Prologue: Back when I was a mom-of-one and living far from my family in Boston, I fell in love with the Oprah Winfrey show. Every day at 3:00 p.m., I’d settle in while Joe was napping (and even when he wasn’t) and I would prepare to be inspired. I joined her book club and dreamed that she’d pick me to discuss it. I carefully considered her recommendations in light of my household budget, and I loved her interviews with all the big-name actors.
Gradually, though, I fell away from viewing. I don’t even know what it was now; probably—as with so many fond attractions in my life—I just got busy and distracted. Pretty soon Oprah’s influence over me was reduced to her appearances on the supermarket tabloids. I’d look to see if she was fat or thin (because I am just that superficial) and would briefly consider whatever problem she had going on with Stedman. Then that was that and my real life went on.
Such was my brief love affair with Oprah.
One of the reasons why I don’t watch much TV is that I just don’t have the time right now. Another is that so much of what’s televised is either a. drivel or b. immoral.
In short, we risk our immortal soul.
If we do watch, we must be careful and discerning, lest we become like the proverbial frogs getting boiled alive as the lukewarm water keeps getting hotter…and hotter…and hotter.
It’s hard, though! Satan is really good at hiding his evil under the appearances of good. (He’s just insidious that way.)
Let’s take Oprah as an example. If she were just health tips and celebrity gossip she would not be that bad. Instead, you have one of the richest and most powerful women in the world—indeed, she is exactly the sort of “world” that our spiritual books warn us about—and she is using her clout and her popularity to sway the masses.
Father Euteneuer of Human Life International agrees with me. In fact it was his latest letter that compelled me to post my thoughts on the poison that is Oprah. He warns first of all that:
She deals in fads, feelings and frauds—it’s that simple—and apparently she is very effective at convincing people to follow her well-packaged crock of nonsense.
Second,
When asked why she refused to interview her anointed one’s political opponent, she balked and got caught in a nasty public relations double-bind which is what usually happens to people who play games with their own popularity. Her refusal would have been easier to swallow if she had just said simply that she didn’t like the other candidate and didn’t want her on the show; that we can accept! But then again, basic honesty is probably above Oprah’s pay grade. The truth is that Oprah has put her social clout to partisan political use, and when she was called on to be fair, she just couldn’t admit that she was playing the political hack.
Think about it. A smart, ambitious and camera-friendly woman like Sarah Palin is right up Oprah’s alley. Think about it. Sarah Palin will not be a guest on Oprah’s show. Why is that?
Finally, and most importantly, we must be very, very careful when consuming such culture as Oprah Winfrey promotes. To use another common metaphor, she offers us cake and invites us to eat freely. Just mind you avoid the piece with all the poison.
Oprah’s menace is fundamentally spiritual though, and that it feeds off the growing spiritual superficiality of the American populace. Its treachery is not to be underestimated.
Father Euteneuer’s letter is worth your time and careful consideration. As a nation, we have much at stake.
You may read it in full here.
Ad Jesum per Mariam,
That needs to be said over, and over, and over!! My nine year daughter just asked me why I don’t like Oprah, she said, “she’s nice.” I told her that it’s hard to see, but if you look carefully she believes in things more than in God and she shows people not to rely on Jesus, but to rely on her and themselves. She is very appealing, very sneaky and this makes her all the more scary!
I think Oprah started out “tabloid style”…I really liked how she was about 5-10 years ago (?). I loved it when she was going after sexual preditors. I liked her angel netwok. Some of her books were a good read. I even liked her honest health stuff with Dr. Oz. As of late, her political bias is terrible. The real kicker for me in the last few years is her views on religion and Jesus. She does not believe. She is following the more Scientology crowd. (go figure!)
I think she is coming full circle. Now we are back to the tabloids!
I haven’t watched Oprah in probably seven or eight years, maybe more. She is what you call drivel, but dangerous drivel. After she started doing her annual Oprah’s list, I realized she was leading people down a dangerous path on the pretense of fun. She just keeps pouring the “kool-aid” and millions of people keep drinking it. And, Satan is loving it!
Amen. I haven’t been blogging these days,but have been considering a comeback due to all the nonsense in our nation lately.
You are absolutely right about Oprah, and should be commended for having the guts to just plain say it.
