Salt and Light TV.

Thank you for your article on Salt and Light Television (Oct. 2006, pp. 11-14). It was nice to see some fruit from World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto come to us in such a way. Fr. Thomas Rosica did what others could not achieve, and that is to get a television station that has single-faith programming off the ground in Canada. In a country where the governing body known as the CRTC has no problem allowing pornographic or homosexual-based radio and television stations in Canada, it was truly the Holy Spirit at work in this case in the answering of many prayers. For many years we were forced to get our Catholic programming from the questionable Vision TV. It has no problem showing the Daily Mass program or Food For Life and then airing a documentary on Wicca or a talk-show that would rip apart the Catholic Church right after.

Having said this, with no disrespect to all that Salt and Light has achieved in getting people at least interested in their Catholic faith, I have to say that EWTN, which is available through satellite cable/radio, digital cable and short-wave radio, is good to have as an accompaniment to S + L. Although their content has a somewhat American slant, there is much to draw from their programming. Their documentaries and teaching programs are second to none. They are staunchly orthodox in their outlook and have such wonderful guests and hosts such as Dr. Scott Hahn, Fr. Mich Pacwa, Fr. Thomas Dubay, Fr. Michael Scanlon and Fr. Benedict Groeschel, to name a few. Of course I couldn't forget their foundress, Mother Angelica, who appears in classic programs taped before her debilitating stroke in 2003. I have learned so much more about my faith in the years that I have been listening to and watching EWTN, than any bible study or catechetical course could provide. They were the catalyst in my 're-version' to the Catholic Faith lost in my youth.

My concern with S + L is that it promotes the "Catholic" Register too much. That publication has too many confusing messages and dissidence within its pages. I cancelled my subscription years ago and haven't missed it in the least.

S + L also needs a little more variety in its programming, which I'm sure will come in time. By all means, subscribe to S + L, but do yourself a favour and get EWTN too.

Scarborough, ON

Fr. Rosica replies: We work closely with Catholic Insight, The Catholic Register and other good Catholic publications in letting the world know about the Good News of the Gospel and the Church. To say we promote the Catholic Register over and above anything else is incorrect.

Each person is entitled to his/her opinion about what we are doing. I can only say that if Canadian Catholics and the Canadian Church truly realized what a gift Salt and Light Television is to this country, many more people would be thanking God for what we have in the midst of the bleak mid-winter of Canada.

Editor's Note: Father Rosica also writes a weekly column for the Toronto Sun.