Statement of Santa Cruz-Fr John Corapi

[Shoshana]

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.

No teaching like on the Catechism of the Catholic Church…

 

[Shoshana]

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”,

How would you know this? How can you ascertian what is happening in one person’s soul? Amy Bertros, from St Luke’s Mission in buffalo, left her job, bought a whole block that consisted in a church, school and rectory and nun’s convent that was empty. She serves the poor in that area both spiritually and in all their other needs. She totally trust in God’s mercy for all of the needs that ensues every day…You know where she got her inspiration from and where she heard God speaking to her…yup, you are right. At Father Corapi’s conference. Now it wasn’t Father Corapi who said this. It was Fr Groeschel who said this at his conference. Beautiful, right? Can’t get too much bigger than that. We cannot judge what happens in one person’s soul…

the people who REALLY need to hear his message, one we find we can enthusiatically support!

We can say this about any parish…where are the people. Our chuirch is less than half full anymore. Were are they? Why is my pastor preaching to those who are at church and (in your opinion) doesn’t need it?

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

Praise God you are faithful. I have the same history. If you hear homilies that don’t make you squirm, well, then there is a problem. My pastor makes me squirm at his homilies (btw, he is like a little Fr John Corapi). And yes, Fr Corapi’s homlies make me squirm. If it doesn;'t affect me, I must ask myself the question whether I am open to the Holy Spirit. And all homilies to me are like a small examinations of consicence.

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.

This was already answered by another p;oster…

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?

one must pray to the Holy Spirit to hear what He wants us to hear. This attitude I have experienced myself and I realized I was being self-righteous. Why woudl I worry about whether one is listening or is being challenged? My attitude was sinful and the Lord said that the prostitutes would get into heaven first before the self-righteous…I cheer any priest for a good homily…always…my own included.

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.

The devil lies in the grey…

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.

Again, you bring this up…he is being obedient. His statement may have been allowed by his superiors, we do not know this. Again, I reiterate, that maybe he had no control or no knowledge that Sc made this statement. We do not know…please refrain from projecting negative unstated opinions that make you look bad more than Father Corapi…

Or this thread will close. We want to keep an update on Father Corapi because,. yes, we love him. He is a priest…and that is reason enough…

 

[steve711]

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.

It is funny that you brought this up. When I attended Catholic Schools through the 12th grade, I had many religion teachers that realy made me thing about the faith. I hope that since you teach religion, at least by your post, that you also make these young people open their minds to the faith. However, you obviously need to be educated your self. From the above post it is obvious you have never tried to adopt a child, or worked at one of the free Christian health care clinics available to pregnant women.

To me Father Corapi is a great preacher/teacher and always seems to cause me to look inside my self for greater faith.

Go with Gods Grace!!!

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

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.

What is your true agenda?

I don’t care what money he makes. WHy do you?

And even IF HE WERE GUILTY of the accusations, it will not change the truth of his message, nor how I view it.

Where exactly is Father ‘cherry picking’ the truth in his message?

Actually, what your posts accomplish is that now I will probably buy more of Father Corapi’s cds and dvds.

 

[qui_est_ce]

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.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

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 his superiors or if they have the gift of discernment.

From my reading of Scripture there is no gift of preaching, let alone apostolic preaching. I have never heard of this before. It strikes me as something that would come from the pentecostal movement.

The term apostolic usually goes with bishops and such as they are the successors of the apostles.

 

[deaconmike113]

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.

I was not criticizing or ignoring the wonderful work done by many people, both inside and outside the Church, in their fight against abortion. What I was commenting on was Fr. Corapi’s not challenging many of us in his talks. My point in referring to the earlier post was that most of us aren’t directly impacted by abortion, gay marriage, etc. We can be against them without doing much more than disapproving of those who are in favor of them. I have many friends in the pro-life movement in things like Project Gabriel and 40 Days for Life…please don’t think I was criticizing them in any way.

As far as putting out “pro-abort red herrings”…I don’t believe that’s fair. A person isn’t “pro-abortion” because one thinks we can do more, much more, in fighting those reasons that might lead a young woman to have an abortion. I think these are valid points that every individual must address for themselves. For those who do indeed work in crisis pregnancy centers, vote to put tax dollars to work in subsidizing day care, etc, God bless you. My unfortunate experience, especially in the political arena, is that too many pro-lifers are pro-life until they are asked to put their tax dollars to work to support these ministries or need to adopt a child, etc…

I am also a Deacon, and spent last weekend outside an abortion clinic as part of our 40 Days for Life campaign. I’m not perfect, but I try my best.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

Everyone on the planet is ‘impacted’ by both abortion and homosexual ‘marriage.’

