Are you aware America's first TeleEvangelist was a Catholic Priest?

Question

Fulton John Sheen (May 8, 1895—December 9, 1979) was an American archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church. He was Bishop of Rochester and American television's first preacher of note, hosting Life Is Worth Living in the early 1950s, first on the old DuMont Television Network and later on ABC, from 1951 to 1957. He later hosted the "Bishop Sheen Program" in syndication with a virtually identical format from 1961 to 1968; these later programs, many of which were taped in color, are still frequently rebroadcast today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulton_J._Sheen

recently I've noticed a delcline in my Protestant respondents I guess the truth is harder to handle :d

We need more Televangelist Catholics like Sheen. He helped bridge some of those walls errected by our Protestant brethren and did you know he received a large amount of his fan mail from non-Catholic Evangelicals

Answer 1

I watch him every chance I get on EWTN and listen on Relevant Radio.

He was a great man - corny jokes and stories, but I think that was part of his charm.

The world lost a great man the day he died.

May his path to Saint-hood be quick.

Answer 2

I like to joke with other Catholics that the first time I heard him on the radio he was so fiery, I thought he was a Protestant. I like to listen to Bishop Sheen and I have a book written by him about the advent season(I haven't read it because I am saving it for next advent). Soon he will be St. Fulton Sheen!

Answer 3

Archbishop Fulton Sheen, author of one of my favorite quotes ever.

"There are not over a hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions, however, who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church, which is, of course, quite a different thing."

I know we can still see him in reruns, but I wish I'd been around in the days when his show was originally broadcast. He often beat the competition in his time slot when it came to ratings. Can you imagine any Catholic on TV being able to do that today?

Answer 4

My goodness, I hadn't thought of dear Bishop Sheen in years, but I loved seeing his program occasionally in the 60s (though admittedly I did so only from a random turn of the dial, as my family was definitely not Catholic). I was only about 10 or so but I do remember being fascinated with him, he was quite dashing in his cassock and cope, and much of what he said made sense to me even as a youngster. I do believe this passing acquaintance of a positive nature with a Catholic priest on TV enabled me, even as a Baptist, to be comfortable around priests I encountered later in life -- especially those who helped me learn about the faith, and answered my endless questions, as I made my long journey home to the Church.

Answer 5

Archbishop Fulton Sheen is DA MAN!

You can get all the episodes on Netflix now!

Answer 6

Yes. I like watching the old Archbishop Sheen programs. And I hope that he is canonized someday.

http://www.archbishopsheencause.org/

Answer 7

there was one earlier than Sheen, a Father Mcgloughlin, I think, in the 20s and into the 40s.

Answer 8

Yes I am old enough to remember bishop sheen

Answer 9

And God bless his memory! Rest eternal grant unto him, O Lord - and let light perpetual shine upon him.

I pray that in his wisdom, this current Pope will see to it that the road to sainthood is made clear for this holy man of God.

His book "This is the Mass" (sometimes printed as "Missa Est") is a classic. I still teach from it!! I loved his show!!

Answer 10

Yes, he also gave Milton Burle and Frank Sinatra a run for their money when it came to ratings.