$37.00 Tickets to See Fr. John Corapi Preach?!?

[Cat]

You said it best, and you brought up a very important point, the cult of personality. This has no place in Catholicism. Most of the truly wonderful and effective priests I know, exercise their ministry in quiet humility, especially those in religious orders.​

I agree with the above statement. What I don’t understand is the last sentence. Are some priests NOT in religious orders?
I’ve heard of Brothers who teach, but all the priests I know have their own parishes. It’s hard work to have a parish and I know that some Catholics watch their priests like hawks
so it must be difficult to live under such scrutiny.
In spite of this, the priests are very wonderful.

Do you include such “personalities” as Archbishop Fulton Sheen in your denunciation?

For that matter, the Lord Jesus Christ attracted massive crowds wherever He spoke, to the point where once He had to stand in a boat so that the crowd wouldn’t press in on Him.

And so did St. Paul.

People cannot help becoming famous. I’m sure that Father Corapi or any of the other Catholics who are “celebs” never dreamed of or aspired to fame. If they did, that’s between them and the Holy Spirit, Who is perfectly capable of convicting them.

Different priests have different gifts from the Holy Spirit (see I Corinthians 12, Romans 12, etc. for a list of the various spiritual gifts). There are many priests who will labor in obscurity and they will receive their reward in heaven and it will be great.

But there are other priests who are gifted in public speaking and exhortation, and because of the very nature of this gift, they will be more publicly-recognized in their ministry. It’s simply NOT FAIR to condemn them because the Holy Spirit has given them this gift. IMO, it’s tantamount to criticizing the Holy Spirit and His work in individuals. We have no right to do this.

Lives will be changed because of Father Corapi’s $37.00 talks. Protestants will be converted to Catholicism. Catholics will wake up and recognize the calling to the priesthood or religious lives that they are suppressing. The Holy Spirit will work through Father Corapi to convict many of us of sin, and we will repent and confess and be absolved. And many Catholics will simply be encouraged in their daily walk with the Lord and the Church.

I simply can’t believe that some of you are so hyper-critical of your fellow Christians. It’s wrong.

 

[TexCatholic4JMJ]

Cat,
Looks like we were writing at about the same time. And I completely agree with what you
said.

 

[pnewton]

Do you include such “personalities” as Archbishop Fulton Sheen in your denunciation?

I simply can’t believe that some of you are so hyper-critical of your fellow Christians. It’s wrong.

For me, it is not the celebrity status of these Catholic celebrities that put me off seein them as much as it is the crowds that throng to these conferences. I do not know that the “Cult of Celebrity” or whatever it was called, was directed so much at these well-known speakers as it were at those who crowd around them.

I attended one conference. Once was enough for me. While the teaching was good, I was embarrassed for the way so many pressed in on these folks. For me, it distracted from the message. I can not imagine what it would be like at this San Antonio conference, but the throng-factor deters me more than the cost.

 

[wanner47]

The Church has had “Catholic Celebrities” for nearly 2,000 years – they’re called saints!

 

[Lycorth]

I realize how important Fr. Corapi must feel but in fact Jesus Himself did not charge His audience, in fact He fed them at no charge at the Sermon on the Mount! I don’t care who gets the money, it’s wrong to charge, the Church has more than enough wealth to support evangelizing, preaching, lecturing, whatever you want to call it.

So, you would pass up the chance to listen to a fine Catholic speaker because he or she has to charge an admission to cover the costs of renting the hall/stadium/wherever?

No wonder the Church is in the shape it’s in these days. We’ll gladly sell our souls for season tickets but Heaven forbid a Catholic speaker can’t do it for free.

 

[PaulinVA]

So, you would pass up the chance to listen to a fine Catholic speaker because he or she has to charge an admission to cover the costs of renting the hall/stadium/wherever?

No wonder the Church is in the shape it’s in these days. We’ll gladly sell our souls for season tickets but Heaven forbid a Catholic speaker can’t do it for free.

I’m not sure it costs half a million dollars to rent the at&t center for a day.

I would have no problem with a free will offering sometime during the day. I don’t really have a problem with paying almost $50 a ticket (includes the handling fees) for a conference on a Catholic topic with a variety of speakers. But $50 for a conference billed as Father Corapi San Antonio (with a special web site and a plea for "parish captains) is just a little much.

I don’t understand your second comment. The Church would be in better shape if more of our priests acted like televangelists or personalities?

 

[Lycorth]

I’m not sure it costs half a million dollars to rent the at&t center for a day.

I would have no problem with a free will offering sometime during the day. I don’t really have a problem with paying almost $50 a ticket (includes the handling fees) for a conference on a Catholic topic with a variety of speakers. But $50 for a conference billed as Father Corapi San Antonio (with a special web site and a plea for "parish captains) is just a little much.

