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Catholic Radio

G

Gregg

It seems in the last few years, Catholic radio stations have really increased. Ten years ago, there may have been three or four stations owned by Catholic universities or owned by a diocese. Most Catholics wondered why they were surrounded by so much Protestant media but little representing the faith of a quarter of the U.S. population.

Then, a few years after EWTN became a 24/7 cable TV channel, EWTN Radio was started. Some non-profit Catholic groups began buying low-power AM stations or finding an unused frequency in the non-commercial band on FM to get EWTN Radio on the air in their communities. Later, a few regional Catholic networks sprang up, such as Immaculate Heart Radio in the West, Ave Maria Radio in Michigan and others which use some EWTN programming and some of their own.

Surprisingly there are TWO Catholic channels on Sirius/XM radio: EWTN and The Catholic Channel which is run by the Archdiocese of New York with all original programming, mostly talk shows that try to sound more like a Catholic Regis & Kelly than serious preaching.

As a Catholic, I'm sort of disappointed that EWTN has so much power over Catholic TV and radio in the U.S. EWTN's philosophy seems to be far to the right of contemporary Catholic thinking, I suppose stemming from Sister Angelica, the founder. I guess it is those who are zealous in their Catholic theology who are the most likely to sacrifice their time and money to get these stations on the air. Even though I attend mass once or twice a week, I really have little interest in Catholic radio and none in Contemporary Christian music.


Gregg
[email protected]
 
Hey Greg! I feel the same way! I'm a young Catholic and I get frustrated with the type of programming that is usually found on Catholic tv/radio. I turned on EWTN once and was really upset when they started talking negatively about other denominations. But I have a huge passion in media and would love to target the younger generation (18-34) with Catholic programming. Any thoughts on how to do this, or whether it's even possible?




Gregg said:
It seems in the last few years, Catholic radio stations have really increased. Ten years ago, there may have been three or four stations owned by Catholic universities or owned by a diocese. Most Catholics wondered why they were surrounded by so much Protestant media but little representing the faith of a quarter of the U.S. population.

Then, a few years after EWTN became a 24/7 cable TV channel, EWTN Radio was started. Some non-profit Catholic groups began buying low-power AM stations or finding an unused frequency in the non-commercial band on FM to get EWTN Radio on the air in their communities. Later, a few regional Catholic networks sprang up, such as Immaculate Heart Radio in the West, Ave Maria Radio in Michigan and others which use some EWTN programming and some of their own.

Surprisingly there are TWO Catholic channels on Sirius/XM radio: EWTN and The Catholic Channel which is run by the Archdiocese of New York with all original programming, mostly talk shows that try to sound more like a Catholic Regis & Kelly than serious preaching.

As a Catholic, I'm sort of disappointed that EWTN has so much power over Catholic TV and radio in the U.S. EWTN's philosophy seems to be far to the right of contemporary Catholic thinking, I suppose stemming from Sister Angelica, the founder. I guess it is those who are zealous in their Catholic theology who are the most likely to sacrifice their time and money to get these stations on the air. Even though I attend mass once or twice a week, I really have little interest in Catholic radio and none in Contemporary Christian music.


Gregg
[email protected]
Click to expand...
 
I'm Southern Baptist, but..my first boss in radio was Catholic. He eventually left to help start
a Catholic FM in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area:

http://www.spiritfm905.com/


Their premise was: To reach the majority of 18-34 year olds, you are going to have to use some type of music programming, as talk alone won't reach that demo in viable numbers. This is a station that has done quite well. In contrast, we have an EWTN daytimer here that is like a tree standing in the forest. There are no employees at the station, it is totally automated, and my Catholic neighbors have never heard of it.

Gregg: I loved CCM in the 80s and 90s but don't listen much to it these days.
 
I enjoy EWTN Radio. Teaching programs, talk shows and devotionals, including the mass each day.
 
I'm a cradle Catholic with 40 years in broadcast media. I think a good radio station should be informative and entertaining. Catholic radio stations that rely only on EWTN are not good radio stations.

What's wrong with most Catholic radio stations? No local content. Underwriting (commercials) announcements from a businessman that belongs to XYZ parishdon't count. Catholic radio stations have no idea how to promote or market themselves to the faith communities they want to serve. In the common area of my parish Church someone put a few bumper stickers from the local Catholic outlet on a literature rack some time ago. They stay there. No one in my circle of friends ever mentions these stations (and they know I'm in media). There are at least 6 Catholic high schools in their coverage area yet I've never heard a tie-in with any of them. There are few announcements of individual parish activities.

I realize it's a two way street, someone has to provide the station with information and content. But the station needs to solicit that same material.

Locally the Catholic radio outlets (one English and one Spanish) are an independent entity from the 2 major diocese in the area. For all I know that may possibly be viewed with suspicion! There may be an arms length agreement about the role of these stations (i.e. for the greater good) and I certainly don't expect either diocese to come out an offer anything in the way of financial support since both have many financial burdens.

The Church asks that we propagate the faith. Radio is one of many ways to do this. But my fear is that too many people involved in Catholic radio look at it as a ministry only. Finding a frequency, getting it on the air and playing the audio of EWTN all day is not a vibrant ministry. Out of necessity Catholic radio has to be run like a business if it ever wants to succeed. Give me a reason to listen. Give me a reason to respond.

I do think the Catholic Channel on Sirius-XM does a good job in terms of content and presentation. I found it funny that one evening last week, Channel 129 bumped the Catholic Channel in order to bring the play-by-play of Notre Dame/Seaton Hall men's basketball!
 
EWTN spends milions each year to rebroadcast a lot of nothing. Sacred Heart has good programming that EWTN carries. Patrick Madrid is okay. It is disjointed.
 
@JakeMooreRadio and @Gregg
Regarding that EWTN and other Catholic radio networks being too conservative or to the right...I would regard EWTN as teaching true Catholicism. Left leaning Catholicism is labeled "Cafeteria Catholicism" by devoted Catholics, in other words, pick and choose what Catholic teachings suit you. Jesus Christ himself would sadly be considered by many today more right than left, that is socially conservative, pro-life, pro-capitalism, but also pro-immigrant, anti-war generally (but pro-war according to just-war theory) whilst promoting giving the fruits of the wealth to those in true need.
Sadly many of the well known Catholics today are Catholic in name only (Nancy Pelozi, Kathleen Sebelius, Joe Biden, ....)
 
First of all, there are Catholic conservatives and liberal Catholics. One is neither good nor bad. The Church keeps changing all the time. EWTN only reflects the very conservative side of the faith. They represent the people who think mass should still be said in Latin and nuns should wear habits that keep them covered from head to toe. I would assume their politics are also super-conservative, disagreeing with Catholic bishops who are anti-war and pro-immigrant.

317C50KW says most Catholic stations do little outreach. Well, many Protestant stations do the same. Several groups such as Air 1 and K-Love buy up FM stations around the country and put the exact same programming on each. I think Catholics believe money is better spent on services such as schools and hospitals and helping the poor than on evangelization. That's why most markets still have no Catholic radio or only have EWTN 24/7.

Might I suggest anyone who has access to the Brazilian cable channel TV Globo to tune in Mass with Padre Marcelo Rossi some Sunday morning, even if you don't understand Portuguese. He is single-handedly expanding church attendance in this largest Latin American country by being so entertaining on TV. He's charasmatic and has a good singing voice. I'm sure TV Globo has been giving the Church a 45 min. window for decades every Sunday. But Padre Marcelo makes it an entertaining program, with contemporary hymms, a pop band, modern camera work, getting the Archbishop to be smiling and friendly and having the congregation on their feet. Padre Marcelo even takes holy water to bless the camera lens as if he's blessing the viewer. I'm sure the Archbishop agreed to be part of this weekly broadcast because he realizes Brazil is a young multi-racial country and you're not going to reach most Brazilians by broadcasting a solemn mass from a cathedral with stained glass and pipe organs.

EWTN and other Catholic broadcasters could learn a lot from Padre Marcelo on TV Globo. But I think their mindset is so conservative that they'd never see that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.




Gregg
[email protected]
 
With the Dick Jenkins article and his experience with K-LOVE this made me think. Are there any Catholic networks or stations that do much with CCM? Not necessarily the AC/CHR style music like is on K-LOVE or WAY-FM perhaps, but more modern sounding than traditional Catholic music. I've seen some things occasionally on EWTN when I flipped across the dial, and I have a couple of downloads of Phil Keaggy (My favorite Christian artist) appearing on EWTN. I believe he grew up Catholic and became Protestant later. But is anything much being done with CCM on Catholic radio?
 
Dunno...but there IS a conteporary Catholic station in the Tampa/St. Pete area. WBVM at 90.5 FM...and is rebroadcat on 88.5 (WWLC) in Cross City in the Horseshoe Beach/FL panhandle area.

Spirit FM also streams online...plus an HD-2 subcarrier.

http://www.spiritfm905.com

(anotherguy please note)
 
Limp73 said:
Dunno...but there IS a conteporary Catholic station in the Tampa/St. Pete area. WBVM at 90.5 FM...and is rebroadcat on 88.5 (WWLC) in Cross City in the Horseshoe Beach/FL panhandle area.

Spirit FM also streams online...plus an HD-2 subcarrier.

http://www.spiritfm905.com

(anotherguy please note)
Click to expand...

WBVM I think is the only CCM station you'll hear the rosary daily =)
 
If my extended family is any indictation, it appears to me that most of those Catholic Christians who attend church regularly tend to be more conservative and those that don't go or do so only occasionally trend liberal and secular. So, who is most likely to listen to Catholic radio? I would think the people who are more invested in their faith, and spend some time with it, would be more likely to tune in.
 
I believe there are many Catholic wives who have a husband who doesn't go to church...same goes for Catholic husbands whose wives doesn't go either...or whose children have grown up and in their twenties who used to go with a parent when they were such required to by their parent(s).

Possible Reasons:
A child who strugged scholastically in a Catholic school who may have been harassed (or even bullied) by their peers when such were looked upon as "retarded" or as a "slacker" or whose parents struggled financially or who were snubbed or slandered by the "status quo."

A parent whose child with learning diasbilities such as autism or Asberger's Syndrome (mild autism) were not adrresed and were taken out of a Catholic school and taken to a public school that has programs that help children with learning disablilites.

Single Catholic parents or divoriced Catholic couples who had a spouse who was either addicted to alcohol or drugs,abusive or unfaithful and forced to raise their children by themselves.

A Catholic adult (who in their youth) had been sexually abused by clergy or even more so mentally/verbally abused by a faculty member or principal of a Catholic school...but has since returned to the faith looking for answers why they were abused and how it can be prevented in the future.

There are many programs that invite listeners to call in to state their problems where the program presenter may offer help to those who have been hurt in any way:

"Cross Roads, A Journey To Conversion" with Mark Newman on Radio Maria USA.

Al Kresta's late afternoon talk show on Ave Maria Radio which is dirtributed by EWTN Global Catholic Radio.

"Broken Hearted" by Dan Jurek,a weekly program on Radio Maria USA.



Or archived/pre recorded programs that have helped millions such as:

Mother Angelica Live Classics on EWTN.

"Take your Limits off God" and "Freedom and Joy...an introduction to the twelve-step program of A.A." by the late Father Duane Stanzel also on Radio Maria.
 
briankay said:
@JakeMooreRadio and @Gregg
Regarding that EWTN and other Catholic radio networks being too conservative or to the right...I would regard EWTN as teaching true Catholicism. Left leaning Catholicism is labeled "Cafeteria Catholicism" by devoted Catholics, in other words, pick and choose what Catholic teachings suit you. Jesus Christ himself would sadly be considered by many today more right than left, that is socially conservative, pro-life, pro-capitalism, but also pro-immigrant, anti-war generally (but pro-war according to just-war theory) whilst promoting giving the fruits of the wealth to those in true need.
Sadly many of the well known Catholics today are Catholic in name only (Nancy Pelozi, Kathleen Sebelius, Joe Biden, ....)
Click to expand...

My problem is not that it is too conservative. Yet I think that it spends more time 'picking' on Protestants than trying to offer encouragement and hope. We should be working WITH protestants, and trying to bride the gap. Jenkins is doing incredble work in this regard. As a 21 year old conservative Catholic, I think Catholic media needs to play more a relevant role in the life of young adults, while still maintaining true Catholic teachings. EWTN does not do this, and that is my problem.
 
I enjoy EWTN. I listen to their morning show, Mass and the Rosary, and use those airing so I can enjoy uplifting morning radio and "share" my deovtions with community. That said, I do get tired of many of their shows which dwell too much on abortion.
 
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