The Deacon's Bench
Weeks after making headlines over his appearance at World Youth Day, Michael Voris of RealCatholic TV is in the news again, with reports of new troubles for his organization:
Michael Voris, the founder and host of RealCatholicTV, says he was completely unaware of recently discovered troubles within his organization, involving a staff apologist’s sexually explicit writings, and his nonprofit corporation’s loss of legal status two years ago.
“I don’t know what the issue is on any of this stuff,” said Voris, who is currently in Spain promoting his unofficial “No Bull in Madrid” meetings during World Youth Day.
Voris told CNA on August 16 that he had “no idea” his nonprofit corporation St. Michael’s Media had been automatically dissolved in 2009 after failing to file records with the state for two years. An official at the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs confirmed on August 10 that Voris’ nonprofit was “no longer registered and in good standing with the State of Michigan.”
As of August 16, St. Michael’s Media’s website stated: “We are a 501(c)3 company & donations are tax-deductible.” An earlier test donation, made through the website via PayPal, showed that the officially defunct entity was still receiving contributions.
Officials at the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs said they had no further information about the dissolved nonprofit corporation’s status or the legal consequences of continuing to accept donations. The department said that additional questions should be directed to the Michigan Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.
Voris, President and CEO of Real Catholic TV, was equally surprised by evidence showing that his staff apologist and program host Simon Rafe – who is the webmaster at St. Michael’s Media, and co-authored its “Saint Michael’s Basic Training” apologetics course – had also written the “adult” role-playing game “Castle Dracula,” and fan-fiction depicting homosexuality in the Star Wars universe.
“I don’t know anything about this,” said Voris, when presented with descriptions of the works and evidence of Rafe’s authorship.
UPDATE: Simon Rafe has posted his own personal apology on his own blog:
I regret writing the things in question and I have sought forgiveness in the sacrament of reconciliation. I humbly ask forgiveness from anyone who might have read the materials and been led to sin and those who are or were scandalized by reading them or hearing that I wrote them.
Although it is clearly the case writing material which is a near occasion of sin is wrong for any person, the matter of scandal is a serious one and I realize this. I apologize for having scandalized the faithful in any regard.
I do not, under any circumstances, seek to justify what I did or avoid responsibility. I did things which were wrong. I have done all in my power to rectify them (seeking forgiveness in confession, removing the material in question so it is not available for people to read and be tempted by). I did something which was wrong, and I am solely responsible for it.
ALSO: The Anchoress puts this in some helpful context. And she’s right: it’s unfortunate this broke just as WYD was cranking up. Coincidence? Somehow, I don’t think so. And I can’t help but think that someone, somewhere fed this tidbit to CNA to try and discredit Voris and his operation. But who??
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