Statement of Santa Cruz-Fr John Corapi

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

If you had the other posts you would possibly surmise that he may have absolutely no contact with ‘his’ company at this point and could be very much unaware of what is being issued. Let us give him the benefit of the doubt…it would be the charitable thing to do…

This is an assumption made by a few posters in this thread and has no supporting facts as evidence, it is all based on feelings and opinion.

He has also been told he had the gift of apostolic preaching…which he has admitted is different from parish preaching. If I know this, why don’t you?

This is the first I have heard that Fr Corapi has been told this (who told him and what is their authority?).

Not only that this is the first time I have ever heard of this gift.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

I think we make a mistake when we give someone like Fr. Corapi, or anyone for that matter, “rock star” status within the Church. When they become the attraction, we’re heading down a dangerous path.
I must admit I am not a fan of Fr. Corapi’s fire and brimstone message and approach. It has never seemed very pastoral to me. I’ve always felt he’s very selective in the truth that he teaches and I don’t believe it’s a healthy picture of our Lord or our Church. Of course, people who disagree with me will say that the truth hurts and I need to deal with it. I imagine that would be Fr. Corapi’s response, though I could be wrong.
With that caveat, I do have some questions that trouble me greatly. Certainly the money aspect of Fr. Corapi’s message. He must generate a great deal of income, and his appearances on radio and tv only fuel that…the more people who hear him on radio will buy his stuff, the more money he brings in. I think it’s perfectly legitimate to ask where it goes. I assumed as a SOLT priest he took a vow of poverty, so it should go entirely to his order. I also am uncomfortable that when you go to his website, EVERYTHING is for sale.
Secondly, what happened to obedience to the Church, which he constantly preaches? While he has obeyed the Church (he really has no choice), he and his company have made some fairly snide remarks. I find this hypocritical and disturbing.

You joined CAF just to post this?

Heard it all before.

Can you please direct me to the people (provide links and names, if you will) who ‘accorded Fr. Corapi rock star status?’

Can you also point out exactly what truths Fr. Corapi has been ‘selective’ with?

And why do you have such concerns about his web site or the amount of money he makes (the legitimacy of which has been covered numerous times)?

 

[Shoshana]

This is the first I have heard that Fr Corapi has been told this (who told him and what is their authority?).

Not only that this is the first time I have ever heard of this gift.

If my memory serves me right, it was his superior. His kind of preaching would alieante a parish but to preach as such in conferences, well, that was his way of evangelizing.

Maybe if all parishes preached like this, i suppose there would be no alienation. I know Fr Groeschel speaks boldly also…in a different way. He calls sin, sin also. I have been blessed to experience his conference also. He had no qualms in calling some catholics ‘stupid’…(In case some people get offended, so did St Paul…) I had to giggle hearing that…I love these priests and all of them overall…

 

[deaconmike113]

SOLT is not a Religious Order, it is a Society of Apostolic Life, the priests in it are secular priests and not consecrated religious so they do not take vows. They make the promises of Obedience to their superior and Celibacy.

They retain the right to own property and I assume that they have to cover their retirement and healthcare costs like most secular priests.

I did not know that, and it does indeed make a difference in how I view the situation.

However, I would still like to be given some idea where his income goes. Catholic radio stations play his works, which basically acts as free advertising, drawing in many, many potential customers. And as I noted earlier, nothing on his website is free. If this is all lining his pockets (much as it appears to do with some less than reputable television evangalists), then I think it would certainly change people’s perception of him and his message.

 

[Shoshana]

Father Corapi was ordained in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome by the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. He has the gift of “Apostolic Preaching” (teaching the truths of the Faith with such authority and clarity that event the hardest hearts might be brought closer to God). Father’s talks will be on the Catholic faith."
lasvegasmariancenter.com/Fr_Corapi.htm

Called to the contemplative life, his superiors have also discerned that he has the gift of “Apostolic Preaching” (teaching the truths of the Faith with such authority and clarity that even the hardest hearts might be brought closer to God). When not in his hermitage, he is out preaching the “Good News” of our Lord Jesus He gives his powerful witness of hope and mercy at conferences and parishes across the country
greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=009Yys

 

[steve711]

I for one believe Father C is innocent. I am also one whom likes his straight forward teaching of the Catholic religion. To me, to many parish priest try to teach in a political correct style. This to me does no one any good. If you do not teach the truth, like abortion is killing an Innocent child, and same sex marriage is wrong and against the Catholic faith then you are not teaching what you should be. To me, many young people crave this type of teaching and it is the way we should be taught and guided.

Go with Gods Grace!!!

 

[deaconmike113]

You joined CAF just to post this?

Heard it all before.

Can you please direct me to the people (provide links and names, if you will) who ‘accorded Fr. Corapi rock star status?’

Can you also point out exactly what truths Fr. Corapi has been ‘selective’ with?

And why do you have such concerns about his web site or the amount of money he makes (the legitimacy of which has been covered numerous times)?

QUOTE=Sailor Kenshin;7704305]You joined CAF just to post this?

Heard it all before.

Can you please direct me to the people (provide links and names, if you will) who ‘accorded Fr. Corapi rock star status?’

Can you also point out exactly what truths Fr. Corapi has been ‘selective’ with?

And why do you have such concerns about his web site or the amount of money he makes (the legitimacy of which has been covered numerous times)?

I think it may have been heard before because these points are certainly worth discussing.

As far as the rock star status, I think the way people respond to him makes this very obvious. However, if you doubt what I’m saying, please check out the website at renewamerica.com/columns/otoole/110327 and see the poster that was used advertise an appearance by Fr. Corapi in Cincinnati on July 17th. It would do the Rolling Stones, or at least WWF wrestling, proud.

As far as being selective with the truth, when our Lord preaches peace, mercy and forgiveness and Fr. Corapi’s message is continually spritual warfare and heaven/hell, I question his choices. However, I’m not saying he lies, just that he’s selective. My example? I heard him recently quote Jesus in Matthew 25 about the end times and judgement, saying those on His right are saved and others are not. All true. Yet he made no mention of the conditions in Matthew 25…about that judgement being based on feeding Him when He was hungry, etc. It’s a social justice message that is not very apparent in Fr. Corapi’s general message, at least in my opinion.

Finally, my concern about money. He uses EWTN and Catholic radio as a platform from which he gains tons of potential customers. If he wants to spend it all on himself, I have no problem with that. But some who purchase his products might. I don’t see why he’d hesitate to be open about this.

 

[dfp42]

QUOTE=Sailor Kenshin;7704305]You joined CAF just to post this?

Heard it all before.

Can you please direct me to the people (provide links and names, if you will) who ‘accorded Fr. Corapi rock star status?’

Can you also point out exactly what truths Fr. Corapi has been ‘selective’ with?

And why do you have such concerns about his web site or the amount of money he makes (the legitimacy of which has been covered numerous times)?

I think it may have been heard before because these points are certainly worth discussing.

As far as the rock star status, I think the way people respond to him makes this very obvious. However, if you doubt what I’m saying, please check out the website at renewamerica.com/columns/otoole/110327 and see the poster that was used advertise an appearance by Fr. Corapi in Cincinnati on July 17th. It would do the Rolling Stones, or at least WWF wrestling, proud.

As far as being selective with the truth, when our Lord preaches peace, mercy and forgiveness and Fr. Corapi’s message is continually spritual warfare and heaven/hell, I question his choices. However, I’m not saying he lies, just that he’s selective. My example? I heard him recently quote Jesus in Matthew 25 about the end times and judgement, saying those on His right are saved and others are not. All true. Yet he made no mention of the conditions in Matthew 25…about that judgement being based on feeding Him when He was hungry, etc. It’s a social justice message that is not very apparent in Fr. Corapi’s general message, at least in my opinion.

Finally, my concern about money. He uses EWTN and Catholic radio as a platform from which he gains tons of potential customers. If he wants to spend it all on himself, I have no problem with that. But some who purchase his products might. I don’t see why he’d hesitate to be open about this.

Sounds to me that your mind is already made up about your brother priest. You don’t have to like him but you have to find a way to love him…did you know that?

You pointing out how much you disagree with a priest on a forum and complaining about where the money goes is defiantly not bring unity. I think we get the point that you don’t like Corapi. No problem…just find a way to love him.

 

[deaconmike113]

I for one believe Father C is innocent. I am also one whom likes his straight forward teaching of the Catholic religion. To me, to many parish priest try to teach in a political correct style. This to me does no one any good. If you do not teach the truth, like abortion is killing an Innocent child, and same sex marriage is wrong and against the Catholic faith then you are not teaching what you should be. To me, many young people crave this type of teaching and it is the way we should be taught and guided.

Go with Gods Grace!!!

I think this is a good example of what bothers me about Fr. Corapi’s preaching. How much does he really challenge the people who actually listen to him and buy his materials? Many can listen to his preaching and just be glad to not be one of “them”, the people who REALLY need to hear his message, one we find we can enthusiatically support! This post gives great examples with abortion and same sex marriage…I’m a 52 year old heterosexual male in a long marriage…so I can be against same sex marriage, abortion, etc, and it’s really no skin off my nose. I would love to see him challenge people like myself and say if we’re against abortion, are we sacrificing by supporting day care centers in underserved areas, making sure health care is available to unwed mothers, adopting children who are not aborted etc, etc? But these are tough solutions that probably make us squirm as we have to open our pocketbooks or our homes. Where is the moral and spiritual challenge/cost to so many of us who listen to him? Or is it those “other people” who need to hear the message and get on board, while we cheer him on from the sidelines? I teach young people every day, and like most young people throughout history, they don’t respond real well to black and white, my way or the highway, heaven/hell approaches. I’ve actually played a DVD of Fr. Corapi’s for them and the kids I teach have been less then impressed.
Of course, in Fr. Corapi’s recent troubles, I would find his unflinching preaching about obedience and the Church a lot more convincing if he’d just quietly submitted to authority and let the investigation run it’s course. His comments, and the comments of the company of which he is CEO, Santa Cruz Media, have not been helpful.

 

[deaconmike113]

I for one believe Father C is innocent. I am also one whom likes his straight forward teaching of the Catholic religion. To me, to many parish priest try to teach in a political correct style. This to me does no one any good. If you do not teach the truth, like abortion is killing an Innocent child, and same sex marriage is wrong and against the Catholic faith then you are not teaching what you should be. To me, many young people crave this type of teaching and it is the way we should be taught and guided.

Go with Gods Grace!!!

I think this is a good example of what bothers me about Fr. Corapi’s preaching. How much does he really challenge the people who actually listen to him and buy his materials? Many can listen to his preaching and just be glad to not be one of “them”, the people who REALLY need to hear his message, one we find we can enthusiatically support! This post gives great examples with abortion and same sex marriage…I’m a 52 year old heterosexual male in a long marriage…so I can be against same sex marriage, abortion, etc, and it’s really no skin off my nose. I would love to see him challenge people like myself and say if we’re against abortion, are we sacrificing by supporting day care centers in underserved areas, making sure health care is available to unwed mothers, adopting children who are not aborted etc, etc? But these are tough solutions that probably make us squirm as we have to open our pocketbooks or our homes. Where is the moral and spiritual challenge/cost to so many of us who listen to him? Or is it those “other people” who need to hear the message and get on board, while we cheer him on from the sidelines? I teach young people every day, and like most young people throughout history, they don’t respond real well to black and white, my way or the highway, heaven/hell approaches. I’ve actually played a DVD of Fr. Corapi’s for them and the kids I teach have been less then impressed.
Of course, in Fr. Corapi’s recent troubles, I would find his unflinching preaching about obedience and the Church a lot more convincing if he’d just quietly submitted to authority and let the investigation run it’s course. His comments, and the comments of the company of which he is CEO, Santa Cruz Media, have not been helpful.

 

[debraran]

I think a lot of this could have been cut off when accusations were made a while ago, but that is water under the bridge now.

To be fair, although Fr. Corapi had a willing audience, he did poke fun at the 'grey hair" sometimes and said, “You know this, you don’t need this”, things like that. Some actually seemed sleepy at times… : )
Only once did I see a question/answer session. I would have liked to see him with teens, young adults, not mature adults who are usually more settled, but ones that are dealing with temptations and issues that challenge young adults.

There is a preacher, Christian but not Catholic, that has a show every Sunday and he goes to colleges, talks to youth…that is a brave man, but sometimes he reaches them and it’s nice.

 

[TMC]

Father Corapi was ordained in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome by the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. He has the gift of “Apostolic Preaching” (teaching the truths of the Faith with such authority and clarity that event the hardest hearts might be brought closer to God). Father’s talks will be on the Catholic faith."
lasvegasmariancenter.com/Fr_Corapi.htm

Called to the contemplative life, his superiors have also discerned that he has the gift of “Apostolic Preaching” (teaching the truths of the Faith with such authority and clarity that even the hardest hearts might be brought closer to God). When not in his hermitage, he is out preaching the “Good News” of our Lord Jesus He gives his powerful witness of hope and mercy at conferences and parishes across the country
greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=009Yys

I have never heard Catholics refer to the gift of “Apostolic Preaching.” The Church uses the term apostolic preaching to refer to the preaching of the actual apostles, and I have never heard it used by Catholics to refer to later teaching, even by the Doctors of the Church or saints. It sounds as if some people are trying to elevate Fr. Corapi to a level above “ordinary” priests. I find that strange and troubling. No man should be put on such a pedestal. Regardless of who ordained him or how gifted a speaker he is, he is a man. He is subject to the same faults as other men and should be subject to the same authorities as other men. He is a fine preacher, but the Church has many, many fine preachers. It is my hope and prayer that he comes through this crisis, but no one’s faith should rest on him or on any man, save the Man who died for us all.

 

[deaconmike113]

I have never heard Catholics refer to the gift of “Apostolic Preaching.” The Church uses the term apostolic preaching to refer to the preaching of the actual apostles, and I have never heard it used by Catholics to refer to later teaching, even by the Doctors of the Church or saints. It sounds as if some people are trying to elevate Fr. Corapi to a level above “ordinary” priests. I find that strange and troubling. No man should be put on such a pedestal. Regardless of who ordained him or how gifted a speaker he is, he is a man. He is subject to the same faults as other men and should be subject to the same authorities as other men. He is a fine preacher, but the Church has many, many fine preachers. It is my hope and prayer that he comes through this crisis, but no one’s faith should rest on him or on any man, save the Man who died for us all.

Thank you! Beautifully said, in every respect!

 

[rmartensjr]

… I would love to see him challenge people like myself and say if we’re against abortion, are we sacrificing by supporting day care centers in underserved areas, making sure health care is available to unwed mothers, adopting children who are not aborted etc, etc? …

These are some the pro-aborts favorite red herrings. Why would you be quoting them here?

There is no shortage of day care centers, many of which are run by churches and charities. Colleges and even high schools provide free day care. The government (that’s your and my tax dollars) subsidizes low income day care.

Re: health care for unwed mothers, have you ever heard of Crisis Pregnancy Centers? Run exclusively by volunteers, many offering ultrasounds, all providing help with health care. They also offer housing assistance, baby supplies, adoption referals, emotional and spiritual support, and the list goes on and on.

And you’ve saved the cruelest hoax for last… that no one will adopt these babies. Do you have any idea how long it takes to find a baby to adopt? Do you know that for every couple that does find a baby, dozens of others will never be able to find a child? What a cruel slap in the face to the millions of infertile couples!

I would suggest that you visit the Priests for Life website and educate yourself. And if you are a deacon, Mike (or is that just a nickname) you can join Deacons for Life while you’re there.

 

[The_Rock]

For those who are insinuating that Fr. Corapi my be lining his pockets…Have you ever heard of the sin of detraction? Unless you have some insider information, we only have the word of one person against another. As Christians we are required to assume the best about someone…not speculate IN PUBLIC about what might be their worst actions. To defame the character of a famous priest by repeating uncorroberated accusations is wrong.

 

[Elizabeth502]

For those who are insinuating that Fr. Corapi my be lining his pockets…Have you ever heard of the sin of detraction? Unless you have some insider information, we only have the word of one person against another. As Christians we are required to assume the best about someone…not speculate IN PUBLIC about what might be their worst actions. To defame the character of a famous priest by repeating uncorroberated accusations is wrong.

I tried to say this earlier. No one wanted to hear it.
And even if it’s not explicit detraction, it is in fact idle gossip. We are enjoined in the Epistles not to engage in idle gossip. What troubles me especially about this brand of idle gossip is three things:

(1) the compulsion of people to speculate on this dedicated man’s possible, or known, weaknesses that are completely unrelated to the charges against him.

Whether he tells stories colorfully, whether he has a normal quotient of ego for a human being, whether because he formerly led a rather worldly existence, he “therefore” might-- or is-- living a “worldly” existence now …

None of these ^ have anything whatsoever to do with the accusation. Nor, even if they were true, could they be logically tied in with assumptions of guilt in this matter.

