(image via Pixabay)
Some of you may already know that on October Fifteenth, Mike Maturen, presidential candidate for the American Solidarity Party, reported that a radio program aired on Eternal Word Television Network Radio had cancelled an interview with him because, as they apparently told him, they were concerned about their non-profit status. This is, of course, their business; nonprofit organizations do have to be very careful to avoid the semblance of endorsing a political candidate or they face the wrath of the IRS.
However, their nonprofit status was apparently not a concern today when Raymond Arroyo of EWTN’s The World Over announced that he would be airing an interview with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at 8 PM on Thursday. Among the topics under discussion are Trump’s favorite saint and how he changed his mind about abortion.
EWTN turned heads earlier this year when the National Catholic Register, which is owned by the network, fired bloggers Simcha Fisher and Mark Shea, both of whom are pro-life outspoken critics of Trump and the Republican party, claiming it was due to their lack of charity on social media. Now it seems they’re at it again. Somehow, it might hurt EWTN’s tax-exempt status to interview the pro-life candidate for the American Solidarity Party, but not the scandal-fraught allegedly pro-life candidate from the Republican Party.
It would make sense if EWTN interviewed both major candidates and a handful of the third-party candidates; it would make even more sense if it only snubbed the pro-choice Hillary Clinton, Jill Stein and Gary Johnson and interviewed everyone who purports themselves as against abortion– Mike Maturen, Evan McMullen and Donald Trump. To cancel Maturen for fear of not appearing neutral while interviewing Trump, especially after the firing of two prominent anti-Trump bloggers, makes no sense at all to me. EWTN is invited to comment on this at any time. Perhaps they can get an actor to dress in an ill-fitting saint costume and read quotes off a teleprompter, as has become their trademark.
Before commenting, please remember that Steel Magnificat is not officially endorsing any candidate including Maturen; we only stress that everyone must pray for the virtue of prudence, study the issues at hand and the teaching of the Church, and consider all options rationally. Michael and I have made up our own mind and wish you the best in making up yours.
10/26 Update: I’ve just received the following statement from Mike Maturen himself, via Facebook:
Here is my clarification statement:
FOLKS: Due to some heated comments both on my wall, and elsewhere, I want to make a clarification, because there seems to be some misunderstanding out there. A while back, I was scheduled to appear on the Morning Glory radio program, which is aired on EWTN Radio. A day or two before I was to appear, I received an email from the producer of the radio program stating that they needed to cancel my appearance. “Due to our non-profit status, I have been instructed not to have you on”. Again, this email came from the producer of the Morning Glory radio program. Other than a mention of EWTN in her signature line, I have no indication that the email was in any way connected to EWTN. Please, folks, let’s dial back the rhetoric against EWTN. They are a worthy and important apostolate. They have led MANY souls back to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I am acquaintances with a few of their on-air personalities. Let us speak in charity and love, ESPECIALLY in this Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. I am sorry for any confusion this may have caused.
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