AUDIO: Kresta Discussing Corapi with Phil Lawler, Jimmy Akin, Dr. Ray Guarendi

Just completed 40 minutes ago, at avemariaradio.net, Al Kresta  interviewed Phil Lawler, Jimmy Akin, and Dr. Ray Guarendi (not sure if it is just first hour or both hours). 


UPDATE 2:  Here are the archives, now that the show is done.  Both hours covered the Corapi situation, with the first hour featuring the guests mentioned.  I think they got time for one caller in the first hour, and a few more in the secon hour.  Edited my title and opening text to match the current status, which is no longer "on air".

Hour 1: http://avemariaradio.net/archiveListen.php?file=kpm_20110706_1 (you may need to click the play button in the window)

Hour 2: http://avemariaradio.net/archiveListen.php?file=kpm_20110706_2



UPDATE 1:  Al is continuing his discussion with Jimmy Akin in the national hour.  The first was local.

Now, some are wondering why I would continue to post on this issue and bring things like this interview to your attention. Some say it should be a private matter between Corapi, his Confessor, and God. Well, newsflash: It is Fr. Corapi who has taken this into the public domain, and continues to mislead faithful Catholics.   He has already tweeted that he will make an "announcement" tomorrow.

When Fr. Corapi launched the Black Sheep Dog website, he put out a stream of written and audio statements and in them, the bishop of Corpus Christi, the accuser, and the Church herself were outright attacked with innuendo.  This innuendo was taken as fact by many supporters of Fr. Corapi who then spread it exponentially on the web.  It is no longer a private matter because Corapi himself has chosen to continue with a public attack on the Church!  The Church! 

I find it odd that when a priest falls from grace on the "left", his case is thoroughly scrutinized and fisked in detail online by orthodox Catholic sources.  But, when a priest falls from the "right" you get chastized for not keeping silence, even after such a priest continues to create disunity and division.   Most orthodox Catholics cannot be fooled by a dissident priest.  However, they have proven over and again, the potential to be duped by a priest leading a double life who happens to cloak himself in the kind of pieties and devotions that attract orthodox Catholics.  Even after his misdeeds are exposed, the denial continues.  Well, it matters a big deal to me when a Roman Catholic priest, who is the subject of such serious charges, who has a huge following, goes rogue and attacks the Church publicly from an unapproved website. 

When SOLT released it's latest statement, they made it clear that their reason for offering the information was because, "SOLT also recognizes that Fr. Corapi is now misleading these individuals through his false statements and characterizations. It is for these Catholics that SOLT, by means of this announcement, seeks to set the record straight."


While some of my readers are absolutely sickened by this and want to move on, I can understand that.  However, please understand that there are many people right now who are trying to process the facts.  Not everyone knows the facts.  For the past few weeks, it has been a one-sided trial in the court of public opinion with Fr. Corapi offering the only narrative, and it has been a vile narrative.  It has greatly divided orthodox Catholics.  Of the most ridiculous assertions I have seen lobbed at Bishop Mulvey was that his not having a Corpus Christi procession somehow make him incapable of objectivity in the case. Some have questioned his personal holiness - publicly.  This was all on the words of Fr. Corapi how told his followers in his one-sided narrative that:

I did not start this process, the Bishop of Corpus Christi, Texas ordered my superiors, against their will and better judgment, to do it. He in fact threatened to release a reprehensible and libelous letter to all of the bishops if they did not suspend me.

Here are some examples of how some of that is being transmitted (taken from Corapi's Facebook page a short time ago, with the user name blocked out by me):

Those who are willing to turn this innuendo into fact, and spread it (which may be calumnious), need to answer one simple question: Were you there?

Some have taken issue with my "preference" to take the word of the SOLT rather than Corapi's word.  I'm Catholic.  If the SOLT is in error, and I take the superior, Fr. Gerry Sheehan at his word and he is later proven to be in error, there is no fault on my part.  Christ made the Church with a hierarchy, and while it may be led by imperfect men, certain things must be followed with docility. Orders by lawful Church authorities to return to community under obedience is one such example.    If I take Fr. Corapi at his word, and I accept his rogue manner of behavior, and he is the one in error, then I must account for having placed my trust in man, rather than in the institution of the Church.  

It's ok for people to continue to presume Fr. Corapi's innocence, even in light of what has been revealed by the SOLT.  But such presumption of innocence cannot be in one direction.  What is not ok, is to presume a moral or ethical breach on the part of Bishop Mulvey or the SOLT superiors. (ccc 2477-78).  The presumption of innocence should also extend to the accuser.  We were not there.  We do not know what did or did not transpire. We are not responsible for forming a definitive judgment. 

That said, my conscience is clear with regards to pointing people to helpful material, and statements by officials, especially in response to Fr. Corapi's ongoing public campaign.  No one is being forced to read or listen to anything here. 

---

For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.