No conspiracy against Catholic TV, says Rosica

TORONTO - Salt + Light Television CEO Fr. Tom Rosica is trying to convince a vocal segment of Canada’s Catholic TV audience there is no dark conspiracy against Catholic television.

Since news broke of Bell TV’s decision to drop the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) from its satellite offerings, Salt + Light has been bombarded with e-mails, phone calls and letters from “people who automatically jumped to conclusions that this was an all-out attack against the Church,” Rosica told The Catholic Register.

Responding to angry blog posts, many of the callers and writers seem to believe in a conspiracy against Catholics rather than a straight business decision on the part of Bell, Rosica said.

“You would be amazed at the nonsense I have received in the letters, especially those that said that we did nothing to prevent this from happening, or that we didn’t stand up and fight for EWTN! Not a few letters and calls, either!” Rosica wrote in an e-mail.

Salt + Light continues to have positive relationships with both Bell and EWTN, which has broadcast several Salt + Light productions on its American network, said Rosica.

In a posting to Salt + Light’s web site, Rosica blasts bloggers, whom he believes have deliberately perpetrated half-truths and innuendo to trigger mob anger.

“Miscommunication has been fueled by false statements and accusations of assumed intention or negative motives revolving around, in part, a purported anti-Catholic campaign,” Rosica wrote.

It’s not the first time the Basilian priest has confronted bloggers. The member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications condemned an irresponsible culture among bloggers when he began receiving death threats because Salt + Light did not condemn Boston’s Cardinal Sean O’Malley for giving a Christian burial to the late Senator Ted Kennedy in 2009.

Salt + Light remains available through Bell’s satellite service, and Rosica has no reason to believe that will change.

“Bell executives at the highest level... have assured us that for the present, there is no intention to drop Salt + Light,” Rosica said.

There is no longer a “Catholic bundle” or a “Religion bundle” available, but Bell subscribers may add Salt + Light as a single channel.