Physician-Assisted Suicide | LIVE Town Hall forum

Join Cardinal Seán O'Malley, Father Tad Pacholczyk, M.C. Sullivan, Janet Benestad, and John Howland, and John Monahan at
8pm ET, 10/3
  for a LIVE town hall forum on Physician-Assisted Suicide and Massachusetts Ballot Question Number 2, which seeks to legalize assisted suicide in the commonwealth of Massachusetts.


    You can sumbit questions for our panel by leaving them on the facebook event page, by tweeting them to @CatholicTV with the hashtag #PASlive, or by emailing them to townhall@catholictv.com.

The CatholicTV® Network to Provide Live Coverage of the Knights of Columbus Supreme Convention

The Knights of Columbus will hold its 130th annual Supreme Convention in Anaheim, CA from August 7-9, 2012. The CatholicTV Network will provide live coverage of the event on Tuesday, August 7, 2012.

CatholicTV will broadcast the Opening Mass (12:30 PM ET), Opening Session (4 PM ET) and States Dinner (10:30 PM ET) live from the Knights of Columbus Supreme Convention site in Anaheim, CA.

Visit CatholicTV.com/Knights-of-Columbus, where videos of this year’s events will be added to the archive of past Supreme Conventions and where celebrations of feast days and other special events and documentaries can be found. President of the CatholicTV Network, Father Robert Reed, and host Kevin Nelson will offer live event commentary on Tuesday.

The Knights of Columbus was formed to render financial aid to members and their families. Mutual aid and assistance are offered to sick, disabled and needy members and their families. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief and public relief works.

The history of the Order shows how the foresight of Father Michael J. McGivney, whose cause for sainthood is being investigated by the Vatican, brought about what has become the world's foremost Catholic fraternal benefit society. The Order has helped families obtain economic security and stability through its life insurance, annuity and long-term care programs, and has contributed time and energy worldwide to service in communities.

The Knights of Columbus has grown from several members in one council to more than 14,000 councils and 1.8 million members throughout the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, Poland, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Cuba, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan.

Tune in to CatholicTV and join the Knights and their families for this annual international gathering of fraternity and faith on Tuesday, August 7, 2012.

Installation of Bishop Richard Malone

Bishop Richard Malone will be installed as the 14th bishop to head the Diocese of Buffalo on Friday, August 10. The CatholicTV Network will broadcast the Mass live at 2:30 PM ET from Saint Joseph's Cathedral.

Bishop Richard Joseph Malone is the 11th Bishop of Portland, Maine and will remain the administrator of the Diocese of Portland until a new diocesan bishop is named by the Holy Father. He was installed as Bishop of Portland in 2004 after serving as auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Boston, South Region, following his Episcopal ordination in 2000.

Bishop Malone was born in Salem, MA, and graduated from St. John’s Preparatory School, Danvers. He studied at Cardinal O’Connell Seminary in Jamaica Plain and graduated from St. John Seminary, Boston, with a bachelor’s in Philosophy, a bachelor’s in Divinity and a master’s in Theology. Bishop Malone subsequently earned a Doctorate in Theology (Th.D.) at Boston University and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) at Weston Jesuit School of Theology.



Bishop Malone was ordained a priest in 1972 and was assigned to St. Patrick parish, Stoneham, as Associate Pastor. He served on the faculty of St. Clement High School, Somerville, MA; Xaverian High School, Westwood, MA; and his alma mater St. John Seminary. Concurrent with his time at St. John Seminary, he was part-time chaplain at Wellesley and Regis Colleges and taught at Emmanuel College in Boston. Later he was assigned as Chaplain to the Harvard-Radcliffe Catholic Student Center. In 1993, he accepted the position of Director of the Office of Religious Education for the Archdiocese of Boston and subsequently was named Secretary for Education.

Bishop Malone currently chairs the Evangelization and Catechesis Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. He serves on other USCCB committees as well as sitting on the Boards of two Seminaries. Bishop Malone was elected to the Board of Catholic Relief Services in 2010 and serves on the U.S. Operations Committee.

The Diocese of Buffalo is made up of 170 parishes and 1 mission, utilizing 197 worship sites. They have 54 Catholic elementary schools, 15 Catholic high schools, and 7 Catholic colleges and universities. The diocese is also home to a major seminary, Christ the King Seminary, in East Aurora and five Catholic hospitals.

The CatholicTV® Network to Air Special Coverage During Fortnight for Freedom

The US Bishops have called for “Fortnight for Freedom,” a 14-day period of prayer, education and action in support of religious freedom, from June 21-July 4. The bishops of the United States have recommended that Catholics focus "all the energies the Catholic community can muster" to heightening people’s awareness of the most cherished liberty: Religious Freedom.