Why? Do you think Father Corapi is being self-serving with how his conference is being billed?

I don’t understand your second comment. The Church would be in better shape if more of our priests acted like televangelists or personalities?

My meaning is that people will gladly shell out big bucks to be entertained and amused but complain endlessly when they are asked to pay to see something educational and edifying.

Besides, Father Corapi isn’t acting like a typical televangelist. Have you ever watched them? I have when I dabbled in Protestantism years ago. They hawk all sorts of junk, claim to offer healings and miracles, have as many spins on the Bible as there are stars in the sky, and aren’t preaching solid Catholicism. Father Corapi, to his credit, does none of that and just delivers a good, solid Catholic message.

 

[Marie5890]

As it is being held in the AT&T center, you can bet a good chunk of that is going to the venue for rental and to pay the staff needed.

They do have to rent that. It’s not a freebie

 

[PaulinVA]

Why? Do you think Father Corapi is being self-serving with how his conference is being billed?

I don’t know. Where is all of this money going? To his Order? That’s fine, but be honest, This is a personality-driven money-making endeavor. $300 for a CD series on the Catechism? Sure, its 58 hours, but come on.

Lycorth:

My meaning is that people will gladly shell out big bucks to be entertained and amused but complain endlessly when they are asked to pay to see something educational and edifying.

My problem is that this is billed as an event with an individual.

Lycorth:

Besides, Father Corapi isn’t acting like a typical televangelist. Have you ever watched them? I have when I dabbled in Protestantism years ago. They hawk all sorts of junk, claim to offer healings and miracles, have as many spins on the Bible as there are stars in the sky, and aren’t preaching solid Catholicism. Father Corapi, to his credit, does none of that and just delivers a good, solid Catholic message.

See the $300 DVD set above. Or the $45 for the 4 talks on the Sacraments of Christian Initiation. How about the $80 for the 16 talks about the Blessed Mother?

I am really confused by this. People think this is okay?

 

[Loboto-Me]

I would pay double to see be there, as well as to see other “Catholic Celebrities” in person. But I DO agree with the exorbitant prices of the DVDs that are sold for talks and teachings that have already been “paid for”. I have no problem with the selling of them, that’s not the point, but I feel that these have been priced right out of most peoples’ financial reach.

PS: I would have paid to see Bishop Fulton Sheen and any of the Popes as well

 

[Bob_Aliano]

Call me stubborn, I am, but if we Catholics can’t get our message out for free we will lose the evangilization race to those who do. Before someone says we are not in a race, let me remind you it is our duty to convert as many as possible to the true church.

I attend many non-Catholic gospel music events which feature both headliners in that genre as well as missionary families, they are paid by free-will donation and support from their home-base churches. These missionary families spend the entire year on the road bringing their message to those who can’t get to regular services. I can’t begin to estimate what it costs to keep their motor homes and autos on the road for an entire year nor can I guess what it costs to rent a church or county or state park but they trust in God to provide and He apparently does.

I’m sure if we moved to more frequent sessions in large churches and church-owned buildings we could eliminate the need for arena rentals and most of the overhead involved with these sessions. We could also set aside a portion of our collection to support these events across the country.

 

[mskejj]

People are interesting…I personally think it is wonderful that we can offer a conference where people can grow in their faith, learn a thing or two and perhaps lose some of the lukewarmness that we see in the Church today. If Father Corapi can wake us up and help us to understand our Faith better, then I say it is worth far more than $37.00. (which equals about $4.60 an hour…we pay that just to go on the toll roads near my home!) It is about time we had inspiration priests that know how to reach people and can do so in large numbers. Our world NEEDS this…and I thank God everyday for sending the Church good and faithful servants who can teach and inspire us on our faith journey.

 

[Lycorth]

I don’t know. Where is all of this money going? To his Order? That’s fine, but be honest, This is a personality-driven money-making endeavor. $300 for a CD series on the Catechism? Sure, its 58 hours, but come on.

See the $300 DVD set above. Or the $45 for the 4 talks on the Sacraments of Christian Initiation. How about the $80 for the 16 talks about the Blessed Mother?

I agree, that’s pricey. But I will reserve judgment until I learn that the money is pure profit and doesn’t go to his order or to something else worthy.

Also, where are the CDs made? How much does the manufacturer charge Father Corapi in the first place for the DVDs? That too has to be accounted for.

My problem is that this is billed as an event with an individual.

That, in and of itself, shouldn’t bother you. If it’s just him speaking, he needs to use his name so others know what’s going on.

I am really confused by this. People think this is okay?

If there’s a good reason for all the price tags, then it is surely OK. If, of course, there is.

