Crunchy Mustard

Please note: this article talks about satellite radio. Not amateur radio (which is often referred to as “ham radio.”) I just like the spunk of the phrase.

Leave it to the Catholic Church and Cardinal Egan (the archbishop of New York) to place their blessings upon a corporate merger and join the group of companies and organizations looking to get more information to the people, cheaper.

This latest endorsement is simply one of a long history of merchandising deals and corporate sponsorships from the Catholic Church. However, the organization has yet to endorse anything like the pending proceedings between Sirius Satellite Radio and rival XM radio.

The blessing came through an editorial in Friday’s New York Post by His Eminence. According to the Cardinal, such a merger would stand as a symbol of the Catholic Church’s mission to spread messages to the faithful. “The Catholic Channel and Sirius Satellite Radio present a unique opportunity for the church to speak with people — Catholic and non-Catholic alike,” wrote Egan.

XM and Sirius were certainly overcome by such Godly praise. “We are extremely pleased to receive support from such a highly regarded and influential spiritual leader,” said Gary Parsons, Chairman of XM, and Mel Karmazin, CEO of Sirius, in a joint statement.

However, a union by two large companies does not happen right away. To ensure that no sort of monopoly can be created, the companies must receive permission from the F.C.C. (a US government regulator) and positive comments from many different organizations. So far, the merger has received 20 of these comments from the N.A.A.C.P. and League of United Latin American Citizens, American Trucking Associations, National Council of Women’s Organizations, and the League of Rural Voters.

Right now, the two companies are expecting to move forward together by the end of 2007.

Original Source: Portfolio.com