The fourteen days from June 21—the vigil of the Feasts of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More—to July 4, Independence Day, are dedicated to this “Fortnight for Freedom”. Culminating on Independence Day, this special period of prayer, study, catechesis, and public action emphasizes Christian and American heritage of liberty.

The CatholicTV® Network will participate in the Fortnight for Freedom with special programming from June 21 to July 4, to rally support for the protection of religious freedom in the United States.

Throughout the two week period called for by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Father Robert Reed, president of CatholicTV will offer a daily reflection on the theme of religious freedom in a series of Blinks.

In support of this call to action the CatholicTV® Network has arranged a special hour-long discussion with Cardinal Seán O’Malley and a group of young Catholics in a live forum on the evening of Monday, June 25, 2012 from 8-9PM ET. The event will include a discussion panel, and will be moderated by ClearVoice's John Monahan.

CatholicTV President, Father Robert P. Reed, commented on the Fortnight:

This summer, the bishops of the United States have recommended that we focus "all the energies the Catholic community can muster" to heightening people’s awareness of our most cherished liberty: Religious Freedom. When our freedoms are threatened, we need to speak frankly and with courage and now is such a time... As American citizens, we need to be on guard, for religious liberty is under attack. Join us here on The CatholicTV Network between June 21 and the 4th of July as we celebrate Religious Liberty and pray urgently for a new birth of freedom in our beloved country.

Coverage will be available on CatholicTV and CatholicTV.com. Comments and questions will be addressed LIVE during the event on CatholicTV’s Facebook. Viewers can also join the conversation by tweeting @CatholicTV (#fortnight4freedom). The event will also be simulcast on Relevant Radio across the US and on WQOM in Boston, MA.

The CatholicTV® Network to Exhibit at The Cable Show

The CatholicTV® Network is set to Join Conan O’Brien, Edward Burns, Piers Morgan, Chris Matthews, John King and Many More at the U.S. Cable Industry’s Premier Event!

From May 21-23, the CatholicTV Network is set to exhibit at the 2012 Cable Show hosted by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

The National Cable & Telecommunications Association, formerly the National Cable Television Association, is the principal trade association of the cable television industry in the United States. Founded in 1952, NCTA's primary mission is to provide its members with a strong national presence by providing a single, unified voice on issues affecting the cable and telecommunications industry.

Now in its 61st year, The Cable Show 2012 takes place in Boston, a city at the forefront of technology innovation and academic leadership. The Cable Show 2012 continues a tradition of presenting the key themes, emerging technologies, successful business models and instrumental players who will influence the next era of innovation in an industry that continues to rewrite the rules of media and communications.


The Cable Show expects nearly 13,000 attendees this year in Boston and will offer an immersive, one-stop experience in everything cable: the people, platforms, programming and possibilities of an industry that' setting the global pace in multi-screen video, interactive advertising, breakthrough content and compelling combinations of mobility, interactivity and social media.

The Cable Show will provide captivating panel discussions, exclusive networking events and a comprehensive exhibit floor filled with technology, content and service applications.

Karen Edmisten on This is the Day

On Friday, May 11, 2012, author Karen Edmisten will be featured on the CatholicTV Network’s nationally broadcasted live talk show; This is the Day, to discuss her book, After Miscarriage: A Catholic Woman's Companion to Healing and Hope.

After Miscarriage: A Catholic Woman's Companion to Healing and Hope is a book about grief, healing, and hope after miscarriage. Not afraid to examine the raw emotions that accompany such an experience, the author tells women that they are not alone in reacting strongly, even frighteningly, to their loss and reassures them that hope and healing will come. Having experienced multiple miscarriages herself, Karen shares excerpts from her personal journals, as well as other women's stories, rich quotes about grieving and the healing process, and practical advice. A helpful resource section includes a wide variety of information from both Catholic and secular sources.




Frequent CatholicTV guest Lisa M. Hendey, founder of CatholicMom.com and author of A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms, said,

For every soul who has felt the loss of life through miscarriage or the absence of hope that accompanies infertility, After Miscarriage by Karen Edmisten offers a wellspring of grace. Filled with both the voices of those who have experienced this sacrificial love and helpful resources full of practical insights, Karen's book will be a gift of compassion and healing for many.

Karen is also the author of The Rosary: Keeping Company with Jesus and Mary, and Through the Year with Mary: 356 Reflections, both published by Servant Books. A popular blogger and a regular guest on Relevant Radio, she is also a contributor to Atheist to Catholic: Stories of Conversion.

CatholicTV wins 'Religious Station of the Year'

It was announced this week that the Gabriel Award for “Religious Television Station of the Year” will be awarded to two nationally recognized Catholic television networks by the Catholic Academy for Communications Arts Professionals (CACAP). The CatholicTV® Network will receive the honor this year as “Religious Television Station of the Year” alongside the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). The CatholicTV Network was honored as the “Religious Television Station of the Year” in 2010 as well.

