In case you’re not a subscriber to the podcast (what are you waiting for!) you may not know that we publish it almost every Friday.
Today is no exception. This one is a doozy. Steve not only addresses some pretty weird conspiracy theories about himself and 1P5, and interviews Ann Barnhardt, who sets the bar pretty high for candid interviews.
You don’t want to miss it. Check it out here.
Steve Skojec is the Founding Publisher of OnePeterFive.com. He received his BA in Communications and Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2001. His commentary has appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, Crisis Magazine, EWTN, Huffington Post Live, The Fox News Channel, Foreign Policy, and the BBC. Steve and his wife Jamie have eight children. You can find more of his writing at his Substack, The Skojec File.
Great podcast, Steve. It’s quickly become one of my favorites, and I really enjoyed your conversation with Ann.
Thanks!
Great website, great interview, but you lost me with the Voris attack. Look, exposing treachery in the Church, with the Bishops, and even the Pope himself, is much needed, yes. But it is also a dangerous, treacherous path for the souls brave enough to traverse it. You should give Michael a break. He chooses his way carefully, he worries about his own soul, can you fault a man for that? And he does not personally and by name, criticize those journalists with whom he disagrees. He didn’t directly condemn +Burke. His actions might imply disapproval, but no direct criticism. You should know, as a Catholic, that is a big distinction. The man watches his own feet very carefully.
He accuses everyone who has ever criticized the pope by implication when he says that he has sinned so gravely by simply quoting news about Cardinal Burke that he has to abstain from communion.
And in fact, by the same logic, he accuses Burke himself.
I appreciate much of what CMTV does. Their strange editorial policy about the pope, however, is damaging; his overwraught and unnecessary apology is as well – and is in and of itself newsworthy. CMTVs agreement with Fr. Paul Nicholson’s inexcusable attacks on the SSPX (saying that their Masses are more offensive to God than Satanic Black Masses) is also extremely troubling.
They’ve now also been attacking The Remnant. I’m starting to get the impression that CMTV is alone in battle by their own choice, swinging their sword in the direction of the slightest noise, friend or foe. The rest of us could use them on our side. They seem to be drifting into the status of an island instead.
I can understand why you feel slighted. He scruples over detraction. Granted you journalists are given
much wider latitude than the rest of us when it comes to that sin, but some situations, when it comes to applying the eighth commandment, are a matter of prudential judgement. For that matter, Micheal may be faithfully following the advice of a spiritual director, we can’t really know.
I’m not accusing you nor Ann of detraction. Exposing sins of the Pope, or broadcasting sins already exposed, is a judgement call for a reporter, and you are correct to make that judgement boldly.
Michael has determined that criticizing the papacy in any form is taboo. He should probably leave others to make their own call on that, but he proclaims his own position and publicly condemns the inverse, as you guys do; therein lies the conflict. BUT…he has resisted naming names, and this is a big deal, when it comes to detraction avoidance. You and Ann should criticize CMTV, not Michael, for your own sakes; always take the path of least personal risk if possible. And it looks better to people outside the Church.
Anyway, you guys all have more courage than the rest of us, and we are lucky to have you! God bless you and the good works that you do. I just hate to see the division, so I raise a point for your consideration.