Comments on: Covering Pope Benedict’s Visit

By: James Price

James Price — Tue, 06 May 2008 05:54:19 +0000

I find most comments about the Roman Catholic Church as being either ignorant or slanted by the doctrines given by the Roman Catholic Church that are not biblical. 1st the Pope is just a man who has be chosen by a group of men to lead them in a church that has done much good and bad in the name of God. Second the teaching that are not biblical will cause many to stumble and God says He has a special punishment for them. God ordains His servants and they do not need man to say they are ordained. There is no one person even if he claims to be ordained, the Pope, Cardinal, Arch-Bishop, Bishop, priest, pastor or leader of any Christian group of believers that has any more ability of hearing and seeing what God has for all of us than any person who has been filled with the Holy Spirit and follows God’s will. To pray through anyone except Jesus is unbiblical and untrue. The biggest problem with the Roman Catholic Church is the control that it tries to have over man. This is also true of most groups or fellowships that call themselves churches. Man has preverted the truth in an effort of control for either greed for power or money. Before you claim that I do not know what I am saying I must tell you that I have a graduate degree from a Roman Catholic Seminary although I am not nor have ever been Roman Catholic. It is funny that you have given this priest the ability to write his slanted opinions in your paper and not given others the ability to show when he is wrong and has slanted his articles to further the errors and untruths of the Roman Catholic Church.

By: Robert Durham

Robert Durham — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 07:41:04 +0000

Fr. J-
Keep battling evil–you are a soldier in God’s Army! We must do away with the moral relativism in the world today. The first step is telling the world there is absolute right and wrong, regardless of culture. This, no doubt, will hurt peoples’ feelings and offend the politically correct. Keep on fighting!
R. Durham
U.S. Army

By: Barbara

Barbara — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 03:19:22 +0000

It’s been a busy week, so I finally got to this site. As someone who lives in New York City, seeing
the HOLY FATHER at Ground Zero was beyond moving. Watching the Mass at Yankee Stadium was
a memorable experience. What I saw and heard about the Holy Father was HOPE, not false
hope that so many politicians give us but the hope that comes with believing in Christ. This visit
by the Holy Father inspired me and for a number of years I have been a lapsed Catholic. Yes,
I had gone back to the church in the last few years but certainly not as I had. Maybe now?

I am also certain that the Holy Father had some insightful advice for Washington D.C.

Thank you Father Jonathan and Fox News for your insightful coverage.

Take care,

Barbara

By: Nyoka

Nyoka — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 02:23:24 +0000

I watch most of the the Pope’s vist to America and I enjoyed the coverage by FOX News, my favorite channel. Thank you, Father Morris and Msgr. Lisante for giving me the opportunity to learn about the catholic church. I hope I can be as spry as the pope is at 81 years old, when he came down the steps of the airplane, you could see the joy on his face. He was happy to be here! I’m a non-catholic but forever a christian. Thank you both for a enjoyable program.

By: Stella Trevino

Stella Trevino — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:23:37 +0000

Dear Father, Please give my thanks to all the commentators at Fox News for their excellent coverage of the Holy Father’s visit to America. Thank you and Msgr. Lisante for your contributions also. It was an inspiring visit and left many of us with a sense of renewal and commitment to our mission as Roman Catholics in America and the world. God Bless all of you.

I want very much to download all the talks and homilies the Holy Father delivered at each stop on his trip. I have looked in many places for the texts but do not find them. Do you know where they might be available for us to download? I would very much appreciate your help in obtaining these.

Again, thanks to all at Fox and you and Msgr. Lisante.

Stella Trevino (hermit in her heart)

By: danny doss

danny doss — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:25:08 +0000

Responce to “comments by C.J.”
Your lengthy comments concerning the Roman Catholic church and it position of standing is sorely incorrect. The information you have presented has been carried down thru the centuries from the church that is of this worldcit is non-biblical.
When you mention father in the RC church it is with a capital “F” . Noting this; it affirms that the intent is to have the man in the intent of the statement as representative and equal with God. The reference to George Washington refers to him in the lower case “f” as well with other references you made. If you don’t see the difference then it is because of your choice.
The matter of “Mary worship” is repleat throughout RC history along with praying to other dead men and women. According to RC history, St Bernard has stated (factual documents) that Mary was the “Queen of Heaven” (strikes a pagan note?) and sits on a throne and interceedes for christians. In other words she is worshipped and is placed equal with God. As the RC church teaches. Non-biblical.
So stated in the bible that Mary was a sinner like the rest of us and needed a Saviour. It was a blessing to be chosen by God to bare His Son, as it is as great a blessing to proclaim Jesus Christ to mankind. The fleeting appearance to Mary in the scripture shows a stepping stone to God’s use of humans as instruments of his blessing to all men. Paul was a great man for God as was the many unmentionables down thru the ages that have died for the truth vs a lie.
Mary had other childern and the Bible states that their is “One” mediator between God and man. That Man Jesus Christ.
You can make of all you want about the RC church but the fact still remains the RC church has an earthly agenda and it doesn’t involve proclaiming the true gospel to all men as the Bible intended.