Otherwise, this sounds like a case of guilty before proven innocent. Whenever a cleric asks for money, it’s sad that ill intent is always assumed.

Call me stubborn, I am, but if we Catholics can’t get our message out for free we will lose the evangilization race to those who do. Before someone says we are not in a race, let me remind you it is our duty to convert as many as possible to the true church.

I attend many non-Catholic gospel music events which feature both headliners in that genre as well as missionary families, they are paid by free-will donation and support from their home-base churches. These missionary families spend the entire year on the road bringing their message to those who can’t get to regular services. I can’t begin to estimate what it costs to keep their motor homes and autos on the road for an entire year nor can I guess what it costs to rent a church or county or state park but they trust in God to provide and He apparently does.

I’m sure if we moved to more frequent sessions in large churches and church-owned buildings we could eliminate the need for arena rentals and most of the overhead involved with these sessions. We could also set aside a portion of our collection to support these events across the country.

Many Catholics don’t even charge, unless I’m mistaken. And not all Protestants offer conferences for free. Lifest here in Wisconsin, the biggest Christian rock festival in the US if I’m right, is very pricey if you attend for all three days, and more so if you camp on-site, several hundred dollars’ worth of expenses. Just to get in for a day costs more than to see Father Corapi once.

But I agree that Catholics really need to pull out all the stops; Catholicism is already severely Protestantized and the next step from that is secularization, which is already spreading like a cancer as it is.

 

[ElizabethPH]

I watch him free on EWTN:thumbsup:

I haven’t read through this whole thread I only got this far. But just wanted to say that where I live EWTN isn’t free.

 

[ElizabethPH]

with 1000 of hungry kids in the world and in poverty i refuse to spend $37 on a ticket when its free on ewtn. with earthquake and people around the world this $37 would feed a family. sorry no deal for me God does not want me to feed the rich

Again how is EWTN free?

 

[ElizabethPH]

You can watch EWTN on-line from their website.

The Internet isn’t free either.

 

[PaulinVA]

I agree, that’s pricey. But I will reserve judgment until I learn that the money is pure profit and doesn’t go to his order or to something else worthy.

Also, where are the CDs made? How much does the manufacturer charge Father Corapi in the first place for the DVDs? That too has to be accounted for.

I assume that it costs no more than $20 a set to mass produce a set of DVDs. I’ll be generous and say the whole thing cost $50. Charging $300 is a 500% profit! I’m fine with that as long as people see this for what it is - making money. Even if all of the profit goes to his order (I assume it does), this is a business, not an apostolate.

That is my objection - this seems to be the cult of personality and the business of being Father Corapi.

 

[Lycorth]

I assume that it costs no more than $20 a set to mass produce a set of DVDs. I’ll be generous and say the whole thing cost $50. Charging $300 is a 500% profit! I’m fine with that as long as people see this for what it is - making money. Even if all of the profit goes to his order (I assume it does), this is a business, not an apostolate.

That is my objection - this seems to be the cult of personality and the business of being Father Corapi.

Even if the profit margin is that large, if he uses the proceeds in a charitable manner, there is nothing to criticize. Thousands of secular entertainers and athletes rake in much greater profits and do far less good with even a portion of their profits.

Otherwise, it’s innocent until proven guilty. There is no reason, unless there is something canonically illicit, about an apostolate making money, so long as the money is used charitably.

 

[MarkThompson]

I assume that it costs no more than $20 a set to mass produce a set of DVDs. I’ll be generous and say the whole thing cost $50. Charging $300 is a 500% profit! I’m fine with that as long as people see this for what it is - making money. Even if all of the profit goes to his order (I assume it does), this is a business, not an apostolate.

That is my objection - this seems to be the cult of personality and the business of being Father Corapi.

The cost of a product is higher than the cost of churning out one unit. This is why pills don’t cost 2¢ apiece, because it might have taken $200,000,000 to develop and test them and get them approved. So make sure you add in the cost of production, editing, sound mixing, titling, marketing, graphic design, the cameras, etc., etc., etc., divided back pro rata per unit. Do you know what those are? Yeah, I don’t either.

 

[PaulinVA]

The cost of a product is higher than the cost of churning out one unit. This is why pills don’t cost 2¢ apiece, because it might have taken $200,000,000 to develop and test them and get them approved. So make sure you add in the cost of production, editing, sound mixing, titling, marketing, graphic design, the cameras, etc., etc., etc., divided back pro rata per unit. Do you know what those are? Yeah, I don’t either.

I understand all about production cost and all of that. That’s why I generously allocated $50 per unit to production, editing, copying, etc.

If this is what he does, that’s what he does. People can decide to give him money or not.