I Wonder What Cardinal Mahony* Thinks About This????

EWTN Foundress Mother Angelica and
Deacon Bill Steltemeier Receive Papal Honor

Irondale, AL (EWTN) –Pope Benedict XVI has awarded EWTN foundress, Mother Mary Angelica, and Deacon Bill Steltemeier, Chairman of EWTN’s Board of Governors, the Cross of Honor for distinguished service to the Church. The medal, officially known as “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” (literally “For the Church and the Pope”), is the highest honor that the Pope can bestow upon laity and religious.
Bishop Robert J. Baker of Birmingham conferred the awards in a brief ceremony following Sunday benediction at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville , Alabama .
“The Holy Father’s recognition of Mother Angelica and Deacon Bill Steltemeier is a much-deserved honor. It acknowledges the tremendous faith, hard work and incredible sacrifices that each of them have made throughout the years in founding and building up the Network,” said EWTN President and CEO Michael P. Warsaw. “Their recognition is also a great honor for EWTN and is a clear sign of the importance of the Network’s mission for the Church and the Pope. We are grateful to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and to Bishop Baker for this honor.”
Mother Mary Angelica, 86, is a Poor Clare Nun of Perpetual Adoration. She came to Alabama in 1961 to found Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Irondale. In 1981, she began Eternal Word Television Network in a garage on the monastery property. In 1999, Mother Angelica relocated the Monastery to the grounds of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville , Alabama . She continues to reside there with her community of Nuns.
Deacon R. William Steltemeier, 80, was a successful Nashville attorney who left his law practice to join Mother Angelica with her fledgling television network. He served as EWTN’s President for many years and continues to serve as Chairman of the Network’s Board of Governors.

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* For those of you who may have forgotten, back in 1998 Mother Angelica commented on her live program about a pastoral letter on the Eucharist that was written by Cardinal Mahony. Her initial reaction was to say that it sounded like Mahony was denying the "Real Presence". She also commented, wrongly, about not obeying him. It was a blanket statement she shouldn't have made. She did apologize for any misunderstanding & overreactions. But she did go on to express her concerns in how things were presented in that letter. (You and I Are Not the Eucharist, You and I Are Poor Sinners) She did apologize for any misunderstanding. But she did go on to express her concerns in how things were stated in that letter. & they were valid criticisms. & while a blanket call to disobedience was wrong, there are circumstances in which you can stand up to your Bishop & even correct him that is allowed for in Canon law.

Mahony then tried to wrest control of EWTN from Mother Angelica through the USCCB. That is when she turned over control of EWTN to a lay board. As Mother Angelica said at the time: "I'll blow the damn thing up before you get your hands on it.”

While Mother Angelica's initial reaction was her typical Italiano nature coming out (& I should know as I have the same nature), her concerns with what Mahony wrote were, as I said, valid. & Mahony's reaction was vengeful & petty. Definitely not becoming of a Prince of the Church. he was mad because she rightly called him on the carpet for failing to properly present the teachings of the Church. & in fact, in typical Mahony fashion, he did misrepresent the teachings thus creating confusion as well as leaving room for people to go off in the wrong & definitely non-Catholic direction on the Eucharist.

& lest we forget, many other Bishops have not been to supportive of Mother Angelica & EWTN from the start. through the USCCB the Catholic Telecommunications Network of America (CTNA) was launched to compete with EWTN & hopefully put her out of business. The CTNA failed because it failed to uphold authentic Catholic teaching.

I am sure Cardinal Mahony is privately fuming about this award to her. & I am sure other Bishops who have not been happy with her orthodoxy are unhappy as well. & you can bet that newspapers like the National Catholic Reporter (Non-Catholic really) will have some snide & snarky comments that will attack both her & Papa Benedetto. & I suspect that for the large majority of the Catholic press (except that part that upholds authentic Catholic teaching) it will be treated, at best, as a foot note. & it will be interesting to see how Salt + Light & its leader Fr. Rosica handle this 1.

I was watching a repeat of the Benediction where Bishop Baker made the presentation. Unfortunately Mother Angelica could not be there to personally receive it. Still, it was wonderful to see her efforts honored so.

In 1989 I had the chance to go down to EWTN. It was the 2nd time I met Mother, the 1st was when she spoke here in DBQ a few years earlier. She deeply loves the Lord & even now she continues to do what she can to serve Him. EWTN has grown so much, yet it still operates in the Franciscan Spirit it was founded on. The Network doesn't get a cent from the USCCB'S Catholic Communications Campaign. They depend on the viewers & listeners. Everything has been done on faith & hope. So I make no apology for making a small plug here for you to give to EWTN.

Congratulations to Mother Angelica, Deacon Bill Steltemeier & EWTN for this recognition of your faithful service to the Eternal Word, Jesus, & to the Catholic Church that He founded.

Cent'anni!!!!!

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