Although the closing of the networks is sad to see, Fr. McCulloch noted that "these are not big TV channels … they're small diocesan networks or even parish networks that are being set up, maybe in a particular locality," so for the most part "they're not national."
He said that rather than making the decision out of direct malice toward Christians, it's possible the government is cracking down more on organizations without proper permits for telecommunications activities due to their intensifying conflict with India over the disputed territory of Kashmir.
Relations between India and Pakistan have been tense since a Sept. 18 attack by militants on an army base in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Some in India believe the militants were were backed by Pakistan, and India has claimed to have carried out "surgical strikes" against suspected militants along the "line of control" between Indian- and Pakistani-administered Kashmir.
Given the situation, the priest noted that "things are rather tense there at the present time."
With Lahore sitting within 100 miles of Kashmir, "anything concerning telecommunications, anything like that is being heavily monitored."
Fr. McCulloch emphasized the need to be "very careful" when it comes to describing the situation of Christians in Pakistan, saying that while they certainly face "intense discrimination," which at times includes violence, the situation is "not one of persecution."
"Our hospitals are open, we've got a major seminary in Karachi for the last four years where there are 84 seminarians coming in and out, that's open," he said, stressing that the situation isn't nearly the same as in other countries, such as North Korea, China, Saudia Arabia, Iran, or Afghanistan.
"People have got to be careful in terms of what words they use in describing the situation there. Discrimination certainly, but persecution not."
Elise Harris was senior Rome correspondent for CNA from 2012 to 2018.