Thursday, April 7, 2011

Father Corapi is [not] Back on EWTN.

[NB: Obviously, since the time this was posted, a lot has changed. For a brief period of time after EWTN stopped broadcasting Father Corapi, some affiliate stations continued broadcasting this stuff. In any case, there are people far more irresponsible than Father Corapi's worst detractors are portraying him to be, working for the Church, attending Bishop's conferences, doing harm. Take Bishop Hubbard, for example, or hundreds of others. -Tancred, 11/20/11, King St. Edward.]

Editor: There were a few out there who wanted to compare apples and oranges when it came to Father Corapi. They tried to compare him to the effeminate and gay friendly Cardinal Bernardine and other soft-spoken and ineffectual Bishops who've been accused, credibly or not. They also complained about how it was his celebrity status which brought him down, irresponsibly speculating on something which hadn't happened as if it had. There are quite a few out there who can barely conceal their resentment at Father Corapi, which has taken a moment like this to make itself heard like chorus of malignant toads. Despite the fact that priests who are accused of homosexual predation don't get suspended when they're accused, credibly or not, there isn't such leniency for Father Corapi, he's got too many enemies. Of course, there's been a long standing animus against Fr. Corapi from the beginning by people of unsavory connections and activities.

Here's a statement from EWTN itself:



Of course, there's no official statement as yet, but Father Corapi was back on EWTN's Communications Director, Michelle Johnson, courtesy of timo.

“EWTN is not airing Father’s programs. If local EWTN radio affiliates wish to air programs to which they have the rights, they certainly may.”


Here's a letter he wrote, with accompanying links, which underscore why he is being persecuted like this. A lot of people who want to give an undue amount of credit to this "zero tolerance" policy by the Bishops don't talk about things like this:

Fr. Corapi letter written in 1984

by tantamergo

"I received a link via e-mail to a site that contains a letter sent by then seminarian John Corapi to a correspondent who had sent him a religious medal. The letter is really very frank and very telling, much more than a mere thank you note, it goes into the reasons for Corapi�s vocation and his divinely inspired mission in the Church. It�s something that should be read in light of recent events. An excerpt below:

http://www.fathercorapidekalb.com/images/Father_John_Corapi_1.jpg
Before I ever heard of The Message of Garabandal The Mother of God, in a very personal way, made it known to me. She made me acutely aware of certain things concerning the Eucharist. These abuses I became aware of cause me much suffering. I often cry at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and I very often cry at night, not sleeping at all.

Whenever I would doubt this insight, almost immediately I would be given a sign to confirm that what I was feeling was correct. Some examples: (1) Seeing the priest at a church daily fail to Purify the Paten & Chalice and profanely disgarding the consecrated Host and Precious Blood down a drain! (2) Hearing homilies that state that no longer do we owe primary allegiance to the Pope, but rather to local Bishops who are more aware of our needs! (3) Listening to a Diocesan Vocation Director tell me that his Diocese would not be interested in Ordaining any man who was not open to Priests being able to marry and to serve a limited term as a Priest (Like an Army enlistment)! To say that I suffer to hear these things would be to say the least. However, there is a purpose to it all. My dear friend, the Mother of God, wants me to be aware of these dangers so that I can help her to wage war against the enemy. She has given me a vocation to the Priesthood so that I might help her to bring back holiness to her Son�s Church and end these horrible abuses of the Eucharist.


There are many who do not wish to see me become a Priest because of my fierce loyalty to the Vicar of Christ and my outspoken defense of him and my condemnation of certain irreverent and even profane practices I see today. I have enemies because of this. So too did Our Beloved Saviour have enemies.


I have had to endure abuse and suffering because my views are now not popular with the local clergy. They call me a fanatic and say my views are outdated. Luckily, there are 3 archbishops (retired) who agree with me and protect me � gaining admittance for me to a good Orthodox Seminary where my views are generally shared.

I know very well that my vocation will be that of a soldier engaged in a mortal combat. There will be more and worse suffering for all of us to endure. That is fine, for, as we know, Our Blessed Lord did not tell us to take up a bed of Roses and follow him. He said to take up a CROSS and follow Him! By the Grace of Almighty God and the Holy assistance and intercession of Our Good Friend � The Mother of God � I shall do so!