By: Liz

Liz — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 01:23:31 +0000

Thank you father for your coverage.And please please send this to a fox news head guy over there and tell them thank you so much for your amazing coverage of this life altering event. I am a proud practicing Catholic and I am so moved by this visit . I adored the last Pope and now adore this one . His words have hit me and I can’t stop thinking about what he said …all week .
I am so proud to be American also the white house looked beautiful even more than usual everything was so perfect ….and all the wonderful people we are among ..I have been moved to tears all week …from pure joy. I just missed him leaving at the airport ceremony. Do you think you will have dvd’s to sell of the coverage? I hope so please let me know .
May God’s hands be carrying his plane safely home to the Vatican.. even though I think he knows he has a home in America. We love him!
God bless Pope Benedict and God bless you ..and us all. I will be praying for those who are not believers yet .Liz..love fox news…

By: Betty Cotton

Betty Cotton — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:21:59 +0000

When Pope Benedict XVI was elected to lead the Catholic Church, I was disappointed. Partially because of his background and what appeared to be a very closed persona. In the late 50’s, I was fotunate to work in the Los Angeles Archdiocese under Cardinal Francis McIntyre. All my life, I have been around priests and the hierarchy by virtue of the fact that I married a candidate for the priesthood and worked in the Los Angeles Chancery Office. My husband was introduced to me by his classmate, now pastor of St. Monica’s parish in Santa Monica, California, a few months after he left St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, Caifornia. We are now married 42 years and share a common church history which has been great and very interesting. As a matter of fact. Cardinal Levada was just a couple of years ahead of my husband at St. John’s and I used to type letters to him for Monsignor Hawkes when he was at the North American College studying. Never dreamed he would be where he is today. Seeing him at the altar with the Holy Father con-celebrating the Mass this morning was awesome!

My reason for detailing the above is to contrast the personas of so many of our church leaders and how one can be misjudged because one is relying on past patterns. I have faithfully watched on FOX News just about all the activity of Pope Benedict’ visit to the U.S. I have been struck with the wisdom, energy and humble charisma of our Holy Father. I believe Fox has done a beyond masterful job of reporting all of these events and filmed them with excellence. The frosting on the cake was the presence of Monsignor JIm Lisante and Father Jonathan Morris as commentors at many of the events. Their information was inspiring and proved to be instructional as well. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to become part of the Pope’s visit via Fox News!!! A huge THANK YOU!

P.S. I even visited Barnes & Nobel Bookstore last evening and purchased the encylical books and one giving the Pope’s history.

By: kathy

kathy — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:21:23 +0000

The offensive comments that many have made here about Protestant churches shows a lack of understanding,gross ignorance, and respect for others faiths. Unfortunately, this just proves the disprect the Catholic Church has for other Christians and teaches to its followers. If you want to be Catholic that is your choice. But do not degrade the religious heritage of the Protestant tradition which you have not been reared in nor understand. I was particulary shocked and offended by the comment “that it is a very dangerous thing to read your bible…..because you might interpret it wrong.” It would take days to retort to this rediculous statement-but I cannot resist the historical record. The Catholic Church kept the bible out of the hands of the masses and would not allow it to be read!

By: Barbara Johnson

Barbara Johnson — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 15:30:21 +0000

I was disappointed that not one of the three presidential candidates met with Pope Benedict, or was in attendance at one of the events while the Pope was in the United States. Along with the other dignitaries, Mayor Giuliani should have been present at Ground Zero with Pope Benedict.

Also during this sacred time for our country, I feel it would have been beneficial if at least one of the democratic candidates, while in Pennsylvania, made an effort to pay their respects at the site where Flight 93 went down in Shanksville on 9/11.

By: danny doss

danny doss — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 00:29:35 +0000

Can one see that this Roman Catholic issue is very disturbing. We can see that the christian church has much to be angry about only to the extent that it surfaces historical truth of the atrocities of the Roman Catholic church. You who desire to defend a religion of deception and lies will take part in the time of the Great White throne.
Keep this comment thing going and you will see many more christians denounce this worlds church.
Oh! and for the comment that the church is the way to heaven. You are wrong… reread what Jsus himself said.

danny

By: Jeremiah Bulger

Jeremiah Bulger — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 23:53:11 +0000

I just wanted to thank you and your entire on-air and production crew for your wonderful contining coverage of the Pope’s visit to the US. The hours of planning, for a limited advertising revenue return, has sold me on your ‘fair and balanced’ coveraged. It sure beats watching innocent people as victims of sucide bombers in the name of ‘God’.

Last night I was a sponsor for a young man who was confirmed by the Bishop of Orlando and his lack of sleep reflect the Holy Father’s. In fact Bishop Wenski spoke in the same voice as the Pope.

For an international network to alot this amount of airtime to the Pope’s visit is wonderful and lacking in other networks other than EWTN. After almost 30 years in radio, tv, and motion pictures, I’m now retired thus have the time to compare your coverage to other so called ‘news’ stations, except for the EWTN which is a Catholic not news station.

You took a big gamble and I deeply appreciate your all your efforts. I’m rivitted to your station and recomenned it for local insertion to clients that ask via local Cox Cable.

Speaking of Cox, I have written, called, etc., and still can not get your Business
Channel. Please cut a deal with their program director and have them drop one of the ‘rap’ stations I’m forced to pay for and replace it with your sister station.

Many thanks folks for reading this wordy missive.

By: Bonnie Scaia

Bonnie Scaia — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 23:32:22 +0000

Dear Father Johnathan,

I just think you are wonderful and love to hear your views on the catholic church…I was born a catholic and my grandmother was surely a saint…I remember her love of jesus and our catholic faith well….I believe you are very knowlegeable of the faith and see you as a true blessing to all people…..Thank you for all you do…..

I never really appreciated the Pope or what he stood for……I think people need to understand that the catholic religion is the only religion that was founded by Jesus Christ himself…when jesus gave the keys to the kingdom to “Peter” and stated whatever you bound on earth will be bound in heaven…that Pope Benedict is a selected descendant of Peter our first Pope…and that is why we listen to him and follow his rule…he was given that right by Jesus himself when he established the church…Our Pope is a very special person indeed….we need to listen to him and follow the commandants and laws and seek Jesus and God and the Holy Spirit to fill us with the wisdom to know what is right and truth.. and our Pope is the man that stands for Jesus, we must believe what jesus said and read the bible for god’s word and truth…

This is a very special day indeed that the Pope has come to see us and meet with our president and young and old of all faiths……God is sending his blessing and prayers for the US and the president…This is a time in history I could only dream about, it brings tears of joy to my eyes….God has Blessed America…This is a special message I have been waiting for.. sent from jesus and god to all of us … there will be also be peace in the world, within the next 100 years, you will see…..Our Pope Is The Closest to Jesus You Can Get On Earth…..I am so very, very happy to have him here and feel a great sense of joy and happiness for all people, they can’t even begin to understand what this means for America and all people…

By: Judi Tesla

Judi Tesla — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 22:55:14 +0000

The coverage of the Pope is not about the commentators …it’s about the3 Pope. The commentators should stop speaking while the Pope is speaking. We tune in to hear him!

By: Rick Kane

Rick Kane — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:57:13 +0000

In response to Chris G… Be careful when using the Ten Commandments to make accusations. Does not the 8th commandment state “Do not bear false witness against thy neighbor”? How many times must we openly proclaim that we DO NOT worship Mary and we DO NOT worship statues? Yet you guys still continue to publicly bear false witness against us.

By: Laura Smith

Laura Smith — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:39:47 +0000

Dear Fr. Jonathon,

Thank you for your honest coverage. Pope Benedict is bringing us so much hope and reminding us of what it is we are all called to–holiness.

As a young wife and mother of 3 sons thus far, I must say that the tide in the church is so hopeful. At our local parish daily mass is attended by more college students and young families and professionals than middle agers, and young vibrant married couples with children faithfully teach religious education. Eucharistic Adoration is filled with teens and the line for the Sacrament of Confession is out the door. The choir loft is filled with beautiful hymns…not the same “rainbow songs sung at my first Holy Communion” and married couples are faithfully living the churches teaching being open to love and life…knowing that a sibling is the greatest gift we can give our other children.
Honestly, I would love to see some coverage of these happy American Catholics whose families look much more like our grandparents Catholic generation.

We are the Pope John Paul generation. JPII kept us in the pews with his prayers and teaching us to love Christ and the Church and now Benedict is forming us with love, faith, reason and hope so that our lives may more fully reflect that of Christ.

Thank you for your coverage. I pray my sons will grow up to be as honest and humble.
Laura

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:30:32 +0000

Fr. Jonathan:

I just read an article posted on FoxNews that the Holy Father has met with representatives of sex abuse victims along with Bishop Sean O’Malley and again expressed his dismay and shame about the scandals. This certainly is a very good and positive step. However, I think many will continue to feel tremendous resentment and anger about the scandals since pastors of authority such as Cardinal Bernard Law continue to serve. Cardinal Above-The-Law must be defrocked and extradited to Boston so he can be criminally prosecuted and, if convicted, serve the remainder of his days in prison for his crimes of being a willing accomplice in the Boston Arch-Diocese. If Pope Benedict XVI goes along with this, he will be seen without a doubt as someone who has taken this scandal VERY seriously by undertaking SERIOUS actions for justice.

