#Boycott EWTN

[sancarlo]

From the official Facebook page for Bl. Carlo Acutis’ cause for canonization (translated by me via DeepL):

A new production from CRISTIANA Video

I AM WITH YOU - A Documentary on Carlo Acutis

On the occasion of the beginning of Lent according to the Ambrosian rite, Sunday, February 21, CRISTIANA Video will launch on Vimeo’s VOD platform (https://vimeo.com/ondemand/carloacutis where it will be possible to rent or purchase it) a documentary, co-produced with EWTN, on a young man from Milan, Carlo Acutis, whom the Church proclaimed Blessed last October 10 in Assisi.

"I am with you" are the words taken from the Gospel of Matthew with which Jesus promises us his closeness forever. A closeness that Carlo felt particularly alive, as the documentary tells us, enriched by many testimonies of those who knew him and by images of the beatification. A part of the documentary is dedicated to one of the Eucharistic Miracles that Charles loved the most, that of Lanciano, which took place in the 8th century. The documentary, which has been dubbed into English, will premiere on February 26 at 8 p.m. Eastern on EWTN, the world's largest Catholic television network. (Source: https://www.facebook.com/247379695718687/posts/1160429091080405/)

Note: EWTN has used their platform for promoting positions and conspiracy theories that are contrary to the Magisterium, (such as Taylor Marshall, Archbishop Vigano, etc.), and actively undermine the authority of Pope Francis (hosts like Raymond Arroyo call his close advisors, friends, and collaborators the nickname of the “papal posse”, which has a negative connotation).

The moratorium for posting any links that will, in turn, directly generate traffic to any of their websites and/or other media in which they may benefit still stands.

My stance against attacking anyone in charge of Carlo’s cause for Canonization because of the unprofessional behaviors of EWTN’s hosts, crew, and other employees that they have no control over, is also in effect.

If you wish to contact the organization (peacefully!) over EWTN’s behavior not being in line with Carlo’s mission to represent authentic Catholic teaching, please fill out the form in the link below.

Thank you!

[iprayunceasingly-blog]

Venezuelan bishops say country is going in 'suicidal' direction under Maduro

New Post has been published on https://pray-unceasingly.com/catholic-living/catholic-news/venezuelan-bishops-say-country-is-going-in-suicidal-direction-under-maduro/

Venezuelan bishops say country is going in 'suicidal' direction under Maduro

Caracas, Venezuela, Jul 12, 2018 / 01:37 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The bishops of Venezuela issued Wednesday a scathing critique of the country's political leadership, calling for greater respect for basic needs and rights.

Since Nicolas Maduro succeeded Hugo Chávez as president of Venezuela in 2013, the country has been marred by violence and social upheaval.

“Attitudes of arrogance, authoritarianism and abuse of power, as well as the constant violation of human rights, are accumulating on their actors a rejection that future generations will claim,” the bishops said in a July 11 statement at the close of their plenary assembly.

“It is suicidal to continue stubbornly insisting on a path of self-destruction that will turn against its promoters,” they said, stressing that the Church does not endorse acts of revenge or retaliation, “but neither does it promote impunity for crimes that threaten life and fundamental rights.”

The United Nation's human rights office said in June that Venezuelan security forces carried out more than 500 extra-judicial killings amid purported crime-fighting efforts between July 2015 and March 2017. The report highlighted the failure of authorities to hold accountable perpetrators of serious human rights violations which include killings, the use of excessive force against demonstrators, arbitrary detentions, ill-treatment, and torture.

The bishops' statement, “Do not be afraid, I am with you,” offers an overview of the political and humanitarian crisis plaguing the country and their reaction as pastors.

The bishops said the future of the nation is at stake, and the situation is becoming “increasingly more serious.”

Citing “monstrous hyperinflation” as a key reason for much of the country's crisis, the bishops noted that the quality of life for the majority of Venezuelans, which was “already extremely precarious, is deteriorating day by day.”

Added to shortages in food, healthcare supplies, public services such as water and electricity, which were already a cause for serious concern, are problems with personal safety, employment, the circulation and sale of cash, and problems with public transport.

With most methods of public transport disappearing from the streets, citizens have created their own means getting around, packing themselves into overflowing truck beds or holding onto cage-looking structures on the back of large lorries, causing an increase in traffic accidents and deaths.

Poor economic policies, including strict price controls, coupled with high inflation rates, have resulted in a severe lack of basic necessities such as toilet paper, milk, flour, diapers and medicines.

Venezuela's socialist government is widely blamed for the crisis. Since 2003, price controls on some 160 products, including cooking oil, soap and flour, have meant that while they are affordable, they fly off store shelves only to be resold on the black market at much higher rates.

In  2017, Maduro announced plans to re-write the country's constitution, a decision that was widely opposed by citizens and the Church. Millions of people turned out to protest in the lead-up to a July 30, 2017, nation-wide election which approved a constitutional assembly to reform the country’s 1999 constitution.

In their statement, Venezuela's bishops pointed to the ongoing political crisis the country is facing, saying the primary cause for their woes is the national government, “for putting its political project over any other consideration, including the humanitarian.”

