WHUT/32's broadcasts of the weekly Catholic "Mass for Shut-Ins" are being threatened by a potential new national dictate from Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), reports the Washington Post.
A PBS committee has approved a measure to strip network affiliations of any stations that air 'sectarian' programming such as the "Shut-Ins" Mass. Should the full PBS board approve its committee's recommendation, WHUT has already stated its intention to then cancel "Mass for Shut-Ins," produced locally by the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington in association with the Diocese of Arlington.
A cancellation could leave the "Mass for Shut-Ins" without any local outlet. "Mass for Shut-Ins" had aired for years on WUSA/9 before its current stint on WHUT. Unfortunately, going back to WUSA or any other commercial outlet may not be viable as local religious organizations generally can't afford to buy air time at the same rates as national televangelists & infomercial providers.
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On a personal note, my own 92-year-old disabled mother has kept connected to her faith community through the "Mass for Shut-Ins" for many years so I'm obviously disturbed to see that relationship now threatened by PBS politics.
This blogger would never be one to even consider blocking Bill Moyers or any of the other more thought provoking programs off of PBS prime-time. The last thing that PBS itself should do is force harmless programming directed to disabled people off of its local affiliates.
______________________Labels: catholic, mass for shut-ins, pbs, religion, television, whut
