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"An open letter to the Catholic media:
In the 22 days since the release of the July 5, 2011 letter from Fr Gerrard Sheehan of SOLT -the Catholic media, including hundreds of internet news and bloggers, television and radio, have reported the various accusations against Father John Corapi as irrefutably true. Without a trial or the presentation of evidence, these Catholic media sources have pronounced guilt upon Father Corapi, without even the faitntest presumption of innocense. Neither have these media sources once questioned the motives or the validity of the accusers charges against Father Corapi.
In that time we have not seen one credible shred of evidence against Father John Corapi to validate the charges against him. In fact, we have not even seen one piece of incredible evidence against Father Corapi and yet we are supposed to believe some rather incredible things.
We are to believe that previously:
Apart from a possible single DUI offense 12 years ago (which incurred a 7 day probationary penalty), that in 20 years of public ministry, Father Corapi was never seen publically in an intoxicated state.
That in 20 years no one has come forward as a witness to either seeing Father Corapi use illegal or abuse legal drugs, as having done drugs with Father Corapi, or sold illegal drugs to or purchased illegal drugs for Father Corapi’s use.
That in 20 years no one has come forward as a witness to Father Corapi having either solicited prostitutes or escort services either under his own name or under an alias.
That in 20 years no one has come forward as a witness to Father Corapi engaging in improper sacramental practices either in public or private celebration of the Eucharist or through the use of his priestly faculties.
That in 20 years no one has come forward as having been someone with whom Father Corapi has had willing or unwilling sexual relations with or cohabitated with romantically.
That in the space of 20 days a nameless investigative trio determined beyond all reasonable doubt that Father John Corapi is guilty of all the above offenses.
The Catholic media has not shown either through reports of witnesses or first hand witness that Father John Corapi was ever unable to perform his public ministry either due to the effects of drunkeness or drug abuse.
The Catholic media has not shown either through witness accounts or physical or circumstantial evidence (ex. credit card statements, financial records, photographs, recordings, videos) that Father Corapi ever procured or solicited prostitutes or sex related services through an escort service.
The Catholic media has not shown that Father John Corapi ever in any way engaged in improper sacramental practices, either by breaking the seal of the confessional, illicit or invalid consecration, profaning of the Eucharist, unauthorized ordinations, imporper use of priestly faculties, etc.
The Catholic media has not shown how SOLT’s nameless investigative trio acquired evidence, gathered testimony, provided the names of witnesses, nor have they provided the names of the investigators themselves or the principal accusers in the case Tamra Sexton or Matt Sprinkle.
This assassination attempt upon the character and reputation of Father John Corapi has been a case of journalistic malpractice of the hightest order. It is unjust, it is immoral and it is unconscionable. Retractions need to be made and apologies issued and follow up stories created immediately.
The various commentaries, conversations, conjecture and conspiracy theories confirming Father Corapi’s guilt and the reasons for his every public action have been breathtaking in their scope and presumptiousness. Scandalously, the purveyors of this inane tabloid babble have the audacity to call themselves American or worse yet, Catholic and Christian.
Instead of the intellectual arson that has been carried out upon Father John Corapi’s reputation and the minds of the Catholic faithful "
catholicforum.fisheaters.com/index.php?topic=3441840.150**