(Red herrings are tasty this time of year.)

But—even if Father’s guilty-as-charged we should love him all the more. Aren’t we supposed to love the fallen?

When Father Corapi said, “I don’t do this any better than you,” (in reference to his year-long illness, which people seem to have forgotten)—I understood him and applauded his honesty.

 

[deaconmike113]

What is your true agenda?

I don’t care what money he makes. WHy do you?

And even IF HE WERE GUILTY of the accusations, it will not change the truth of his message, nor how I view it.

Where exactly is Father ‘cherry picking’ the truth in his message?

Actually, what your posts accomplish is that now I will probably buy more of Father Corapi’s cds and dvds.

I’ve explained why I care about his money. I support Catholic radio and EWTN. These basically become wonderful advertising platforms for Fr. Corapi. I went to his website to see about getting copies of his work and found it was basically one big shopping mall. If he’s providing those CD’s and DVD’s at cost as a service to Our Lord and the truth, terrific; I’m behind him 100%. If he’s taking the profits and giving the majority of them to the Church, to serve the poor, etc., while maybe keeping a small amount for his own living expenses, terrific; I’m behind him 100%. If he’s lining his pockets with the proceeds and amassing a great deal of wealth, I have a problem with that. Especially since I help finance the stations that are providing him air time that leads to his making all of that money. So, yes, I’d like to know what happens to all of that money.

I agree, whether he’s guilty or not does not effect the truth of his message. However, considering he is always speaking of fidelity to the Church, and he now sends out messages (on his own website and in the Santa Cruz Media quote, where he is CEO) questioning the Church’s actions in ths case, I smell possible hypocricy. I would prefer he act as Cardinal Bernadin did in the mid-90’s when he was falsely accused of sexual abuse (and later exonerated.)

I never used the term “cherry picking” the truth in his message. I did say he was being selective in his preaching…as we all are, to some extent. I’m certainly guilty of it. In an earlier post, I referenced the way he used Matthew 25. I’m sorry, but I find Fr. Corapi’s talks to be very “us vs. them”, “insiders vs. the outsiders”; it’s all about heaven/hell, culture of death, and spiritual warfare (in other words, what “side” are we on, the good guys or the bad guys?) When I look to Jesus, I see someone who always situated Himself on the outside, with the sinners, who would never speak of “warfare”, who spoke of hell, but generally assigned there those hypocrites who were holier then thou while at the same time putting lots of burdens on other people.

 

[deaconmike113]

Everyone on the planet is ‘impacted’ by both abortion and homosexual ‘marriage.’

(Red herrings are tasty this time of year.)

But—even if Father’s guilty-as-charged we should love him all the more. Aren’t we supposed to love the fallen?

When Father Corapi said, “I don’t do this any better than you,” (in reference to his year-long illness, which people seem to have forgotten)—I understood him and applauded his honesty.

Perhaps “impacted” was a bad choice of words, because I agree with you. However, I look to your quote at the bottom of your post about “sacrifice”. A better way to have put my meaning would be how is he asking ALL of us to “sacrifice”? Also, I’m certainly praying for Fr. Corpai and I love him. However, that doesn’t mean my support for his ministry is blind or unequivocal.

 

[Shoshana]

I’ve explained why I care about his money. I support Catholic radio and EWTN. These basically become wonderful advertising platforms for Fr. Corapi.

Good for you! And so are many others! That being said, I TRUST that Catholic Radio and EWTN can discern that having Father Corapi speak on their network, says a lot to me. They believe in him and are behind his evamgelizing…

I went to his website to see about getting copies of his work and found it was basically one big shopping mall. If he’s providing those CD’s and DVD’s at cost as a service to Our Lord and the truth, terrific; I’m behind him 100%. If he’s taking the profits and giving the majority of them to the Church, to serve the poor, etc., while maybe keeping a small amount for his own living expenses, terrific; I’m behind him 100%. If he’s lining his pockets with the proceeds and amassing a great deal of wealth, I have a problem with that. Especially since I help finance the stations that are providing him air time that leads to his making all of that money. So, yes, I’d like to know what happens to all of that money.

If you are so obsessed at what happens to all that money, then don’t donate. It is none of your business at all. I trust that the money is used for God’s glory. My reward has been given by donating…what Fr corapi does with it, well, is between him and his God. You assume again that having this air time is the motivation for him making ALL this money. How so? You are judging his motivations. It doesn’t seem EWTN nor Catholic Radio do that…wherein lies the problem? You are smearing this preaching with money making…like any other secular media smears anything at all. People talk about anything and it seems this is happening here. Please stop.

