Catholics - does anyone believe that EWTN radio is a little over the top at times?

Functional ovarian cysts are commonly treated with BC pills for a short course, yes. But I wouldn't expect religious commentators to know this, or to have a medical degree, and I'm assuming the mother didn't either -- she just wanted to know what the Church taught.

I would, as you've said, definitely expect them to have a working familiarity with Humanae Vitae (para. 15, "... the Church does not consider at all illicit the use of those therapeutic means necessary to cure bodily diseases, even if a foreseeable impediment to procreation should result there from—provided such impediment is not directly intended for any motive whatsoever") and be able to advise the woman along those lines.

So, yes, on the surface of things and from what you've stated, it looks like they dropped the ball in this instance.

But on the whole I don't find EWTN's programming at all over the top. EWTN is orthodox, reliably so, and doesn't pretend to be otherwise. Whatever program this was, and you didn't mention that, I'd be inclined to look at this as an isolated case and not a blanket indictment.

This mother should have consulted a medically knowledgeable priest, not a radio call-in show. Such a priest would have given her the correct advice, which is more than she should have expected from a talk show host.

The hosts of the call-in show, on the other hand, should have known better than to field a medical question on the air.

I've never listened to EWTN radio, but EWTN television on the whole is thoroughly orthodox by Catholic standards. I've had my occasional beefs with it, such as Marcus Grodi repeatedly allowing his guests to misrepresent Lutheran theology even though he should know better since he was raised Lutheran; but overall, I would consider EWTN to be one of the most reputable Christian channels.

I think that EWTN sometimes goes over the top in general. I am a Catholic, but I've never been a conservative. It seems that EWTN represents a very right-wing type of Catholicism. I do enjoy some of their presentations, but also disagree with them sometimes. I would disagree with them on the point you've mentioned here. Some people are afraid of the term "birth control" without even considering the alternative uses of it.

I really enjoy much of the programming they have. The mother was not doing the right thing by asking a Catholic apologist for medical advice. Those people are going to answer the questions from a religious stand point. She really needed another medical opinion.

It all depends on whether you want the girl to run the risk of a fatal blood clot from the pill, or not.

Other alternative treatments exist.

Many doctors no longer recommend them, simply because they are use to prescribing birth control.

Besides ... it is against the Catholic faith ... and a serious sin ... to use artificial birth control.

A good Catholic doctor would never have this problem, in the first place.