The RCTV & Voris 'internal problems' Kerfuffle

By now if you follow the Catholic news "beat" at all, you have heard of the kerfuffle involving Michael Voris' Real Catholic TV group (actually St. Michael's Media is the issue here) and Non-Profit designations and staffers with sordid issues involving fantasy role-playing fiction. If you don't know what I am  talking about, you can read up on the issue over at Catholic World Report or Catholic News Agency.

As someone that has been supportive of Voris and RCTV in the past, I feel obliged to discuss this story. Honestly, I am a little taken aback by the "Gotcha" journalism that CNA has tried to employ. The way the story was written was meant to be investigative, only the investigation falls short. The whole story isn't given, and there are big chunks missing.

There are a ton of holes and really the whole thing seems to be conveniently timed. From what is said in the article, it appears that this information was in the hands of the investigator for a while but only released as a story one day before Voris' conference in Madrid. I don't believe in coincidences. But, if you think I am just being an apologist, even The Anchoress, who is no cheerleader for Voris, thinks the "Gotcha" nature of the story is off-putting and takes "exception" to it. Her take:

And I take exception to the “gotcha”-breathlessness of the article. Papers weren’t filed? Oh noes! Human imagination created a gay character in outer-space? We’re all gonna die!

As to the actual 'misdeed'  of failing to re-file their non-profit paperwork, I won't make excuses. I have been involved with Non-Profits, and it is easy to overlook, but, when working with other peoples money you must be a good steward. I think this was sloppy, and I would even go far as to say that it is a sign of poor management somewhere. I won't say though that it is worthy of a front page article on Catholic News Agency's website. I also think that it isn't breaking news the way that it was portrayed. Again, the timing and nature of the story smell a little bit.

There are no coincidences

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Add to that the coincidence of finding out about one of the staff members and apologists over at RCTV who has at some time written adult fantasy role playing, fan-fiction, and other sexually themed material. This is problematic the same way any sexually deviant behavior is; porn, actions, contraception, etc... They are sins and men and women struggle with them. It isn't OK and it is frustrating that such things would mar the work being done by Simon Rafe and RCTV. While I think that it is a horrible thing to find out about, I am sure if you dug on me, or the staff at CNA, or EWTN, or the USCCB, or anywhere you would find someone, somewhere with a sinful past, don't you think? As to what it means for RCTV, I think it goes to prove that the "No Bull in Madrid" talks are really necessary, especially for young folks.

I have a real hard time thinking that CNA found out about the Non-Profit status and while working up the story just happened to stumble into the other story. Even the way the story is written goes to show that CNA was trying to play GOTCHA! with the whole thing. Maybe it was a little daydream about working for some major news outlet and the excitement got to him, but Mr. Benjamin Mann revealed a little to much about the intent of the story through the way in which it was written.

As to the Simon Rafe thing, it is just a weird situation and even weirder that someone "found this out." Having worked in politics this has fingerprints all over it from someone doing digging. These things just dont pop up. To make the connections, and to do the research someone was looking for something, and this is what they found. They needed more than just the non-profit slip-up - this story isn't about reporting about RCTV's 'internal troubles' this is about taking RCTV down.

The fallout

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I am worried that this is the first levy of attacks on RCTV.  There is a reason that there is something in the business world called "Whistleblower Protection" - if Voris was doing this in the secular world, he would be living under police protection with an assumed name and in some remote farm town. People don't like the truth, especially when it takes them out of their comfy chair.

There have been all sorts of odd comments in comment boxes over the last two days. Odd warnings of more to come and how awful this is and what a double standard RCTV and Voris have set. This concerns me because it isn't the work of Catholics acting in love or acting in defense of the faith. Voris doesn't preach heresy. Sure, you can argue that you think his methods are coarse and unhelpful, but that doesn't mean they are heretical. What I have seen from some is just frightening. There is literal joy expressed in some comments; commenters have expressed their happiness that 'finally Voris is getting his due.' And why? Because he has allegedly been so uncharitable. Since when did happiness in another's struggles become justice, mercy, or charity?

I fear that this isn't the end of this whole thing, but I pray that it is. I fear that if there is someone or some-people out to get RCTV (not in a conspiratorial sense, necessarily) then this wont be all that they try. Really this is just a tempest, and hopefully it isn't a harbinger.

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