I agree, whether he’s guilty or not does not effect the truth of his message. However, considering he is always speaking of fidelity to the Church, and he now sends out messages (on his own website and in the Santa Cruz Media quote, where he is CEO) questioning the Church’s actions in ths case, I smell possible hypocricy. I would prefer he act as Cardinal Bernadin did in the mid-90’s when he was falsely accused of sexual abuse (and later exonerated.)

You keep repeating yourself ad nauseum. I would rather my pastor be more like Padre Pio or my spiritual director be more like Fr Groeschel, does that make it right? All souls are different and called in different ways. Fr Corapi is on his journey of holiness no different than you or I. And he admits that. You seem to put yourself above Fr Corapi in preaching how he shoudl have acted. This also has been addressed.

I never used the term “cherry picking” the truth in his message. I did say he was being selective in his preaching…as we all are, to some extent. I’m certainly guilty of it. In an earlier post, I referenced the way he used Matthew 25. I’m sorry, but I find Fr. Corapi’s talks to be very “us vs. them”, “insiders vs. the outsiders”; it’s all about heaven/hell, culture of death, and spiritual warfare (in other words, what “side” are we on, the good guys or the bad guys?) When I look to Jesus, I see someone who always situated Himself on the outside, with the sinners, who would never speak of “warfare”, who spoke of hell, but generally assigned there those hypocrites who were holier then thou while at the same time putting lots of burdens on other people.

Father Corapi is asking us where do we stand…either with Jesus or with the devil. Period. Simple. You are reading ,more into this. Fr Corapi was a great sinner himself and would never stand aside and look at ‘them’ with haughtiness. He’s been there done that and he admits this himself. He knows the pain and anguish of sin. People identify with him in different ways. He is REAL. Jesus sat with sinners also…but he always challenged said sinner to sin no more or worse things would happen to said sinner. Jesus did not mince His words also. He told the Phairisses they were a brood of vipers. They were sinless…according to themselves as they obeyed the Law meticulously to the extent of not understanding the commom lay folk. They ostracized sinners because they (Phairsees) were not like ‘them’(sinners). This is not Father Corapi’s way.

He is a prophet of our times. Repent…chooose Jesus over the world, over Satan. This is his message.

As far as abortion goes, how do you know he doesn’t actively work against it? How do you know that his hearers do not pray in front of abortion clinics? Is it only you who does so? How do you know there are those that might have tried to adopt babies to save them from abortion? My daughter had a couple of abortions…way before that I used to walk in front of our local hospital praying the rosary with a group of women and men. Did you know that I offered to adopt these babies to no avail? Are you the only one who has sorrow? not in along shot!

We are in spiritual warfare…big time. Father Corapi refuses to water down the gospel. The greatest sinners who repent are the ones who touch the hearts of many. Many of our greatest saints were the greatest sinners. He does have passion and is very intense. That could be spread around a little I think.

Father has been accused and have not been found guilty of anything yet. Please let us wait for the Church to judge on this as only they can do…and let God’ will be done. Not mine, not yours…God’s. Period.

 

[Shoshana]

I don’t know his superiors or if they have the gift of discernment.

From my reading of Scripture there is no gift of preaching, let alone apostolic preaching. I have never heard of this before. It strikes me as something that would come from the pentecostal movement.

The term apostolic usually goes with bishops and such as they are the successors of the apostles.

Bro, I will rest with your reply. I have nothing to back the words here (other than what I have already given) and your reply makes sense.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

I find Fr. Corapi’s talks to be very “us vs. them”, “insiders vs. the outsiders”; it’s all about heaven/hell, culture of death, and spiritual warfare (in other words, what “side” are we on, the good guys or the bad guys?) When I look to Jesus, I see someone who always situated Himself on the outside, with the sinners, who would never speak of “warfare”, who spoke of hell, but generally assigned there those hypocrites who were holier then thou while at the same time putting lots of burdens on other people.

“I come not to bring peace but a sword.”

Who said that?

 

[qui_est_ce]

As far as putting out “pro-abort red herrings”…I don’t believe that’s fair. A person isn’t “pro-abortion” because one thinks we can do more, much more, in fighting those reasons that might lead a young woman to have an abortion. I think these are valid points that every individual must address for themselves. For those who do indeed work in crisis pregnancy centers, vote to put tax dollars to work in subsidizing day care, etc, God bless you. My unfortunate experience, especially in the political arena, is that too many pro-lifers are pro-life until they are asked to put their tax dollars to work to support these ministries or need to adopt a child, etc…

I vote against tax dollars subsidizing any charity. Our deacon is in charge of St. Vincent de Paul. IMO SVP accomplishes more that any government handout possibly could. The members of our parish, myself included, personally do a lot for homeless mothers. We have adopted a shelter, give clothing, meals, and personal faces to women and children. Their lives are transformed in ways welfare could never succeed.