They also criticized the government for “erroneous” financial policies, for its “contempt for productive activity and for private property and for its constant attitude of placing obstacles in the way of those who want to resolve some aspect of the current problem.”

The government is playing the victim in both internal and external ways, they said, explaining that this is “nothing more than the confession of their own inability to manage the country. One cannot pretend to resolve the situation of a failed economy with emergency measures such as food bags and bonuses.”

Elections held in May, which many Venezuelans, including the bishops, protested as illegitimate, has only cemented the current government's hold on power, rather than leading to legal and democratic presidential elections, they said, noting that the boycott by high numbers of the population is a “silent message of rejection” toward a regime that seeks to impose “a totalitarian ideology.”

Calling Venezuela's National Constituent Assembly “illegitimate,” the bishops said the entity violates “the most sacred rights of the Venezuelan people: the fundamental freedom to elect their own leaders in a fair electoral competition” without manipulation or favoritism.

Bishops said they live under a “de facto regime” which does not live by the constitution, and stressed the need for national leadership which puts people and ethics at the center, rather than power, control, or the pursuit of “petty interests.”

They also pointed to the growing Venezuelan diaspora throughout the world, mostly in neighboring Latin American countries, who risk trafficking and often struggle to integrate into their new countries. The Unied Nations Refugee Agency recently estimated that 5,000 Venezuelans emigrate daily.

Noting the high numbers of youth who have left, bishops said their absence is a loss of “human talent” for the country and of hope for the future.

However, the bishops stressed that  “God guides his people from slavery to freedom, but he also educates them, through trials and hardship, so that it reaches the necessary maturity as a nation.”

They urged citizens to pray, saying no prayer or sacrifice is useless, even if the result is not immediately seen.

In the midst of the crisis, the Church, they said, has en evangelic task of looking after the interests of the people.

They stressed that the Church is not a substitute for political leaders, and does not wish to “dominate the social panorama, nor to become a factor of government or opposition.”

“However, it encourages the duly educated and aware laity of their citizens' rights and obligations to make their voices heart and to actively intervene in the political arena, so that the high principles and values that the Christian faith transmits to us can also be lived in the scope of the public and translate into works of common good.”

The bishops invited members of civil society to look for creative solutions to the crisis, urging citizens not to grow accustomed to living in “humiliating” conditions, and to be active in using every means possible to return power to the people.

Addressing the Venezuelan armed forces, bishops urged them to be faithful to their oath before God and homeland to “defend the constitution and democracy, and not to be carried away by political and ideological bias.”

They also advocated for greater solidarity on the part of parishes and ecclesial institutions in keeping with the Church's social doctrine, despite the difficulties. The Church community, they said, is called “to promote a structural change in favor of the transformation of our society.”

“We must never be discouraged in front of the challenges of an uncertain and difficult present,” they said. “On the contrary, we place our trust in God, who gives us the strength to bear witness and to do good, and we strengthen the demands in favor of justice and freedom.”

CNA Daily News – Americas

[sancarlo]

A note from the admin:

January 1, 2021

So as of late, there has been some drama in regards to EWTN’s recent (December 30, 2020) suspension of both Gloria Purvis and Father Larry Richards, as well as the resignation of JD Flynn and Sam Rocha from the Catholic News Agency (an EWTN subsidy). I understand that I have posted videos about Carlo from EWTN’s YouTube channels, as this is because of the lack of English-language content about the Blessed online in general. Several people who have been interviewed by EWTN have asked that the network take down their interviews from their archive until Gloria’s program is reinstated.

I, Alexandria Lowell, who is the administrator and creator of this blog, stand with Gloria Pruvis and her fellow colleagues. As a result, there will be a moratorium from sharing any new media (articles, podcasts, videos, etc.) about Carlo from EWTN, or any of its subsidiaries, such as the National Catholic Register, ChurchPop, or the Catholic News Agency. If I need to use any sort of media from the aforementioned entity as a citation, I will be instead linking an archived version of said media that I have captured from the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, to prevent them from receiving any web traffic. Going forward, I intend on writing articles that gives a glimpse into what kind of world Carlo lived in, as well as information about his interests and his perspective on major world events at the time, as this was my vision for this blog.

With that being said, on December 28th, 2020 (so a couple of days before the announcement), the EWTN Radio program Take 2 had Antonia Salzano on as a guest. I will have to give Carlo’s mom credit, as she didn’t give the interviewers much of an opportunity to ask questions, as she went on and on about her son. Please, for the love of God, do not attack Antonia Salzano, her family, the Associazione Amici di Carlo Acutis, nor anyone else involved in either Carlo’s exhibitions or cause for Canonization for this “association fallacy” for the behavior of a group of executives that are outside of their control. Remember, Carlo once said that “to criticize the Church is to criticize ourselves. The Church is our dispensary of treasure for our salvation.” His Eucharistic Miracles exhibition, as well as his other ones, only contains Church-approved material, which includes one that happened in Buenos Aires in the 1990s, back when Pope Francis was still an auxiliary Bishop there.

Happy New Year! There will be more to come.