(2) Some people are making random statistical equivalencies, as if any particular outcome can be pre-judged based on surprise or unlikely revelations that have occurred elsewhere. (“Because” other surprises have happened in X parish, this man is “likely” guilty.) The only problem is, there is no factual relationship between one priest’s proven behavior in one geographical location, or even a group of them in one location, and the behavior of a priest thousands of miles from that location, and who never shared the same superior. One superior, and one parish, is not another.

(3) Based on the skepticism and even cynicism of some posters, I unfortunately believe that many people – even if/when he is completely cleared – will nevertheless still be suspicious that he must still secretly be guilty.

The man can’t win, no matter what the outcome, when detractors are more interested in tearing down than building up.


Not much Christianity on this thread, despite all the back-pedaling about praying for him.

 

[debraran]

When Fr. Francis was all over the internet and the gossip prevailed, I asked a very reverenet Dominican priest at my parish, known for “long” confessions, was it wrong to discuss this. He said, lieing, making things up, etc. is wrong, but Father put himself on the airways, he wrote a letter to the public, to not discuss it would seem unreasonable.
You can’t be obsessed by it, say A equals B, but discussing a public figure who is a priest is no different than speculating about a politicians rumors. Prayer is always welcome and good, but although priests should be respected, they don’t have a free pass (at least anymore) especially in the public eye.

I think the scandals (another front page in my CT paper) and other places are tiring some Catholics, I knew it wouldn’t stop in 2002 of course, that was the largest number, but it saddens many and it’s all other people bring up when you say you’re Catholic (and they aren’t or aren’t practicing Catholics) Father Corapi wasn’t accused of those crimes, but it isn’t just sex crimes in the news, embezzling funds, having girlfriends, all make the press now. If you only read Catholic papers, you wont see a lot, but if you are a news hound, and many people are, you see more bad news than good.

I think some people, are trying to prepare for the worst instead of hoping for the best because they know if it’s true, even if he comes back, it wont be quite the same. A lot of negative talk existed on other threads and sites before this, he isn’t appealing to everyone but discussing that when discussing the accusations isn’t proper. I think some I read were just trying to say that someone that has a large ego, is an easier target than others.
If this woman accused him a while ago, threatened him and no reports filed, it does seem odd he wouldn’t have covered himself then, but maybe that was exagerated also or he thought it was just hot air.

 

[Shoshana]

I have never heard Catholics refer to the gift of “Apostolic Preaching.” The Church uses the term apostolic preaching to refer to the preaching of the actual apostles, and I have never heard it used by Catholics to refer to later teaching, even by the Doctors of the Church or saints. It sounds as if some people are trying to elevate Fr. Corapi to a level above “ordinary” priests. I find that strange and troubling. No man should be put on such a pedestal. Regardless of who ordained him or how gifted a speaker he is, he is a man. He is subject to the same faults as other men and should be subject to the same authorities as other men. He is a fine preacher, but the Church has many, many fine preachers. It is my hope and prayer that he comes through this crisis, but no one’s faith should rest on him or on any man, save the Man who died for us all.

If his superiors said that he had this gift, who am I to argue? Who are his superiors? Am I better than them to discern this? From what I understand about apostolic preaching and of what he said, it is because he preaches publicly and not in parishes as such. This would make sense for sure. I think his bishop asked him to teach and preach on the Catechism, which by the way, there is no teaching like it. He gives us the fruit of his knowing and praying about this beautiful book. This teaching alone is given to ALL Catholics and not only one parish or two…

 

[Shoshana]

We must try to steer away from assuming anything about Father’s private life. Detraction, and gossip are sins. We do not know what the money is used for from the sales of anything. We know NOTHING about this. I do know that his products are of the utmost quality. I do not know that when they do sale items at his conference, his sales staff are very catholic and serve very humbly those who come to them.

 

[TMC]

If his superiors said that he had this gift, who am I to argue? Who are his superiors? Am I better than them to discern this? From what I understand about apostolic preaching and of what he said, it is because he preaches publicly and not in parishes as such. This would make sense for sure. I think his bishop asked him to teach and preach on the Catechism, which by the way, there is no teaching like it. He gives us the fruit of his knowing and praying about this beautiful book. This teaching alone is given to ALL Catholics and not only one parish or two…

I don’t know that his superiors have said he has this gift, and regardless of his gifts he remains a mere man. It is certainly not true that there is no teaching like his teaching. The Church has many fine teachers and does not depend on the skills of any one of its thousands of fine priests.