Brendan O’Regan
American politics have become much more prominent in the media since the election of Donald Trump, and I reckon it’s important to sample a variety of media sources to get a balanced picture.
Dipping alternatively into CNN and Fox News certainly gives the viewer different perspectives, but of late I’ve taken to following EWTN’s News Nightly, which gives some interesting viewpoints but also the latest Church news as well.
Host Lauren Ashburn is personable and professional, and her team of reporters come across as respectful and fair-minded. It’s a good source for news that doesn’t get much coverage on mainstream media here, especially in relation to Church matters.
On last Thursday’s show, we got Republican Speaker Paul Ryan talking about Trump’s new healthcare plan, and were told that the Priests for Life group welcomed the defunding of Planned Parenthood for a year.
We saw Pope Francis thanking the President of Lebanon for welcoming over a million refugees and got a review of the persecution of Christians and other minorities by ISIS, one year on from the US declaration that what was going on amounted to genocide.
There was also a reference to Pope Francis declaring that those “surrounded by wealth” lose their sense of direction, and that those who have the poor in their midst and do nothing to help are sinners.
It was reported that Supreme Court justice Samuel Alito had commented on challenges to religious freedom, saying “a wind is picking up that is hostile to those with traditional moral beliefs”.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s visit to the White House was covered briefly and we got a glimpse of a White House fountain flowing green, contrasting nicely with the surrounding carpet of snow. There was coverage also of President Trump’s budget proposals – two worrying features I thought were the ideas of diverting money from the arts and assigning funds to the building of the Mexican border wall.
Effects on the poor
Last Friday night’s edition, for St Patrick’s Day, returned to that budget with Catholic Relief Services expressing concerns about the effects on the poor, e.g. through reductions in development aid. Democrat leader Nancy Pelosi was also critical, but some Republicans thought it was an act of justice to get spending and the deficit under control.
There was a prayer from St Patrick for the day that was in it, and a striking scene of Pope Francis going to Confession, and then hearing Confessions during a penitential service.
Earlier he had spoken to priests about the Sacrament of Reconciliation, saying “a good confessor is one who prays, discerns and evangelises…above all a friend of the good shepherd”.
The entertainment scene wasn’t ignored – prominent Catholic film critic Steven D. Greydanus of decentfilms.com discussed controversies surrounding the new live action Beauty and the Beast film from Disney. A big admirer of Disney’s animated version (1991), he thought there was too much innuendo and inappropriate humour in this version, and wouldn’t take his kids to it. While these elements were often subliminal he felt that certain film makers were trying to get certain controversial themes into films on a ‘winks and nudges’ basis.
The show ended with a reference to our ‘island of saints and scholars’ and linked this in a practical way to the setting up in the Diocese of Meath a new monastery run by Benedictine monks from Oklahoma.
EWTN News Nightly can be watched, weekdays, live on EWTN (satellite or cable), in the video archive or ‘on demand’ sections of the EWTN website or on the excellent EWTN Apps for mobile devices and Apple TV.
Maternity leave
Another powerful thriller series from the BBC finished Tuesday of last week. The Replacement starred the excellent Morven Christie (also in Grantchester and last year’s A-Word) as a young architect on maternity leave whose substitute (Vicky McClure from Line of Duty) seemed psychotic and determined to completely take over her life. It was nerve wracking and tense to the point of discomfort. The ending was satisfactory, but I thought a little rushed.
Finally, on Tuesday’s New2Day on RTÉ2 there was a touching item about the Trócaire boxes – a woman from Rwanda, Josiane Umumarashavu, who had appeared on the Trócaire box in 2004 was now a finance intern with Trócaire in her home country and had come to Ireland to express her gratitude for the generosity of the Irish people. Catch it on the RTÉ Player.
Pick of the Week
The Simpsons
Channel 4, Saturday March 25, 11.25am
Homer has a vision from God and decides to start his own religion, which doesn’t go down well with the neighbours.
Would You Believe?
RTÉ One, Sunday, March 26, 10.30pm
New Series. On Mother’s Day WYB celebrates some of Ireland’s amazing mothers.
THE INQUISITION
EWTN, Tuesday, March 28, 11.30am and Friday, March 31, 9.30pm
Church historians explore the history of heresies, while noting how the Medieval Inquisition saved lives.