Father Gordon MacRae (about) wrote an excellent article defending Father Benedict Groeschel (here). He also sent in a comment via email for another defense of Father Groeschel written by yours truly (here). I did add Father Gordon’s comment there, but I thought I would put it in it’s own post at the top of the blog. As you read through that post, know that EWTN also read it (here).
“I am so glad that Father Byers has taken this up. We – the entire Church – owes a debt of respect and gratitude to Father Benedict Groeschel. It is distressing to say the least that EWTN has allowed him to go into the night under an undeserved dark cloud, but it is an abomination that they have also apparently removed all evidence that he was ever associated with EWTN. The greatest insult here is not to Father Groeschel, but to Mother Angelica under whose leadership such a thing could never have happened. We also owe it to EWTN to call them to task on this. The Lord did not build this important television network just so that its administration can practice a spirit of cowardice. I hope all readers will send Father Byers’ post and my own at These Stone Walls to EWTN, and to other Catholic media. Father George, you are a man of courage and principle.
With blessings to all,
Father Gordon MacRae”
Get that? The greatest insult is to Mother Angelica herself. I think Father MacRae is on to something here. It’s tempting for me to speculate about how this could possibly be the case. Let’s just say that Mother was a firey autocrat (and one would expect no less), but as soon as you get others involved, they find this modus operandi most distressing, aggravating, and can’t wait for it to stop. Being rid of one of Mother Angelica’s best friends and advisors would surely make a statement, wouldn’t it? Just asking. There’s no other reason to be so crass as the leadership of EWTN has been.
To EWTN: Put Father Groeschel’s stuff back on line. Mother Angelica did not have a spirit of cowardice, did she? Don’t forget, you’re resting on her laurels, not your own. In protecting your own spirit of political correctness to the naysayers that there will always be, you are not protecting EWTN, just yourselves, but even what you think you have will be taken away from you, will it not, if you continue in this fashion? No one wants cowards. Really.
Accompany me, Father George David Byers, S.S.L., S.T.D., as I begin life as a Catholic Priest-Hermit by choice. Holy Souls Hermitage is dedicated to the sanctification of my fellow priests, bishops, deacons & seminarians going through the purgatory of this life or the next. Prayer and sacrifice go up, of course, for both Benedict XVI and the next Successor of Saint Peter. 
SHAME EWTN ! RIGHT THE GREAT WRONG YOU HAVE DONE!
RESPECT MOTHER ANGELICA AND GOOD FATHER BENEDICT GROESCHEL.
I already wrote my “shame on EWTN” comment in the recent post here. So glad to see Father calling them out for the indirect dissing of Mother Angelica. EWTN has never been what it was under her. A lot of us are getting sick of cowardice. We can’t afford it anymore in today’s world.
EWTN – please put Father Groeshel’s work back on-line! He is a champion of the poor and the abused and his words have been “spun”. Prayers for EWTN to have courage to do what is right. I will write directly to EWTN too.
Barb S. is right. EWTN just isn’t the same with out Mother Angelica. Now without Fr. Groeschel, it’s just another station among many. They were its heart and intellect.
I think EWTN is getting too big for it’s proverbial pants.. The speed in which Fr Groeschel was dismissed and deleted is shameful! And isn’t forgiveness and love the sign of love of God? EWTN certainly has not shown this in any way, shape or form. How about we all send email or comments to EWTN?
Hello Judy: Some at EWTN have a real grudge against the Catholic priesthood. If you remember over the past ten to fifteen years, the reporting on the sexual abuse crisis at EWTN was often accompanied by an image of a priest’s neck in a Roman collar, with a red circle and slash superimposed over this, giving the impression that the problem is not a few wayward priests, but all priests, especially those who wore the Roman collar. Images speak loudly.
They show a visual like a priest in a circle with a red slash? And they call themsleves Catholic? Maybe the best solution is to change the channel – permenantly.
This is madness…..absolute madness!! If Fr. Groeschel can be dispensed so quickly by a Catholic television network, what is going to happen to orthodox Catholics in the United States if the present administration retains its power in November. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!
What a blunder, making Fr Groeschel disappear into thin air. But wait a minute, isnt EWTN the OWNER of NCR??? EWTN have shot themselves in the left foot, and the bullet for the right foot was their utter silence on FR G MacRaes ( and other falsely accused priests) predicament. No wonder visionaries the world over see Our Lord and Our Lady crying.
I’m really stung and disappointed in EWTN and the people who have just abandoned Fr. Groeschel.
ewtn has for along time now been demenishing, they remove the really inspirational shows and replace them with things that arent. Remember (Parables,)The Euguirest, andmore.I am not too imprested with the world over Ray seems he would lihe to be broadway Star instead of what he should be. Ewtn is just adding fuel to the hipocrits in the Catholic Church who wont stand by there Priests let alone its members. Sorry Father Benidict,How soon we forget,huh.No sence saying shame on you ewtn they are in there own world and I feel for the good and dedicated people who work there. God, HELP US? Don Butler
So glad to have found this posting. I am heart-broken over the way Fr. Groecshel was taken off the air like he never existed. I’ve been supporting EWTN for the past 16 years and I don’t feel I should after the way they’ve treated him!