Fighting Irish Thomas

Having spoken out a time or ten against the sweet-talking new-age messiah myself, I fully understand the depression attached to the newly elected democratic pro-death administration that many faithful Christians now suffer. But as John Paul II used to say, "Be not afraid," for God has sent us a voice—or Voris—to lead us in the coming battle that his namesake angel and saint first fought so long ago.

Michael Voris' new Web venture, RealCatholicTV, is the classic example of a dream that was both a long-time coming and one that arrived just in time. After graduating from Notre Dame in 1983 and briefly considering the priesthood, Voris used his gift to broadcast news for various CBS affiliates around the country ... But fifteen years of secular reporting made Michael more restless than ever, and after three years of producing a Catholic news show on the side, last March Michael finally resigned from secular journalism (being asked to do a story on Madonna's bra was the last straw) and, with the help of another former Domer, Marc Brammer, founded the first Catholic Web station, RealCatholicTV.

"I really love your spot, The Vortex," I told Michael referring to his daily free video commentary on the world from a Catholic perspective. "I especially liked 'A Short Story,' your parable about an Obama-esque king."



"Why thank you," Michael acknowledged.

"Mike, I'm mostly familiar with your free programming [which besides The Vortex, includes Today's Saint, Today's History, and the news from a Catholic perspective]. But The Vortex is my favorite. It's not only insightful, but hard hitting. I mean, at Mass, sometimes priests will come right up to the edge of a subject like abortion, but never cross over the line and really get into it ..."

"You mean challenge people?" asked Mike.

"Exactly!" I agreed.

"You know, Tom, as a newsman, I traveled around the country and was able to attend a lot of Masses in a lot of parishes, but I'd say probably less than five percent of the priests challenged people to act."

"Which is where you come in," I told him. "I found it interesting that in one of your The One True Faith episodes, you said something to the effect that 'All the evil in the world can be attributed to lukewarm Catholics.'"

"Tom, that was actually me quoting Pope St. Pius V."

"Wow! Well, that quote certainly came true with lukewarm Catholics in this election. I mean, on the one hand, it was good that many bishops spoke out so strongly about voting pro-life ..."

"Yes, it was wonderful that approximately a quarter of the U.S. bishops did speak out," Michael concurred, but then paused. "But that also means that about three quarter's of them did not."

"By calling yourself RealCatholicTV ... are you in some way saying that EWTN isn't?" I asked.

"No, not at all," Voris answered. "I really admire what Mother Angelica accomplished, for her founding EWTN was pretty much Mother thumbing her nose at the liberal bishops she dealt with."

Still there can be no doubt that as much as Voris supports EWTN or Relevant Radio, Mike takes the fight one step further. In fact, when Voris told his lawyer what he planned to say when RealCatholicTV was set to hit the Net, he was advised in no uncertain terms that his venture would never get "not for profit" status. Not that this modern-day prophet expected to see any profit; Michael spent nearly all of his life savings on his one priceless pearl, in return asking only for the opportunity to use his gift for God.

"How's it going so far?" I inquired.

"Well, since our broadcasts began in October, we have about 8500 registered for our free videos and 200 on our premium pay services [which feature ten full-length shows including Voris' award-winning The One True Faith]."

"Well, you knew it wouldn't be easy not only getting enough subscriptions and donations to keep going ..."

"Yes, there are tremendous costs involved ..."

"But also the fact that the Obama administration could easily shut you guys down."

"Oh, we're fully expecting a legal battle once the Fairness Doctrine passes," Mike said calmly. "Either that, or a fire bomb through our window."

But just as in the case of the saints in the former days of Christian persecution, the imminent threat just makes Michael speak out all the more. Thus, I pray that all Catholics of good faith begin tuning into The Vortex before it's too late. As for myself, I'm about to become RealCatholicTV's paid subscriber #201.

Labels: Catholicism, Michael Voris, Pro-Life