Being a weak and miserable creature that I am, I am much in need of Prayer. Please pray for me that I might be all that Our Blessed Mother wishes me to be.
This letter was written in 1984, when Fr. Corapi was still in seminary. He would not be ordained until 1991, in Rome, because his path to ordination was frought with roadblocks thrown up by those who were opposed to his becoming a priest. 27 years is a long time in a life, but it is difficult to see how the man, already fully adult and mature, could wander so drastically from the mission he lays out here to have engaged in the activities of which he is accused. Definitely, this is the Corapi we have witnessed in so many TV and radio programs.

We must always be wary of the world and the wiles of the devil. Greater men than Corapi have fallen � so pray, alot, for him, his apostolate, and the Church. Especially for good and devoted, faithful priests, and good priestly formation. Pray for the instillation of the true Faith in our seminaries. "

31 comments:

Dymphna said...

Can you imagine the Fr. Skippy's of this world writing a letter like that?

Tancred said...

Maybe one in a hundred, and frankly, considering the way the laity is these days, we don't deserve priests like Father Corapi, but there he is.

Tito Edwards said...

I found his shows back on the April schedule (grid), but I find no other evidence that he is back on EWTN.

Could it be that EWTN just plain forgot to remove him from their website?

Just curious if you've noticed if he was on after EWTN's suspension.

I want Father Corapi to be innocent of all this.

Tancred said...

I never watch EWTN, but someone I know said they saw him on this morning.

Anonymous said...

Tito, so do I, and I am confident that he is. I will go so far as to say that even if some "evidence" may come to light, it wouldn't be the first time that evidence was trumped up to do someone in who stepped on the wrong person's toes. Money is a powerful persuader for many, even at the cost of their immortal soul.

Lavalliere

Dan Hunter said...

Has Fr Corapi ever offered the TLM publically?

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this blog, Eponymous Flower.

There is a "Support Fr. John Corapi" petition online. It is free. You can sign and/or leave a comment. It will be sent to Fr. Corapi's Bishop, Fr. Corapi himself, his Superiors, and others. Please sign to show your support. You can find it by googling "Support Fr. Corapi Petition" or go to this link: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/frcorapi/

Thank you!

Anonymous said...

The seminaries are still a problem. I recently met with one of the priests in the vocations office of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. I was very candid about my love for the traditional faith and liturgy, and how the novus ordo almost drove me away from the Church when I was newly reverted.

They couldn't get me out of there fast enough. I haven't heard from them since.

John said...

@Cruise:
I don't believe I've ever seen Fr Corapi offer Mass in either form; he's more of a preacher.

I don't know if he's even been trained in the traditional rite. Most priests I've met have not.

Anonymous said...

I think that EWTN acted in haste just in case. Father John Corapi is innocent till proven guilty. EWTN has given the impression to many that Father Corapi is guilty till proven innocent. I know that many people who watch Father John Corapi on EWTN are very dissapointed and are not going to support EWTN. The Catechism Of The Catholic Church is very clear about the reputation of another. It is a sin to do anything that would cause harm to ones reputation whether its gossip etc. I recall that EWTN had no problem interviewing Mel Gibson, who belonged to SSPX, at that time the SSPX was not in communion with Rome and the Founder Marcel Lefebvre was excommunicated. So I see a little duplicity on the part of EWTN. I can’t help but wonder if they were given money to take him off the air.

Anonymous said...

I am disturbed by the tone of this blog post. I was looking for information on Father Corapi when I found it. I think this post is phrased in a very hateful and homophobic manner. Calling a good and holy priest like Cardinal Bernadin (while mispelling his name)"effeminate" for no reason other than to apparently play on people's prejudices is reprehenisble. If this is the general tone of this blog, I don't see how it can possibly claim to be Catholic or Christian. This type of negativity is only destructive and does nothing to further Fr. Corapi's cause. I fear that anyone who reads this probably believes such negative speech is justified, but I ask that you prayerfully consider how destructive in nature it might be. I find it difficult to believe that Our Lord or Blessed Mother would be pleased. It's possible to support Fr. Corapi without attacking others.