The Gabriel Awards are designed to honor works of excellence in film, network and cable television and radio programs. These include, feature films and documentaries, entertainment and news programming, public service announcements, and stations which serve audiences through the positive, creative treatment of concerns to humankind. Categories for TV and radio include both English and Spanish language programs.

President of the CatholicTV Network, Father Robert Reed said of the award, “It is a tremendous thrill for us to be given this prestigious Gabriel Award, not for a specific program, but rather for our entire network. I hold in deep esteem our team members and on-air personalities as well as the entire CatholicTV family of viewers who have sustained the network for some 57 years. This Gabriel Award is a true honor for Cardinal Seán O’Malley and the Archdiocese of Boston as it indicates that the Academy looks upon both nationally broadcast networks as providing complimentary service to the Church in the United States.

When asked about the award, General Manager Jay Fadden said, “This impressive award not only reflects the professional and hard work of our entire staff and the leadership of Cardinal Seán, but is recognition of the faith of the many loyal viewers who have supported CatholicTV for so many years.”

Persecution of Christians

On today's episode of This is the Day, Mark Riedemann and Edward Clancy came on to talk about the very serious problem of religious persecution against Christians (especially Christians in the Middle East).

The problem of religious persecution is one that is frequently ignored by those of us who are blessed with religious freedom. We are often unaware of the degree to which Christians are persecuted throughout the world. According to Mark, over 70% of the acts of religious persecution around the world are against Christians.



 

Edward Clancy is the Director of Outreach and Evangelization for Aid to the Church in Need, based in Brooklyn, NY. Mark Riedemann is the host of Where God Weeps, a series which places the suffering Church in focus and a project of Aid to the Church in Need. You can watch Where God Weeps on CatholicTV throughout the week.

Learn more about the persecution of Christians around the world and how you can stand in solidarity with them and offer aid by checking out Aid to the Church in Need.

Good Friday Homily | Monignor James P. Moroney Rector-Elect of Saint John’s Seminary, Brighton

Usually it is Christ who does the seeking.

Seeking Lost Sheep

He seeks out lost sheep.  The ones caught in the brambles.  The ones entirely separated from the flock.

I used to know a family who raised sheep, and their kids, in high school at the time, were part-time shepherds.  They would sit out in the field, sometimes late into the night, watching their sheep.  And while they never saw a vision of angels announcing good news to them, they did have some rather interesting insights into the profession of shepherding.

A sheep, they once told me, needs to be rescued when it gets lost, because when the sheep becomes frightened its joints lock up and it becomes literally petrified with fear.  That’s why the good shepherd needs to pick the sheep up and place him on his shoulders, and carry him home.  Because the lost sheep is petrified with fear.

            The lost sheep becomes petrified.

• Petrified, sometimes, by emptiness and by a breathless attempt to grab for all the gusto he can get out of life, anesthetizing the fear with another drink, or another hundred shares, or a more prestigious title;

            The lost sheep becomes petrified.

• Petrified by a frantic attempt to break free from the brambles of his own self-deception, when he can’t keep track of the lies anymore and lives in dread fear of being found out;

            The lost sheep becomes petrified.

• Petrified by a loneliness so deep it screams into the darkness in the middle of the night, so petrified he will grab onto anyone or anything to make believe that lust is love and lies are truth;

There are a lot of sheep who stand petrified by their own sin out there, and even in here on this Friday we call good.  Sheep who look desperately from side to side and all around and suddenly realize that they have wandered so far from the flock that no GPS could ever get them home, no God, they’re convinced, could ever forgive them!  No sacrifice, they’re certain, could ever save them.  No words, they’re determined, could ever do them any good.

Which is why it is usually Christ, "with unhurrying chase, and unperturbed pace..." who does the seeking.

Seeking Our Salvation

And the one thing he seeks most fervently, even more than he seeks the lost sheep, is the lost soul of the lost sheep.  With a certain divine desperation, Christ seeks out the soul of the lost sinner, that he might repent and live.

The great print artist Fritz Eichenburg, who with Ade Bethune brought so much to the Catholic Worker movement in its earliest days, once crafted a brilliant print of a be-haloed figure rummaging through a trash bin by the side of the road.  When Dorothy Day first saw it she was convinced of its meaning.  Surely, this is Jesus, she declared enthusiastically, the hungry beggar among us, looking for something to eat amidst all the old fish-wrap we’ve thrown away.

No, Eichenburg told her.  It is not Jesus in the poor man rummaging for food.  No, we are the trash can in which Jesus is rummaging.  He is rummaging through all the trash of our poor, sinful, selfish lives, looking for something worth while, something of value, something to save.

