It seems that EWTN has – mostly if not completely – sidelined, for the Conclave coverage, Raymond Arroyo, Robert Royal and Fr. Gerald Murray… the “Papal Posse”.
Now, the same three have a YouTube series. HERE (Raymond’s personal site)
In EWTN’s new “C” team, I don’t know the woman at all and I only tangentially know the layman Matthew Bunson, but Landry?
This is GALACTICALLY STUPID on the part of EWTN leadership.
Perhaps you have a view on this.
Contact:
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Not EWTN too! The list of trustworthy sites grows shorter all the time. Are you getting lonely there, Father Z?
I’ve been under the impression for years that EWTN is, despite its kowtowing, unappreciated by the Bergoglian element, and it has been walking the razor’s edge for the duration of the last pontificate. No doubt they are on notice and preparing for what could be difficult times ahead. The posse, despite the exercise of excessive prudence, does utter some inconvenient truths at times and no doubt has been told to put a sock in it until the future is made manifest.
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I’ve noticed this for a while now—Raymond Arroyo used to anchor a lot of the live papal event coverage on EWTN, but that seems to have tapered off during the previous pontificate. Around the same time, he started appearing more frequently on Fox News, especially when they needed a Catholic commentator. He was already there for the Papal Funeral and the Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff. Fr. Gerald Murray has also made appearances on Fox News as well.
Honestly, I had just assumed Fox News paid better—but I could be wrong!
These days, I usually just watch the Vatican’s livestream on YouTube. I can do without the commentary, especially for liturgical events. The only downside is watching for the smoke—we use Roku, and there always seems to be a 1–2 minute delay!
I’m not terribly up on the politics, what is wrong with the 3 on now?
The young lady in question is one of the reporters who sometimes anchors the EWTN nightly news. I think her name is Montse Alvarado. She is Hispanic and until recently hosted a pro-life weekly program on the network. She is not unintelligent or unfaithful in the least, but I agree that the more seasoned Raymond Arroyo and the “papal posse” would have been more appropriate for reporting on such an important and historic occasion.
Dr. Bunsen, on the other hand, is a good choice to cover, IMO. He is on top of what he is reporting and is well-spoken and faithful.
I have no idea who the third person reporting the Conclave is at all.
Yes, I agree that EWTN majorly dropped the ball on this. If not Raymond Arroyo and the papal posse, why not Bishop Robert Barron, who is also on the spot in Vatican City? He, with Dr. Bunsen, would have done an outstanding job.
I didn’t realize.
However, for what it’s worth, the Papal Posse are active under the moniker “Conclave Crew” at The Catholic Thing (I have the app on my phone).
Done. Took 60 seconds to express my displeasure (politely but firmly) and I even got a chance to throw water on canonizing Francis as well. Win/win.
Now, the same three have a YouTube series. HERE (Raymond’s personal site)
You should participate, Father !!
Also Catholic Unscripted.
Unless your Bishop has said no of course !!
EWTN has had to cut loose their “useful idiots” in order to survive in this day off dumbed-down, feel-good Catholicism.
Definition of “useful idiot”:
One who is seen to unwittingly support a malignant cause through their ‘naive’ attempts to be a force for good.
God keep the papal posse.
This is paralleled by Relevant Radio in every way. Eg, Patrick Madrid bragged that he had never listened to Raymond Arroyo, and Fr. Rocky said, “Whoever the next pope is we will love and obey him.”
Landry? Scot or Father Roger?
I’d welcome any insights people may have about this:
Arroyo has been a Fox News contributor in addition to his EWTN role, for years. I notice that he never mentions, nor do any hosts that interview him on Fox, ever mention his EWTN connection. I assume this is contractual in some aspect. I have wondered if there is tension with EWTN about the Fox News role? Perhaps he will have an enhanced Conclave coverage role with Fox News? Fox also occasionally interviews Fr Murray when not running to the ex-priest they usually consult on air.
World Over is a wonderful program and I’m sorry to hear he seems unlikely to be integral to Conclave coverage.
Yup, as interesting as those ladies probably think they are, I have this one on mute…
Since Mother Angelica passed, and the guidance of her comments on communication, the quality of Catholic witness has diminished.
There was one woman who had “EWTN President” under her name the last time I watched. Not sure if that’s the same one. I found it rather dry, boring, and not very engaging. I don’t mind the guy with the Irish accent.
I know there were comments about anti-Pope Francis bias. Maybe that had something to do with it. I didn’t hear anything particularly wrong.
I’m going to be honest, I tried to listen to EWTN’s live coverage of waiting for the smoke, and I couldn’t do it. It didn’t seem very different than MSM coverage with just some random Catholics.
This is definitely a sidelining. EWTN has ALOT to thank Raymond Arroyo for, and perhaps he has a lot to thank them for too — but boy has he been loyal to them, and VALUABLE to them for about three decades. I have been enjoying Papal coverage and commentary from Raymond Arroyo since I was a teen in the mid-90s…back when there was absolutely nothing in place for “News” at EWTN, Raymond was the face of it and Raymond built it up for them with “The World Over” and his coverage of events. And pardon my candor, but I have actually been able to COPE during the long Lent that was the last Pontificate thanks to Arroyo and the “Papal Posse”, they told us the TRUTH about what was really going on, they provided commentary and analysis when almost everyone else was yelling “SHUT UP, don’t be ‘disrespectful’, Francis is WONDERFUL and NOPE there’s nothing going on, nothing to worry about here.” Yes, they were brutally honest sometimes, and they hid nothing… and that’s exactly what many of us really wanted and needed. I don’t know about you all, but tuning in to them once a week during the twelve-year LÍO of the first Pope to HATE MY GUTS kept me, in part, sane as a serious Catholic. Raymond, R.Royal and Fr. Murray have been viciously attacked, threatened (possibly even by the late Pontiff himself once when spotting EWTN cameramen on an airplane), mocked, and vilified for twelve years for providing us and the Church an essential service.
This said, the panel chosen in their stead could be much worse. “Montse”(Montserrat) Alvarado is a smart, orthodox young journalist and the newish President of “EWTN News”. M.Bunson is a smart, capable man, and I have really liked what I know of Father Landry (now Monsignor Landry)… he actually was invited by Raymond Arroyo 12 years ago to provide commentary for the last Conclave. He seems to be on the fast track. They obviously have instructions to bend over BACKWARDS to only speak wonders of Francis and his Pontificate… and it’s often been ridiculous. It’s worth mentioning, though, that Msgr Landry mentioned A.Laetitia the other day and made a very good case for a HARD “NO” for communion to the remarried and divorced without an annulment.
Honestly, making hot-air while waiting for smoky air is deadly dull. Maybe they are being spared that duty and will return with commentary worth hearing when it’s go time?
As soon as one of the ladies talked about how “inclusive” and “diverse” the College of Cardinals is, I checked out mentally. (OK, I started checking out as soon as I saw women were covering it; I AM a woman and I find most Catholic female commentary, even from doctrinally-orthodox women, to be cringe at best.)
It’s sad to see, yet EWTN is pandering. Pure and simple.
The lady host for the conclave is fairly obviously Hispanic and expressing views accordingly. The priest leans firmly progressive. …Bunson might be there for a sane voice that many who have tracked Catholic media circles will recognize.
If I watch, Savoring Our Faith–on food–is by a Hispanic priest, other shows reflect focus on married life, youth, and women’s concerns.
A show on right now, The Hour of the Laity, has a host who has a definite Spanish accent, as does the lady he’s interviewing, who indicates being a working mom who has experience in Latino ministry.
Notably though, there’s very little that would tend to appeal to …adult white men.
Saints and Scoundrels might come closest, yet can be a little…forced.
Much like most things in the Church and in the world, concern about “you white, male, heterosexual, Catholics aren’t the only ones here” has tended toward becoming “we’ll ignore you as much as possible”.
They throw a fit if you dare to notice the duplicity.
Raymond Arroyo provided commentary during the Fox News Channel coverage yesterday morning.
It could be far, far worse. We could have Jimmy SJ up there telling us about womynpriests or some such insanity.
Raymond Arroyo seems to have taken on more work outside EWTN as is his wont.
Montserrat Alverado is a fine journalist and I’m glad she was moved to lead EWTN News. I miss some of the old new crew including the anchor and Wyatt Goolsby the political reporter. It still is better than the secular networks.
Msgr. Landry gave some pretty inaccurate information about indulgences during their discussion of the Jubilee Year. For example, he said that in the absence of a living pope, we would have to pray for the “imagined intentions” of the not-yet-elected pope. Apparently he is unaware that the pope’s intentions are published months in advance! I wasn’t impressed, and like other readers think that CNN’s coverage has actually been better than EWTN’s.
Raymond discusses this topic at his Youtube channel today:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAEHI6zdFtc&t=2548s (link fast forwards to the relevant section.)