The Papal Visit to the United States...what were they thinking?

My over all thoughts on this papal visit are very mixed.  

The good...

(Image from: http://www.sltrib.com/home/2994776-155/story.html )

-I love seeing the pope with children and the disabled.  This man clearly has a love for them and it shows- and I don't believe he's doing it to be showy or put on a false image.  I believe he truly loves children, the poor and the disabled and has a big heart for their sufferings. 

-I loved seeing the very liberal MSNBC cover every single step of the papal visit- even more coverage then EWTN had!  

-I am hopeful that someone in all of this has returned to the Church or are now on their way to becoming Catholic.  I think the Pope had that kind of effect on a great many people- and that's a good thing. 



And the bad...

-The cheering, clapping, standing ovations, clergy snapping photos during Mass because they are so blinded by the "superstar" pope that they ignore/forget/dismiss God on the altar.  Shameful, disgraceful and disgusting.  This was intolerable. 

-Holy Communion passed out into hands to large crowds.  I am 100% opposed to this whether during a papal visit such as this, or World Youth Days.  

-The insane, stupid and ridiculous comments of the "Catholics" who helped co-host the media coverage of this papal visit.  

People like Fr. Rosica sitting with Anderson Cooper on CNN talking about how Pope Francis has changed the annulment process so people whose "love failed" with a first marriage, now have a "another chance" at love in a new marriage because Pope Francis is all about that sort of "mercy".  

*I believe CNN Transcript means "previous SYNOD in 2014" not "Senate". I think this is a typo*

I buried my face in my hands a lot during this papal visit. 

- The choice of Mo Rocca, an openly gay man who rejects Catholic teaching to do the readings at one of the Papal Masses.

-The choice of Mark Wahlburg...?  

Who exactly made these choices?  What were they thinking? 


Now the over-all pure annoyance factor.  Cardinal Dolan. 

(Image: Photo By CARLO ALLEGRI/REUTERS )

I just couldn't wait for the Pope to move on and get away from Cardinal Dolan.  This man acts like the class clown in middle school.  I really can't stand watching him.  

That is the good, the bad and the annoying in my opinion.  I'd love to hear what other Catholics thought of this papal visit.


In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner 




Source: CNN Transcripts of Fr. Rosica:  http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1509/24/acd.01.html

Dolan image: https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/photos/alien-creature-mystery-solved-in-south-africa-1373865179-slideshow/cardinal-timothy-dolan-winks-pope-francis-gives-him-photo-234636880.html

EWTN Invites Catholic Dioceses To Link to EWTN for Live Streaming of the Pope’s Visit to North America

If you really want Catholics in your diocese to know what Pope Francis says and does during his visit to the United State and Cuba, we invite you to link to EWTN’s website for live streaming of the entire visit, www.ewtn.com/america. From the Pope’s arrival in Havana on Sept. 19 through his departure from Philadelphia Sept. 27, the Network will be live on-the-ground with the most experienced news teams and the top experts in Catholicism. EWTN will not only cover, but explain – in English, Spanish, German, Portuguese, and Italian -- everything the Pope says on his journey across North America.

“Covering the Pope is what we do year round on a daily basis,” said EWTN President & COO Doug Keck. “No one else possesses the depth of understanding and the expert commentators like EWTN.”

EWTN will not only cover the Pope’s trip on EWTN television, but on EWTN radio, via its social media sites and news services, and in multiple languages. Viewers can also see it live streamed and get details of EWTN's coverage at www.ewtn.com/america or on their mobile phone with the EWTN app (www.ewtnapps.com).

Discover all the ways to access EWTN at www.ewtn.com/everywhere – and be sure to follow us on social media, especially our flagship Facebook site, www.facebook.com/ewtnonline.

On the English side, EWTN News Director Raymond Arroyo, who has anchored more papal events than anyone in the industry, will host our live coverage from New York, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. The “EWTN News Nightly” (ENN) team, led by ENN Anchor Brian Patrick, will also be on-the-ground providing news and reports during the Pope’s visit to all three U.S. cities, while ENN Producer Susanna Pinto will offer English-language reports from Cuba. In addition, Spanish-language coverage in Cuba will be anchored by EWTN’s Alejandro Bermudez, executive director of the ACI Group, and host of several Spanish-language programs on EWTN Spanish-language television and radio networks.
EWTN President & COO Doug Keck and “Women of Grace” Host Johnnette Benkovic will host coverage of the “World Meeting of Families” (WMOF) in Philadelphia, which airs Sept. 22-25, just prior to the Pope’s arrival in Philadelphia. Keck will also provide regular updates on the Pope’s travels around the U.S. In cases where EWTN’s papal coverage coincides with keynote speeches and Masses at the WMOF, EWTN will live stream the events at www.ewtn.com/wmof2015.


EWTN Global Catholic Network, now entering its 35th year, is the largest religious media network in the world. EWTN’s 11 networks broadcast the Gospel message in multiple languages 24 hours a day, seven days a week to over 250 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories. EWTN’s outreach includes direct broadcast satellite television and radio services; AM & FM radio networks transmitted through SIRIUS/XM, iHeart Radio, and over 300 Catholic radio affiliates across the U.S.; a worldwide shortwave radio service; the largest Catholic website in the U.S.; print and electronic news services that include “The National Catholic Register” newspaper, Catholic News Agency and ACI Group; and EWTN Publishing, Inc.