For there is nothing God desires more than our holiness, our capacity to reflect his love in our lives.  It is why he made us in his own image and likeness and why he was incarnate of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  

Christ seeks our salvation with a real desperation.  He seeks it preaching on the hills of Galilee.  He seeks it falling on bloodied knees as he walks the the via dolorosa.  He seeks it as he offers the perfect sacrifice on the altar of the cross.

So desperately does he desire to save us that he offers his very life in ransom for us.  This just Abel does more than offer the fruit of his labor; he offers the blood in his veins.  This modern day Melchizedek, offers more than bread and wine; He offers his body and blood.  This God does not send an angel to spare his only-begotten Son, but gives him up to be offered for us on Calvary hill.  This innocent lamb is the priest and the victim, the giver and the gift, offers the perfect sacrifice of love unto death, death on a cross.

Which leads us to the five first words of Christ in John’s account of his Blessed Passion.

It’s the middle of the night.  And before an enormous crowd of temple police and soldiers, storming the Garden where he is at prayer, Jesus goes out to meet them armed with five words: “Who are you looking for?”

He says the same to us this Friday afternoon.  Who are you looking for?  

And each one of us can answer him.

• A young teenager might say, I’m looking for someone to inspire me. someone to make sense of my life…to lead me, advise me, and guide me to be happy and successful and content.

• The old man is looking for someone to take away the pain of his body and the loneliness of his soul.  Someone who can remove the fear that gnaws at him every time he loses one more thing, every time he thinks  of getting sicker and dying.  

• Another one is looking for someone to take away the guilt which he’s carried on his back like a bag of bricks for so many years.  It was stupid and wrong and sinful, and he’s never been able to forgive himself…he needs someone to lift those sins off his shoulders.

• And then there’s the young mother who is looking for someone to watch over her kids or maybe lighten her load, as she works three jobs, one for each kid.  She’s looking for someone who will help her to sleep all night without waking up worrying about the next day’s burdens.

• And then there’s that guy who is looking for someone to answer all those questions he has about life…and to show him how to solve the problems of the world…to feed the poor, and heal the sick, and end the violence which he knows makes no sense.

• There’s the accomplished businessman, who has all the money he needs, but feels strangely empty inside,

• And there’s the alcoholic, at the bar down the street who’s fallen into his bottle for the umpteenth time,

• And the middle aged woman whose breast cancer is back and needs a miracle

• And the guy who’s been dumped again and feels desperate and alone, and needs someone to love him…

• And each one of us….

Look deep in your heart, my fiends, and hear Jesus’ voice asking you today: Who are you looking for?

Whomever you seek…whatever the pain of your heart that cries out to heaven…the one who has been seeking you down every alley and detour hangs from the cross for you today.

• He hangs there dying, to teach us how to live.

• He hangs there rejected, to teach us how to love.

• The nails, filed sharp by our sins, piece the wrists of his body.  But we are forgiven by him, for we know not what we do.

• The crown of thorns, pierces his flesh, but the blood that drips down cleanses all it touches from darkness and sin.

• From his side, pierced by the lance of our selfishness, blood and water flow out, not as a harbinger of death, but as the beginning of newness of life.  For those who are baptized in that water will never die.  And those who drink of that blood will live forever.

• By his blessed passion upon that cross, by his suffering, we are healed of every brokenness, freed of every sin, and the bonds of death are, once and for all, broken.

Who are you looking for? You are looking for the Shepherd who has been looking for you, the Christ, the Son of the Living God: Who by his holy cross, has redeemed the world.

Monignor James P. Moroney

Rector-Elect

Saint John’s Seminary

The CatholicTV® Network to Support the Nationwide Religious Freedom Rally to Oppose the HHS Mandate

The Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom is being held Friday, March 23, 2012. The theme for the Rally is “Stand Up for Religious Freedom—Stop the HHS Mandate!”

Thousands of Americans of all faiths will be participating in these peaceful rallies, organized by the Pro-Life Action League and Citizens for a Pro-Life Society to oppose the new mandate from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that requires all employers provide free contraceptives, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs through their health plans, even in violation of their consciences.

Religious leaders and other public figures will speak out against the HHS Mandate at each Rally site. Holding signs reading “Stand Up for Religious Freedom” and “Stop the HHS Mandate,” participants will offer hymns and prayers for our nation and pass out literature to the public about why the HHS Mandate is unconstitutional and un-American.

President of the CatholicTV Network, Father Robert Reed, spoke out against the HHS Mandate in support of religious freedom:

I believe that not just Catholics, but all citizens need to oppose the HHS mandate, recognizing the dangerous precedent it would set. The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution, part of the Bill of Rights, prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion. As a result, the mandate would impose a law that contradicts the conscience of many faithful individuals.

Here's Father Reed's official statement on the HHS mandate, as seen on the CatholicTV® Network: