THE
P RTAL
December 2018
Page 8
they are. We try to bring the faith to
people through new media and new
technology,”
We wondered if EWTN have any
written publications at all. “National
Catholic Register and Catholic News
Agency essentially belong to EWTN.
Both of them are very prominent on the
internet. The website statistics show they
are up there with the most popular. And
there is “Church Pop” as well which is
aimed at the youth.
the Catholic tradition - a bit like here in Walsingham
“We will be broadcasting the Walsingham Shrine with the Anglican and Catholic shrines, although the
mass more frequently and will identify dates on which culture and quantity of pilgrims is very different.
we will do that which are relevant to Britain.
We thought the coincidence of Fr Armitage coming
“We are looking at all sorts of ways with limited staff, to Walsingham and EWTN coming to Walsingham
to expand creatively and incorporate volunteers into has the stamp of Our Lady all over it.
the programme. We have also converted the radio
Ronald commented, “We interviewed Bishop
stream from 95% U.S. content to 75% local content.
Radio is mostly being produced from Ireland at this Lindsay Urwin and Fr Alan Williams when they were
point but we are dividing our time between internet, in charge here. We asked them about one shrine.
Bishop Lindsay said of course there is only one shrine
television and radio.
and it is going to have to be the Anglican because we
Ronald asked, “Do you have editorial policy with are the nearest to the original, but we have got to use
regard to the various positions in the Catholic the other facilities.
Church?”
“Fr Alan Williams took the attitude of people must
Norman said, “EWTN’s approach is to be faithful to know whether its Catholic or not. We then interviewed
the magisterial teaching of the Catholic Church and Mgr John Armitage – Bishop Lindsay was still at the
defines it as simply as that. It does become complicated Anglican shrine - and Mgr John Armitage said that of
when you’re dealing with some of the issues we are course there is only one shrine. There had only ever
facing today, since we are living in a time when there been one shrine and it’s called Walsingham!”
are all sorts of voices in the church.
We wondered if there was anything else that
Trying to discern the truth of what the Church Norman wanted to tell our readers. He said, “EWTN
is actually saying is not always easy for the average had a presence in England before, but this is the
Catholic. Young people looking for the truth are not first production house and the production house is
going to be attracted to a church which has a whole eighteen months old now. We are growing day by day.
I want to encourage people to visit the website.”
multitude of voices and opinions.
As to funding, “We are funded entirely by our fans.
Ronald thought the whole concept of EWTN so
exciting but wanted to know how Norman came to be So anyone who would like to support our mission to
visit our website and click the donate button really,
involved in it.
because we are not supported by America, but are
“It’s quite a long story. I was essentially carrying a completely self-reliant on donations.”
lot of stories for EWTN in Africa and had my own
Jackie concluded, “Well it’s obvious what you have
production company in South Africa. I was covering
stories all over the world focused on personalities, and done here is wonderful and you spend your money well.
the Church, but we were based in Africa and covered Thank you very much for your time and information.
May God and Our Lady bless all you do.”
mainly the African angle on the Catholic Church.
For example, one story we covered was the Uganda
martyrs’ shrine which celebrates the Anglican and
EWTN may be found at www.ewtn.co.uk where you
may also donate if you wish to support their work.