Tancred said...

I'm disturbed by the intolerant and close-minded tenor of your post, Anonymous 8:32 PM.

Homophobia isn't a real word and Cardinal Bernardine was one of the most vile and destructive prelates in the American Church during his time.

He created a clique of modernist priests and an oppressive atmosphere against those who were actually loyal to Rome. Therefore, it's very difficult to take your attempt to categorize this blog as non-Catholic, when you don't appear to understand, yourself, what Catholicism is by fawning over the memory of a man who flaunted the teachings of the Catholic Church, and by the testimony of Father Fiore OP, was a vicious homosexual predator.

Tancred said...

This is the condemnation of Sodomy in the Letter of Paul to the Romans, and it's really very accurate in that it accounts for how a lot of homosexual clergy act toward the laity as haughty, calumniators and without mercy. Indeed, it's very rare to hear any condemnation of sodomy from the pulpit since so many are either afraid or unwilling to do so:

For this cause God delivered them up to shameful affections. For their women have changed the natural use into that use which is against nature. And, in like manner, the men also, leaving the natural use of the women, have burned in their lusts one towards another, men with men working that which is filthy, and receiving in themselves the recompense which was due to their error. And as they liked not to have God in their knowledge, God delivered them up to a reprobate sense, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all iniquity, malice, fornication, avarice, wickedness, full of envy, murder, contention, deceit, malignity, whisperers, Detractors, hateful to God, contumelious, proud, haughty, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,


Foolish, dissolute, without affection, without fidelity, without mercy. Who, having known the justice of God, did not understand that they who do such things, are worthy of death; and not only they that do them, but they also that consent to them that do them.

Anonymous said...

First of all, "homophobia" is a real word.... please check Webster's dictionary...here's the online reference: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homophobia

Tancred's comments are among the most hateful I've ever read. I am saddened by the anger contained in the post and Tancred's view of the clergy and the Church and I guess what he believes is their lack of response to the sin of homosexual activity. I don't believe the tone used here, or in the earlier posts I referenced before, is helpful in any way, no matter how one may feel about Fr. Corapi or homosexuality.

Tancred said...

I'm saddened that holy scripture is so offensive to you anonymous 7:16 PM. Your seething spite will harm only you in the end. It's a tragedy that your catholophobia will prevent you from accepting ideas that are appropriate.

Lydia said...

I believe that I have the gift of "discernment" by the grace of the Holy Spirit, and Father Corapi has been a target of the "evil" one since the beginning of his conversion. I have yet to hear a greater Priest preach as he does in this day. The Holy Spirit has given him the authority to believe with certainty that he is a true soldier for Christ's truth. He is right now going through much persecution and is suffering much I'm sure. If we are to be true followers of Jesus we have to understand that a bad tree cannot produce good fruit and a good tree cannot produce bad fruit. Ofcourse not misinterpreting that we as humans are not free from sin. Father Corapi needs our prayers and our support in believing him when he speaks....and he will speak at the right time....and he will be telling the whole truth, because he is truly a man of God.

Anonymous said...

With ENOUGH ROPE as my pseudonym, I wonder why some commentators indulge in ping pong insults and detraction. Those of us who believe in Fr. Corapi's innocence base our belief on his spotless reputation. Those who do not believe in his innocence should await confirmatory evidence and the conclusions of the examiners.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

I believe that EWTN has become very liberal in recent times. Last night Ray Arroyo Had on Mr Bennett who want woman priests and favors homosexual priests. I know that this sounds crazy but the end times may be upon us. The Lord may have had it! God save us all.
J.S.B.

Anonymous said...

EWTN is not liberal. I have watched their masses and is more orthodox than other masses I have attended. They don't talk about "women priests" or any liberal agenda for it is not true. As for Fr. Corapi he is being attacked by some in the church and those of you who call yourselves "Catholic". I would not judge for God will judge us in the same manner. I still love Fr. Corapi and was very saddened by his announcement. I will pray for him and suggest you do the same. He has done more good things than any other bishop or priest. God bless you Fr. Corapi thank you for all your preaching and teaching!

