Thought For the Day

“The VPs had feared an episcopal coup against Mother since the run-in with Cardinal Mahony. The visitation only deepened their sense of danger. The data gleaned from the investigation could be used to justify some future action. They believed the congregation or Bishop Foley could compel Mother to institute changes at the network; reconfigure the board; or—worst-case scenario—appoint a progressive successor armed with the veto power. Angelica might have to make a choice between her obedience to Rome and her responsibility to EWTN and its viewers. By March 6, the VPs unanimously agreed with Mother: Her continuing leadership at EWTN placed the organization and her community at great risk.

Perversely, the very thing that had protected the network from so many assaults—Mother’s position as abbess of a pontifical order— now jeopardized its future. She herself had become the bridge church leaders could use to invade the organization and distort its message. Disregarding the personal risks and believing resolutely that the network should remain an autonomous, lay-run, civil entity, Angelica decided to use the escape hatch before any demands could be made of her. A man might have stayed and fought. But a mother would do almost anything to protect her offspring.

Mother Angelica signed a letter of resignation at that meeting, and Bill Steltemeier accepted it.
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In one of her final acts as CEO, Mother symbolically surrendered the network to the vice presidents during a videoconference. ‘Take this network,’ she told them. ‘Treat it as if it were your only child.’ Marynell Ford, the vice president of marketing, turned to another VP and openly sobbed.
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The next night, Mother’s plans were further complicated by heavy congestion in her chest, thought to be a cold. It was actually pneumonia, which landed her in the hospital for nine days. Undeterred, Angelica would proceed with the resignation from her hospital bed.
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Over the objections of Archbishop Chaput, who felt ‘railroaded’ by the process, and Bishop Foley, who worried that the veto power and ex officio positions could not ‘be easily gotten back,’ Mother and Steltemeier prevailed. The board voted to alter the bylaws and accepted Angelica’s resignation. Only the two bishops registered dissenting votes.
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At 5:00 P.M. on March 17, 2000, Mother Angelica rested comfortably in her hospital room, officially separated from the network she would forever be identified with. She had silently burned the bridge behind her. No religious, cleric, or bishop could ever exercise complete control over EWTN again. Relying on divine providence, she was confident the board and vice presidents could perpetuate her vision and keep the network steadfastly loyal to the Magisterium in Rome. The network now belonged to the laity and God. The coup had been beaten back and routed.”

— Raymond Arroyo, “Mother Angelica: The Remarkable Story of a Nun, Her Nerve, and a Network of Miracles”