In an interview with Spanish magazine Vida Nueva, Cardinal Robert McElroy of San Diego (pictured), supported Bishop Fernando Prado of San Sebastián, Spain, who banned diocesan television from airing content produced by EWTN.

"I would not have EWTN on diocesan media either," McElroy responded.

"EWTN worries me because it represents a giant of economic and cultural power connected to a religious viewpoint that is fundamentally critical of the pope," the cardinal said.

McElroy claimed that the channel's main anchors constantly minimise the abilities and theological knowledge of Francis and attempt to move the world away from the reforms that he is signalling.

McElroy said that Francis has encountered opposition due to his intention of completing the work of the Second Vatican Council, as well as his constant inclusion of the experiences and spiritual points of view of the Global South at the centre of the life of the church.

The cardinal believes that this opposition is exacerbated by Catholics' worries that the pope is open to exploring pastoral paths that are not prohibited by existing doctrinal formulations.

McElroy calls to open diaconate to women

In the interview, McElroy reiterated his previous call to open the diaconate to women while raising concerns about the ordination of women to the priesthood. He fears that the ordination of women to the priesthood would deeply divide the church, and for this reason, it should not be an objective of the synodal process.

McElroy praised the pope for including women in church structures but said that the church is still looking for a theological framework that reveals the equality of women in its fullness.

McElroy's recent writing about how the church should minister to LGBTQ people and divorced and remarried Catholics has received significant backlash, including an essay where Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, accused McElroy of heresy.

When asked by Vida Nueva if the accusation of heresy hurt him, McElroy acknowledged that it did, but he said it hurt the church more.

"This language endangers the church even more, in breaking down the dialogue that we should maintain these days about the fundamental questions that we are confronting," McElroy said.

McElroy said that Francis's attention is centred on the life of the believer in its complexity and on how the Gospel and the tradition of the church can apply in an effective and compassionate way to the lives of those who struggle ardently to draw close to God and follow his path.

"It is vital that during all of these debates over doctrinal questions we resist the temptation of using negative labels against those who adopt postures that are opposite to ours," said McElroy.

Sources

National Catholic Reporter

CathNews New Zealand

The decision by Bishop Fernando Prado Ayuso was conveyed just two days after the bishop was installed in his role.

"By virtue of the faculties that, as diocesan bishop, I have over the organisation of communications media in the diocese and trying to favour the communion of the diocese with the Successor of Peter, I hereby decree that going forward, and until further notice, no content from the EWTN channel will be broadcast in the diocesan television BETANIA," said the decree dated December 19, 2022.

EWTN is the world's largest Catholic media conglomerate, with an international audience of over 380 million television households in 150 countries and territories.

Ayuso's decision surprised some because Pope Francis has spoken extensively on the role of media in the Catholic Church, emphasising the need for responsible and ethical journalism that promotes the common good and fosters understanding and unity.

Pope Francis praises journalists

In 2021, Pope Francis called on journalists to combat the spread of misinformation and fake news, which he described as a "virus" that poisons the public discourse and undermines democracy.

He urged them to uphold the truth, seek out multiple sources, and report with integrity and impartiality.

While the pope has sometimes been critical of the media, he has also praised journalists' work.

In November 2021, Pope Francis thanked journalists for reporting about "what is wrong in the Church, for helping us not to sweep it under the carpet and for the voice you have given to the victims of abuse".

"A good journalist needs to be curious about reality and passionate about telling it," he said.

Then again, speaking with the members of the Dicastery for Communication, Francis emphasised that communication is a two-way process.

"There is no one-way communication: it goes and comes back; it goes and comes back. And in this we too grow."

"Only parrots communicate without listening to the response of their interlocutors."

Communication, he added, is "a human connection" which should resemble a telephone conversation in which a person speaks but also listens.

The Pope noted that this dialogue "always brings risks" because it means overcoming the temptation toward inertia where nothing changes even if it is poorly received.

He summed up his meaning with the idea of "communicative restlessness", which drives journalists and media professionals to "go towards" their audience.

"Strive forward," he told the Vatican's media professionals. "Take risks and don't be afraid! Take risks, to meet the other in communication."

Sources

Crux Now

Vatican News

Reuters

Vatican News