By: Carolyn Ross

Carolyn Ross — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:51:24 +0000

If Fox News is truely delivering the news fair and square, then report on the “real” reasons why he is here.
His agenda goes so much farther than what is being told on TV. If you don’t know, then the reporters need to do more research, dig deeper and be brave enough to tell the whole truth.

The real reasons he is here is being discussed behind closed doors, without the media’s presence.

By: Tom Hutnyan

Tom Hutnyan — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:21:10 +0000

Fr. Jonathan,

Glory Be To Jesus Christ! I’m an Eastern Orthodox Christian and would love to hear the POPE mention and recognize the upcoming Palm Sunday and Resurrection of our Lord (Pascha) Easter Sunday on 27 Apr 08 for all Eastern Orthodox Christians. As a fellow brethern in Christ, I’m delighted the POPE came to the US to spread the true word of our Lord. Today, in America, seems society will make their own interpretations and not use the Church as the authority. With all said, I’m very happy to see the POPE and eager to hear his words. May God Bless all!

By: Mercedes

Mercedes — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:17:17 +0000

The data on non-attendance at Sunday Mass show that many Catholics just don’t get it: “God IS with us”. If a Catholic truly understood the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, he/she would attend Mass happily not only on Sundays but as often as possible. And as for almost half of all Catholics never going to confession, I believe this is due to a loss of the notions of sin and virtue. Both words have become empty concepts. If each of us sat down to list as many sins as we could think of that a person should avoid and as many virtues that one should develop, I wonder how long our lists would be. Would fidelity, modesty or obedience, for example, make the virtues list? Would lack of a prayer life, indifference to the poor, or cohabitation be listed as sins? Catholics are terribly ignorant of the basics of holiness. We need a solid education in how to give joy to God.

By: Marie Nannery

Marie Nannery — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:51:26 +0000

Thanks to Father Jonathan, for saying it as it is.Well done! Its so refreshing to hear Priests who are brave. Here in Ireland if a Priest speaks out about Catholic faith morals the dangers of the Occult ie Yoga, New Age, Magic etc they are torn to shreds by media and mainstream, alike. I was in Clonfert Co Galway at Eddie Stones yesterday, he spoke about breaking the 3rd Commandment was a mortal sin, people living in second relationships etc. He stated that people now did not know the Catholic Doctrine(in Ireland) and that they needed to be told.

will continue reading your column, only stumbled on it this morning.

keep up the good work.
God bless,

Marie

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:43:05 +0000

I found those statistics very interesting as well. The one that jumps out at me is the 1/3rd of the country’s 65 million Catholics attend mass on a given Sunday. I work with a slew of “Catholics” at my work, and hardly any of them practice Catholicism very much, and it’s very sad indeed. However, when I think about them plus read that statistic, I have to ask myself why it is that way? I think the issue is not necessarily the fact that all those folks neglect attending mass, but rather an issue with the heart of the person. We human beings tend to do those things that we are passionate about, and if we are not passionate about church or passionate about our beliefs, then we won’t be involved in them unless by force. Unfortunately, we live in a country that, in many churches of all denominations, do not preach the Word of God, nor preach the core of Christianity…which is a relationship with Jesus Christ. The term Christian means, “Follower of Christ” and I fear a lot of Americans have been deceived in that they can still live for this godless world AND live for God. However, it is impossible to live for both, and when given a choice, our natural human tendency is to bend toward this world. I believe this probably a HUGE reason for the 1/3rd statistic, and sadly enough it’s not just with Catholics…it’s with all “religions” and denominations. I also believe the issue goes beyond the church and straight to the home and family where it is the parents responsibility to raise up their Children surrounded by godly teaching that is based upon the Word of God.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:32:37 +0000

Father, I have been a Catholic for 25 years and I think the Church is the only way to salvation. Not once have I ever questioned the Church, the Pope or any of the teachings. To be a good Catholic means a lot of work and sacrifice — something that Jesus knew and understood so well. All of the folks who claim they have found a better way are simply lazy (my opinion). We are supposed to attend Mass weekly (minimum), go to confession at least twice a year and observe all of the holiday days. Considering what He has given to us this doesn’t seem like much of a sacrifice. The real sacrifice comes in trying to follow the Church’s teachings in our daily lives when we are faced with all of the garbage put out by the progressive secular people. We need to pray for all of them that they see the light and follow. God Bless the Pope and all the religious who help us daily!

By: Nicole Rodriguez

Nicole Rodriguez — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 23:36:14 +0000

Only Jesus is the mediator from us to God. But no one said we couldn’t ask others to pray for us. Such as Preachers or Holy men and women.

By: graham

graham — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 22:53:04 +0000

im not catholic and im really interested in the popes visit.