You’d think that someone like Oprah would be pretty interested in the fact that Barack Obama voted against the Born Alive Infants Protection Act FOUR TIMES, but why worry about that?? She’s got stilettos to give away!!!
I have to admit, I used to watch a little, just to check the topic, but I really cannot stand to even check the topic anymore. Knowing her power and how she uses it. She is the perfect example of “worldly” and what we do not want to be.
Just think of the power of our prayers for her, think of what would happen if she had a conversion!!
I gave up TV for 8 years and started watching again after 9/11 (for the news..haha) the biggest thing I noticed that TV does is steal away conversation. People watch instead of talking. Now, we rarely watch, and if so, it’s Little House or late late at night. Now, it is just unbelievable what is on the television, it is definitely Satan ruling it, that’s for sure!
Great topic Margaret.
Prayers for Oprah and all the stars really.
I used to watch Oprah years ago
(20) when I was in college. It certainly was entertaining. Now I’m ferrying kids to ballet, soccer, football, CCD, Girl Scouts, Brownies, etc. I just don’t have time to watch TV. If you find yourself in front of the TV during the day, you don’t have enough to do. I say that to my kids all the time.
I think she’s like a lot celebrities and just got caught up in herself. She does do some good with her give aways. But really who needs diamond watches and things like that? Then she does other shows like the best bra or jeans for you and has these women parading around in their underwear. It’s dangerous for those that can’t discern the good from the bad.
I don't have much time to watch either, especially during the day (not that evening shows are better, but I won't turn on regular TV when the kids are around – if I can help it & I can!). I have watched Oprah a few times, but always sensed something false. I never thought about it much, but you've really laid it out.
I read one of the books she recommended for her book club a number of years ago and was not impressed. I thought it was a poor representation of the topic, and I was dismayed that thousands of women had been exposed to such a one-sided view.
Isn’t that a powerful letter from Fr. Euteneurer?? I received it last night from our church group and immediately sent it on. He is so right about calling Oprah out.
I also used to follow her show- she was doing so many ‘good’ things with her angel network and such. It’s funny how we can be so dumbed down and follow along, isn’t it?
Amen!!! Margaret. I know from personal experience, the devil can lead us right down the old garden path to sin plucking on sin, if you’ll excuse some mixed metaphors. lois
Thank you for saying what needs to be said. I SOOO agree with you that Oprah and her show are “poison”. SHe is influencing many MANY people who look up to and admire her, and unfortunately, she is leading in the wrong direction.
I won’t watch Oprah. I used to when I was younger, but she just believes in things that I don’t agree with. I cringe every time I hear a friend bring up how much she loves watching the show.
Excellent post! I have very strong feels about Oprah. Politics aside even, I think she really leads people down the wrong path. It’s scary.
There are sooooo many reasons not to watch oprah, but this has got to be the biggest. She's hosting a web broadcast on some wackjobs new book and leading other astray and away from the one true God.
check it out.
She's literally leading her own church thru the internet
Amen to your post; couldn’t agree more! The answer to your post title is “NO” (we shouldn’t be watching Oprah!).
Thank you for sharing this and for pointing us towards Fr. Entenauer’s letter.
I haven’t read the letter yet, but Oprah also has a weird, Godless “spirituality”. Whatever that is.
Sometimes I think I should watch her so that I know what I am talking about in case I get into a conversation with someone about one of her topics. How can I say I disagree with her if I don’t know what she said? I just find her so difficult to watch. Her attitude that she’s doing us all a favor by being on TV is a bit much for me to stomach on a regular basis.
Esther is talking about this too.
The reason Palin (and Oprah may not even realize this herself) isn’t on her show is because Palin chose to have a child that society deems unworthy and her dd, as an teen mother is choosing life.
Oprah on the other hand, has been vocal about her abortion in her early career, and I think Palin would be too painful of a realization of what Oprah gave up.
Palin doesn’t stand for Oprahism. Palin stands for Americanism.
Let’s pray for the conversion of all these people who have put other things in place of God.
Let’s pray for a good election and the good of this country that is quickly devoid of real values and morals.
