...working on a new TV series for EWTN, due to be filmed in January. It involved quite a lot of research, many emails back and forth about subjects as diverse as ground oatmeal and the purchase of a haggis, and filming in a country town in Sussex, a meadow near Wimbledon, and - we hope - a house with priest-holes and an ancient Dole tradition.
And if you don't know what a Dole tradition is, you'll have to watch the series to find out, won't you?
Meantime, do read the chatty and descriptive blog from EWTN's Joan Lewis, who brilliantly caught the mood of Papa B's visit to Britain, and is also able to interpret various things for an American audience.(She's able to convey just why that reference to "beans on toast" was one of the biggest compliments that could be paid to a much-loved Papa...)
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6 comments:
JoAnna Bogle, you are a much beloved hostess on EWTN and tremendously well-liked by those of us who live in the NY area. In fact, I am speaking only of the Metropolitan Area of NY when I make the following explanation about the lack of interest in and appreciation for the Pope's visit to Britain. Sadly people in this area get their news from 10-second TV soundbites and the Internet. The Papal Visit to Scotland & Wales was of little interest in my parish, a suburb of NYC. A prayer for the Pope's safe trip was included at Mass, but that was one of many different intentions. I was GLUED to EWTN's coverage, but most people settled for the aforementioned soundbites on the 11 p.m. news which showed only the London protest march ("Jesus had 2 Daddies" sign) with a fast clip of the Pope. There was no uproar here for more network coverage. Indifference caused me to send others YOUR columns and Raymond Arroyo's with the words: "Enjoy the coverage of the Pope's trip on both sides of the Atlantic." We sometimes forget that "Catholic" means universal. "The German Pope" is still used in everyday conversation. He is cerebral; Blessed Henry Cardinal Newman is cerebral; alas, the average American is not. A major daily NY newspaper reported non-stop during this time about the sexual abuse scandals in Belgium; then, the Vatican Bank probe...anything to cast a negative impression about Benedict XVI. People are distracted by economics; the possible upheaval coming in the Nov. elections; World Series baseball, and football games. A Secular Society filled with light cradle Catholics. It is also problematic for the many descendants of survivors of "the Great Hunger" in Ireland to place close attention to a British trip. Very wrong but very true with no appreciation of the core of Catholics in Scotland & Wales, for instance. On the other hand,Archbishop of NY, Timothy Dolan, is the beloved figure here. When he receives the Cardinal's hat at some future date, TV coverage will be massive and ratings will soar. Somehow this society we live in only cares about what happens to an American. Or to a very rugged, non-cerebral Pope who comes on a visit to America. Benedict's reverence for Mass in the Extraordinary Form, writings about Christ, appreciation for clerical celibacy, advocacy of natural family planning meet with shrugs here from local Catholics and non-Catholics. PLEASE UNDERSTAND: THIS IS NOT HOW I FEEL...but I want to dignify your question of Papal coverage in America and the genuine, not perceived, lack of interest. Americans can be extremely INSULAR.
Looking forward to the series I'm sure it will be up to your usual standard!! I've enjoyed all the programmes you've been in including the ones with your husband.
Joanna, I sent this comment about 2 hours ago, but we had a power outage JUST as I sent it...so I have reconstructed my thoughts to send again...
IN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT AMERICA'S COVERAGE OF THE POPE'S VISIT TO SCOTLAND & ENGLAND and the lack of interest therein: I live in the Metropolitan Area of NY where there was little interest even by those in my local parish. A prayer for the Pope's safety was included at Mass, but was one of many different intentions mentioned. Whereas I was GLUED to EWTN's mitre-to-mitre coverage, the average NY Catholic suburbanite settled for the 11 p.m. news with its 10-second clip of Benedict XVI and, of course, its soundbite of the London PROTEST ("Jesus has 2 Daddies" placard). You would NEVER know there was a throng of pro-Pope enthusiasts. NEVER. The indifference from Catholics about the lack of press coverage here inspired me to send your column & Raymond Arroyo's to friends with the advice: "Enjoy the coverage of the Pope's visit on both sides of the Atlantic." Americans easily forget "Catholic" means universal. In conversation, Americans still call Benedict "the German Pope." Most Americans around here get there news from the Internet or the aforementioned sound bites. When they do read the major daily newspaper, it's DAY AFTER DAY of sexual abuse scandals in Belgium and a probe of the Vatican Bank--all of which cast a negative impression of Benedict. Benedict is a cerebral Pope; Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman was cerebral and erudite...Americans tend to gravitate to a type they can better understand. They shrug at Benedict's reverence for Mass in the Extraordinary Form; his writings about Christ; his appreciation for clerical celibacy; his advocacy of natural family planning. American Catholics in my area are cradle-light Catholics being absorbed more and more into our secular society. Their catechesis is weak, whether old or young. And, sad but true, many American Catholics are descendants of survivors of "the Great Hunger" in Ireland and still harbor resentments--causing disinterest in a Papal trip to Britain. I do NOT share any of these sentiments; rather, I AM EXPLAINING them. Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of NY and this Metropolitan Area, is the beloved figure here. In time, when he is made a Cardinal, American networks will provide total coverage...because it is happening to an American. When the Pope visited NY, total coverage. The 4th Estate and the Americans they report for are, in fact, an insular lot. And the average citizen is distracted just now by the economy; the upcoming changes in our November elections; and, forever, SPORTS...be it the World Series in baseball or endless days & nights of football. Those stats my fellow Catholics can attest to word for word. But ask them who Cardinal Newman is...well, many can't even identify Joe Biden. Papa Benedetto was popular here when he visited here; but, since 2008 and ensuing Church crises, less so. That is why your columns, your blogs, those of Raymond and Joan, your TV series on EWTN remain VITAL to we American Catholics who do care and want to see and hear for ourselves about every aspect of the Catholic Church. Sheila
Sheila is dead on correct in her comments.
Well put, Sheila.
ooh - is that like the Tichbourne Dole???
Thank you Joanna!
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