99% of truth, so that he can slip in that 1% of lies.” This is the very criticism I had for Cardinal Mahoney’s Religious Education Congress. Though I will admit, perhaps even a majority of his speakers were okay, but throw in a couple of bad eggs, and the faithful are blind sheep left to the slaughter. Why ever support such a mixed bag?

 

EWTN promotes the “destruction of liturgy”, Ferrera points out. When Mother Angelica was at the helm of her ship, they managed to televise one Catholic Tridentine Mass. That was short lived. Now we have this hybrid Mass where the faithful no longer kneel for the reception of Communion as they did for a while on EWTN. It defended the pagan tainted Pontifical Mass that PJPII celebrated when he visited Mexico where his guests took a bowl with smoke escaping from it as the women took some leaves and placed it in the smoke and later shaking the leaves all around the pope’s body and on his arm. This was explained to be a “once” PAGAN ritual of EXORCISM!!! The list goes on.

 

All I have left to say is that this book is well researched and well documented. To prove the claims of this book, which is filled with quotations from “advice” from supposedly “orthodox” Catholic-defenders like Fr. Groeschel, Fr. Serpa, Fr. Levis, et al. giving commentary which I would think a non-Catholic would give, we can always follow the links in the footnotes and listen or read to the source materials ourselves. As vigilant as I know my fellow Catholic-listers and Catholic-bloggers to be, I know this book is a presentation which I think most of us thought in the backs of our mind over the years, but never wanted to admit or articulate... perhaps because we see EWTN and Catholic Answers as our “best bet” and “highest hope”. I think it still has a lot of good to offer, but I wonder if they are compromising with the world too much. Sometimes I was not sure about what I heard or watched. Before, I usually turned a blind eye when I viewed the disturbing content of some programming.

 

I highly recommend this book, even for the traditional-skeptic who loves EWTN. The Catholic faith must always supercede any celebrity we ascribe to the big names as Scott Hahn et. Al. I think that is what Mr. Ferrera is trying to preserve. And, in my opinion, he succeeds. Although, since none of us are the pope, we are all fallible. Thus, I do not agree with all of Mr. Ferrera’s beliefs. But as far as the main focus of the book, I think he triumphs.

 

My personal philosophy, let’s just keep it real. Real Catholicism needs no confetti and silly string. It needs no bells and whistles and fireworks. The pure and simple faith was good enough for the early Christians to die for, why is it not good enough for us? Again, the Church never has, should not, and cannot ever lower itself down to the level of the penitent. We must rise above the filth of our own sinfulness, and the darkness of this world, and meet Christ and His Church where they stand, and contemplate the Truth for what it’s worth- and where it stands. The Saints all held this uncompromising position, and if we are truly “saints in training”, then we should to.

 

By the Grace of Almighty God, the Church will be restored…

 

God Bless,

Laurence

 

EWTN and Christopher Ferrera

 

Dear Dr. Sungenis:

 

I was reading some of the news articles and one of them suggested giving to the EWTN television network. I just recently received a book in the mail from the Fatima Center, a book written by Mr. Christopher Ferrera. I know you may disagree with certain positions that he has, but have you read this book? And if so, is it accurate? Do you think EWTN is a threat to the Catholic faith?

 

God Bless,
Laurence Gonzaga

Catechist

San Bernardino, CA

 

R. Sungenis: Laurence, I cannot be the one who determines whether you give to EWTN. All I can suggest to you is that before you do, you read Mr. Ferrara's book. I have read Mr. Ferrara's new book and I plan to write a review on it in the near future. What I can tell you for now, however, is that I consider Christopher Ferrara a prophet of our day, and probably the best I've seen. I have met no one who is able to examine and expose the ongoing deterioration of modern Catholicism as well as Mr. Ferrara has donej, including what is presently going on at EWTN. Although EWTN certainly does have some good programming, it needs to heeds the information Mr. Ferrara put in his book so that it can truely be the voice of Catholicism in our day. I will have more to say about this in a few weeks.