{"id":26950,"date":"2011-04-01T22:46:25","date_gmt":"2011-04-01T22:46:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/community\/theanchoress\/?p=26950"},"modified":"2017-03-08T23:08:52","modified_gmt":"2017-03-08T23:08:52","slug":"ewtn-responds-to-critics-re-fr-corapi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/theanchoress\/2011\/04\/01\/ewtn-responds-to-critics-re-fr-corapi\/","title":{"rendered":"EWTN Responds to Critics re Fr. Corapi"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/a>
\nPhoto credit:<\/strong> Patrick Novecosky<\/a><\/p>\n

If it\u2019s Friday,<\/strong> there must be something new to read about Father John Corapi! That does seem to be the truth of it, doesn\u2019t it? In a way, it\u2019s a shame. On these Fridays in Lent we should be turned away from the headlines and the news, looking at Christ and his passion. But then again, EWTN has come under a lot of fire recently, so this response is<\/em> news.<\/p>\n

This is not the first time EWTN has felt the need to explain to its viewers why it has suspended the broadcasting of Fr. Corapi\u2019s programming until his case is settled. They put a statement out on March 23<\/strong><\/a>, but apparently it was not well-received by some, so they have now clarified further:<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\nThe Eternal Word Television Network said its decision to halt programming by the popular speaker Fr. John Corapi followed the lead of legitimate Church authority.<\/p>\n

\u201cEWTN has an obligation to uphold the discipline and teachings of the Church,\u201d president Michael Warsaw said on April 1. \u201cIn the network\u2019s thirty years of existence, our practice has always been to discontinue airing programs featuring any cleric whose priestly faculties have been suspended, even if temporarily,\u201d Warsaw said.
\n[\u2026]
\nEWTN has come under intense criticism for its decision.<\/p>\n

In his statement, Warsaw said that much of that criticism has been \u201cshrill and uncharitable.\u201d He said that many people have threatened to withhold donations and have made personal remarks attacking the network\u2019s employees.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I see messages and web postings that malign the character and intentions of people who have served this mission for years, often at great personal sacrifice, I cannot allow those assertions to stand unanswered,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Warsaw stressed that it \u201cis simply illogical to assert, as some have, that the very people who have worked personally with Fr. John over the years and who have made certain that he has had a continued presence on EWTN would suddenly and immediately take league with the enemy and turn against him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn this case, Fr. John\u2019s own religious superior has made the determination to place him on administrative leave and feels it best that Fr. John not exercise public ministry at this time,\u201d Warsaw said. \u201cFr. Corapi\u2019s religious superior obviously believes that this was the prudent and appropriate course of action.\u201d<\/p>\n

Warsaw said that although the network does not know the details of the case, \u201cas Catholics, we are obliged to give deference and the benefit of the doubt to the religious superior who does know.\u201d
\n[\u2026]
\n\u201cFr. John is not just a face on television or a voice on the radio to those of us here at EWTN. He is a man many of us know personally and admire greatly. That made the decision all the more difficult for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Warsaw also underscored the network\u2019s stance that Fr. Corapi \u201cis absolutely innocent of any and all charges unless proven otherwise by the investigation that is now underway.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have been privileged to know Fr. John for more than a decade. He is a gifted preacher and has done tremendous work leading souls to Christ. That is a fact.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFr. John has asked us to pray for all involved,\u201d Warsaw said. \u201cThat is what we are doing. I would also ask our EWTN Family to continue to pray that this matter will be resolved quickly and that Fr. John\u2019s programs can be returned to the airwaves.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You can<\/strong> read the whole memo<\/strong><\/a> here: (h\/t to New Advent<\/strong><\/a>)<\/p>\n

As I wrote a little while back<\/strong><\/a>:<\/p>\n

Writing letters insisting that EWTN \u201cdefend\u201d Fr. Corapi is unrealistic; it is fairly common procedure for institutions of all sorts to take a step back when an investigation of any of its members is ongoing, for the sake of the organization\u2019s own exposure to liability, and (more importantly) its credibility. EWTN is not, suddenly, a \u201cbad Catholic\u201d organization, any more than anyone else who is choosing to \u201cwait and see\u201d is a \u201cbad\u201d Catholic.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Meanwhile, Fr. Corapi\u2019s website<\/strong> has added this memo<\/a> to his site, but has said nothing about this controversy brewing at EWTN, either way. I wouldn\u2019t presume to speak for him, but I can\u2019t imagine likes seeing his friends at EWTN being treated badly or punished over a matter that they really don\u2019t have much control over.<\/p>\n

What kind of fruit is that to bring to bear in Lent?<\/p>\n

In related news<\/strong>, given that Fr. Corapi is an evangelist, the pope\u2019s intentions for April are about evangelizing new generations<\/strong><\/a>. Let\u2019s hope April is the month all this gets settled.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Photo credit: Patrick Novecosky If it\u2019s Friday, there must be something new to read about Father John Corapi! That does seem to be the truth of it, doesn\u2019t it? In a way, it\u2019s a shame. On these Fridays in Lent we should be turned away from the headlines and the news, looking at Christ and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":112,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[323,516,4899],"class_list":["post-26950","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-catholic","tag-priests","tag-scandal"],"yoast_head":"\nEWTN Responds to Critics re Fr. Corapi<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Photo credit: Patrick Novecosky If it's Friday, there must be something new to read about Father John Corapi! 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