 

[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 just went to the SOLT website…and it does appear to be a religious order, in which the priests take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. societyofourlady.net/priests-formation.html
I’m not sure how Fr. Corapi fits in here…whether or not he’s a professed member of their order…I assumed he was because of the SOLT I see after his name sometimes.

 

[deaconmike113]

“I come not to bring peace but a sword.”

Who said that?

I think I’ll drop out of this thread. Perhaps I’ve misjudged Fr. Corapi and his ministry. However, I must admit it does not strike a chord with me, nor was I pleased with his or his company’s response. Struck me as hypocritical.

People are right, if Fr. Corapi makes tons of money, God bless him. He earned it. If people want to spend their money that way, it’s their money to spend. I’d prefer they spend it on their parishes or specific ministries designed to help people, but that’s my personal preference.

If his message resonates, and people want to focus on the “sword” aspect, the “good vs. evil” aspect, the “spritual warfare” aspect of the message, God bless them. I prefer to see us all as struggling sisters and brothers, but it may well be naive on my part.

 

[deaconmike113]

I vote against tax dollars subsidizing any charity. Our deacon is in charge of St. Vincent de Paul. IMO SVP accomplishes more that any government handout possibly could. The members of our parish, myself included, personally do a lot for homeless mothers. We have adopted a shelter, give clothing, meals, and personal faces to women and children. Their lives are transformed in ways welfare could never succeed.

I agree, on one level. I don’t think tax dollars should subsidize charities. I just think that as our government cuts program after program, all of which seem to help the poor, elderly, and underserved, I am saddened. As far as SVP…it is truly a great ministry that makes a huge, huge difference in so many lives. In my ideal fantasy world, I’d love to see charities and government both working to help those who need it the most…I don’t think it needs to be either/or. Government has the ability to reach a lot more people in a more organized fashion (if gov’t can be organized), while charities like SVP bring love, heart, and the transforming change you write about. God bless you and the work that you do.

 

[estesbob]

I find this statement disturbing. Calling the bishop of Corpus Christi’s actions “illicit?” Wow. And then ending with an advertising pitch to buy more stuff? Wow. My understanding is that Fr. Corapi is a multi-millionaire, and I am sure he will be just fine without my financial support. I sincerely hope that this release was a bone-head move by someone with more enthusiam than judgment, and not something approved by Fr. Corapi. He should ask them to retract it.

Agreed.Calling the Bishops actions illicit just makes a bad situation worse.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

I think I’ll drop out of this thread. Perhaps I’ve misjudged Fr. Corapi and his ministry. However, I must admit it does not strike a chord with me, nor was I pleased with his or his company’s response. Struck me as hypocritical.

People are right, if Fr. Corapi makes tons of money, God bless him. He earned it. If people want to spend their money that way, it’s their money to spend. I’d prefer they spend it on their parishes or specific ministries designed to help people, but that’s my personal preference.

If his message resonates, and people want to focus on the “sword” aspect, the “good vs. evil” aspect, the “spritual warfare” aspect of the message, God bless them. I prefer to see us all as struggling sisters and brothers, but it may well be naive on my part.

I don’t quite get what’s hypocritical or holier-than-thou about a man saying ‘I don’t do this any better than any of you.’

Is there such a thing as good? Is there such a thing as evil? Is there truth? Or is all morality relative? Are we all affected by abortion or should we not bother?

People don’t seem to know the difference these days, and for many, the black and white message is both a revelation and a relief.

Agendas are easy to spot sometimes. Satan knows who the enemy is. Do we?

 

[deaconmike113]

I don’t quite get what’s hypocritical or holier-than-thou about a man saying ‘I don’t do this any better than any of you.’

Is there such a thing as good? Is there such a thing as evil? Is there truth? Or is all morality relative? Are we all affected by abortion or should we not bother?

People don’t seem to know the difference these days, and for many, the black and white message is both a revelation and a relief.

Agendas are easy to spot sometimes. Satan knows who the enemy is. Do we?

One last comment.
I sincerely hope no one is equating my perceived “agenda” with Satan’s. I think that goes too far. I’d like to think we can honestly disagree without putting those we disagree with into Satan’s camp. Since this comment was attached to one of my posts, I’m concerned. If I misunderstood or misinterpreted that last sentence, or read to much into it, I apologize.