You heard about the dust-up between Michael Voris’ initiative, Real Catholic TV, and the Archdiocese of Detroit. The Archdiocese is saying that Mr. Voris cannot use the word “Catholic”. I have been puzzled by the actual canon law of this dispute. I am not a canonist, but I was wondering how does the Archdiocese have the right to restrict the activity of a web-based initiative which is not in the Archdiocese?
I saw this at Catholic World News.
RealCatholic TV responds to Detroit archdiocese on use of ‘Catholic’ name
December 26, 2011After the Archdiocese of Detroit announced that RealCatholic TV should not identify itself as “Catholic,” the broadcast apostolate has responded by pointing out that it is not legally based within the Detroit archdiocese.
The Detroit archdiocese issued a public statement cautioning RealCatholic TV, saying that it “does not regard them as being authorized to use the word ‘Catholic’ to identify or promote their public activities.” But the owner of RealCatholic TV, Marc Brammer, has said that he is prepared to respond to any canonical question about the organization’s name “through competent ecclesiastical authority.” Since RealCatholic TV has its corporate base in South Bend, Indiana, that authority would be Bishop Kevin Rhoades—who has not made any comment on the question.
Brammer said that he has a contractual arrangement with Michael Voris to produce content for RealCatholic TV. Voris does his work from within the bound of the Detroit archdiocese, in Ferndale, Michigan. Both Brammer and Voris report that they have asked for a meeting with officials of the Detroit archdiocese to discuss their activities, but have received no reply. [No doubt they will. In time.]