God Bless,
Tracy
I don’t watch Oprah because she encourages women to be whiny and self absorbed. She had a show several years ago on how awful motherhood was -she’s anti-marriage as well. From the broader point of television in general, I find it fairly easy to jump out of the pot, so to speak, when it gets too hot. This election year, I’ve had to turn off the television on plenty of my old favorites who are being far too outspoken on the issue of “choice”.
But I do still like to watch a few shows when I have the chance and it has nothing to do with boredom or lack of other things to do – it has to do with needing a good laugh as a way to wind down at night. I don’t consider television ALL bad.
Back in my pre-conversion days I was a big Oprah fan. I adored her “Finding your Spirit” and “Make Your Job Your Passion” segments in the late 1990s.
As a new Catholic and stay-at-home Mom, I started driving my husband crazy with all of my agitation after watching Oprah at 4 PM. Topic after topic didn’t “set well” with me. I finally had the scales fall from my eyes during her plug of “The Secret”.
There’s a lot of spirituality talk on Oprah, but some seriously flawed theology underneath. I truly considered it a sin to keep watching her show anymore.
Now the TV stays off all day and I keep Oprah high on my prayer list. We should all pray hard and have hope!
Preach it, sister! I had a similar journey to yours. I watched it when I had one child too young to understand the show. As it became apparent that I couldn’t have it on when my children were around – maybe I shouldn’t be watching it either.
Your blog continues to inspire and encourage with your honesty and openness – thanks!
I agree – the power and influence Oprah has on our society is truly scary.
And I agree with you again that she should be Palin’s champion! I hate to say it, but I can’t help but wonder, if Palin was an African-American woman, would Oprah feel the same disdain for her? I’ll wager “no”. Seems to me she’s made her racial bias pretty clear over the years.
Oh, and when I was a stay-at-home-mommy of our first child, The Rosie O’Donnell Show was my afternoon program of choice. Praise God the busyness of our children’s presence in our lives led us back to Him!
A couple of years ago my MIL wisely said, “I don’t like Oprah telling me what to think. I’m not going to watch her anymore.”
P.S. I’m new here.
Margaret, thanks for posting a link to Fr. Euteneurer’s letter – I hadn’t seen it yet, and it’s so encouraging to know that there are priests out there encouraging people to think about the direction our society is heading. Oprah is a good example of what “society” right now thinks is “good”… very frustrating. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one out there who has a problem with this kind of “good”… 🙂
~Jenny
Thank you SO much for this post, Margaret!
I was a huge huge Oprah fan in highschool and college. I couldn’t get enough of her and watched her every single day. For a mother daughter senior year trip in high school my mom and I went to the show and I got to meet her!
However, in recent years (as I have grown in faith) I just can’t watch her. Just yesterday I turned the show on and it was about cheating on your spouse. It was pretty gross.
I’m with you 100%. St. Gianna used to say that she would not go to the cinema unless it would bring glory to God…so as to not contaminate her soul. How wise!
Blessings to you, Margaret! I didn’t know you lived in Boston! That’s where I live now… fun!
Brilliant post and very well explained. I stopped watching Oprah regularly years ago. But, I would still tune in periodically. Then she started promoting a book called “The Secret” and I just couldn’t bring myself to ever tune her in again. She uses her power to lead people down a path of of “spiritual enlightenment” that has nothing to do with truth. Thank you for pointing this out so eloquently.
Hate Oprah or love her, you have to admit that refusing to interview any candidates until after the election is a fair practice. True, Obama has appeared on her show, but these appearances were prior to him declaring himself a candidate. She has also stated that Palin would make a fantastic guest and that she would love to have her on the show after the election.
Thanks for sharing that article. Oprah has given me a bad taste for quite some time now.
I am happy to report that I have NEVER seen Oprah in my life. Of course I know very well who she is, but I refuse to watch her show. I don’t really watch TV! No time and too much garbage on it.
God bless,
Donna-Marie
Anonymous claims >>>>> Hate Oprah or love her, you have to admit that refusing to interview any candidates until after the election is a fair practice. True, Obama has appeared on her show, but these appearances were prior to him declaring himself a candidate. <<<<<<<
NO, I don't have to admit that its a fair practice. She's pro obama, period, she goes to his rallies, she had him on her show, and it was clear long before he "declared" himself a candidate that he was just that.