Two Years Ago

It was two years ago, just before Easter that I learned pope John Paul II had died. I watched the news coverage from the TV in my office as the media held vigil in Rome. This was the only pope I had known in my lifetime. I remember standing on the sidewalk in Chicago as a young boy and catching a glimpse of him as he passed. Now he was gone.

From that moment on many things changed. I entered not only a period of mourning and reflection during the Lenten season, but also a week of on air defense and explanation of the Catholic Faith. Unbeknowest to me it also was the last week of the 3 year run of "The Marty Minto Show."

I have not really spoken publicly about the whole mess since it happened. Not out of fear, but respect for all involved. For me, the radio show was just that. It was a show. It was meant to be entertaining, challenging and supposed to get people thinking, while attracting the largest possible audience. That is what radio is about. Somewhere along the line that changed.

I often wondered why God put me where he did. I always prayed to speak nothing but the truth. I wasn't hosting the show but when asked a question, I answered for all to hear. When you talk about God, people expect to hear the truth. The problem is so many allow themselves to be come the star. I've seen it happen time and time again. Jesus should be the center and the reason for everything. Over time, pride took over the air chair. Opinion became the stand in for truth and something had to change.

What should have been a private event was tossed into the spotlight for all to comment and twist to fit their own agenda. It was hot media story but little to no facts were reported. Hatred grew and it's saddened me to encounter "Christians" who spoke their minds based on rumors and here say.

It's one thing to cancel a radio show. It's happens all the time. Yet pride grows like a weed and in this case it spread beyond the radio. That is what pains me. I'm always cautious when people start their own church. If it's your church, you write the rules and there is a deep danger in that. I've always tried to gently warn people that there are very few real churches. There are great social clubs with a cross out in front but they are missing the sacraments, the authority, the link to the first Christians. Still, Marty started his own church. That church is now defunct and the last I heard Marty had moved out of the area.

I can't tell you how many people contacted me in the days following the news of Marty's departure. I heard from people all over the country but it was the people who had trusted in him and invested their faith in him and his church that broke my heart.

Many people took me and the station to task for the decision that was made. Why is it that those with the least knowledge always speak the loudest? I pray that those who were personally hurt by all this have found peace and that God has led them to a traditional Christian Church.

For those who wish to read the personal accounts of the parishioners you can find them here.