Tancred said...

EWTN is incredibly liberal. Why are they advertising for Billy Graham, Stan Fortuna, Father Groeschel, the half-baked hippy? See "Network Gone Wrong" by Christopher Ferrara.

Tancred said...

You know, EWTN used to be a big part of our day, falling asleep in front of the television after a hard day of manual labor listen to Mother was very heaven.

Anonymous said...

Jesus said on John 10:38 "Even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand, that the father is in me and I am in the father" In that note, if you do not believe in father Corapi, belive in his works. Did he not speak with wisdom? How can a man be is such sin in which he was accused of and still has the wisdom of God within him, would not wisdom flee from him?
EWTN, did he not served you, and preached from his heart to win souls for Christ? Why did you abandom him? Only God knows the true about this insident. But is hard to believe, a person with such love for God, such passion, will suddenly turn evil. Luke 9: 49 "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in you name, and we tried to prevent him, because he does not follow in our company. Jesus said to him" Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you, is for you" Was he not fighting demons? and teaching people how to fight them?

Anonymous said...

I continue to pray for Father John Corapi. The devil was after him from the moment of his conversion experience, just as someone else said in an earlier comment. May God who loves him give him the graces needed to weather this storm and return to God and the Holy Catholic Church with all his heart and soul and mind. Thank you EWTN for telling us what the trouble is and not allowing us to just listen to the news media for scandalous stories of Father Corapi. May all the holy angels and saints also be working for his good. ANONYMOUS

Lupe Becerra said...

The Lord said, "let him who has no sin throw the first stone".When I would hear him give his talk I felt very inspired and aminated to do more in the spiritual & corporal works of the church. There is a passage in the Eucharistic part of the mass that says, "Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles: I leave you peace, my peace I give you. Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom," LOOK NOT ON OUR SINS, BUT ON THE FAITH OF THE CHURCH". I will continue to pray for Fr. Corapi and hope to meet him in person one day, so I can tell him thank you for his motivational and inspiring talks, also to tell him that we are sinners but we continue to do good works and live with the hope of one day being in heaven with our mercyful loving heavenly father', God bless you Father Coropi.

Anonymous said...

i am waiting for father corapi to come back. i will continue to pray for father corapi.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous June 29, 2012

I'VE WONDERED WHAT BECAME OF FR. CORAPI. FINALLY DECIDED TO LOOK IT UP. IM STILL NOT CLEAR ON THE CHARGES; DON'T WANT TO BE.
FR. CORAPI HAS ENLIGHTENED ME IN SO MANY AREAS. WHEN I FELT LOST OR FALLING BEHIND IN MY FAITH, I WOULD TURN ON EWTN TO LISTEN TO HIM PREACH. HE IMMEDIATELY REELED ME BACK IN. I HAVE NEVER MET OR HEARD A PRIEST/PREACHER CONVEY THE MESSAGE OF GOD BETTER THAN FR. CORAPI. THE WORLD IS CIRCUMFERENCED BY MANY DEMONS. WE HAVE TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR THE WORD TO BE KNOWN. GOD BLESS YOU, FR. CORAPI.

Anonymous said...

Has anyone heard any news about Father Corapi?

I miss his talks and find it hard to believe
this is happening!

Hoping he has returned to the priesthood.

Anonymous said...

I certainly miss him. At the end of the week I loved watching him on Saturday night. Sounds like they wanted him to give up his lifestyle in Montana. Envy seems to be in style these days thanks to Obama. I found him refreshing, conservative, and inspiring. More than anything, I hope he is all right.

Anonymous said...

priests take vowels of poverty when they are ordained.they choose to live simply.they are supposed to live free from riches,ease,luxury and possessions-no matter who is in the office of president-.so far i have no proof one way or the other of the way fr.corapi was living,or where,but it seems to me that a priest should be living where his bishop needs him.i miss fr.corapi and hope he returns soon.

Tancred said...

It is neither the case that all priests take vows of poverty, nor that Father Corapi had ever taken such a vow.