Padre Adam Kotas (born in 1984, Age: 39 years old) is a Polish priest who has become a social media sensation for his humorous and unconventional way of preaching the gospel. He has more than five million followers on his Facebook page and over 600,000 followers on his Instagram account. He is also known for his controversial decision to leave the Roman Catholic Church and join the Polish National Catholic Church, which is not in communion with the Vatican.
Early Life and Education
Padre Adam was born in 1984 in Poland. He grew up in a Catholic family and felt a calling to the priesthood since he was a child.
He studied theology at the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow and later at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He was ordained as a priest in 2010 by the Diocese of Santa Rosa in California, where he served for several years.
Social Media Fame
Padre Kotas started to use social media as a tool to reach out to his parishioners and share his faith with them. He began to post videos of his masses, homilies, jokes, dances, and songs on Facebook and TikTok. His charismatic and playful personality soon attracted millions of viewers from different countries, especially from Latin America, where he learned to speak Spanish fluently.
He became known as the “pícaro padre” (the mischievous priest) for his witty and sometimes provocative comments on various topics, such as politics, sexuality, sin, and death. He also used humor and laughter as a form of therapy to uplift the spirits of his followers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. He often said, “I am here to lift your spirits, and what lifts your spirits is good humor and faith comes to inject you with the will to live because we live in a depressed and anxious world.”
Padre Adam Kotas Wiki/Bio
| Name | Padre Adam Kotas |
| Date of Birth | 1984 |
| Place of Birth | Poland |
| Nationality | Polish |
| Religion | Polish National Catholic Church |
| Occupation | Priest, Social Media Star |
| Education | Pontifical University of John Paul II, Catholic University of America |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Karina |
| Residence | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| padreadamkotasoficial | |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Controversy and Change of Church
However, not everyone was amused by Padre Kotas’ style of evangelization. He faced criticism and opposition from some of his fellow priests and bishops, who accused him of being disrespectful, irreverent, and heretical. He was also banned from posting anything on social media by the Diocese of Santa Rosa in 2018.
In 2020, Padre Kotas announced that he had left the Roman Catholic Church and joined the Polish National Catholic Church, a breakaway denomination that was founded in the United States in 1897 by Polish immigrants who rejected the authority of the Pope and the Vatican. He said that he made this decision after praying and discerning for a long time and that he felt more free and happy in his new church.
The Diocese of Santa Rosa issued a statement saying that Padre Adam was no longer a priest of the Roman Catholic Church and that he was prohibited from performing any sacraments or ministry in its name. It also warned the faithful that the Polish National Catholic Church was not in communion with the Roman Catholic Church and that its sacraments were not valid.
Padre Adam Kotas defended his choice and said that he was not excommunicated and that he could still receive the Eucharist. He also said that he was still a Catholic and that he respected the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church. He said that he wanted to continue to spread the gospel and to serve God and his people in his new church.
Ministry in the United States and Mexico
In 2013, Kotas moved to the United States and joined the Diocese of Santa Rosa in California. He was assigned to the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Rohnert Park, where he ministered to the Hispanic community. He also started to use social media to reach out to young people and share his message of joy and hope. He became popular for his charismatic personality and his humorous style of communication.
In 2020, Kotas decided to leave the Roman Catholic Church and join the Polish National Catholic Church, a breakaway denomination that is not in communion with the Vatican. He said he made this decision because he felt more freedom and flexibility in the Polish National Catholic Church, which allows its priests to marry and have families. He also said he wanted to pursue his dream of becoming a missionary in Mexico, where he felt a strong connection with the people and the culture.
In 2021, Kotas moved to Mexico and settled in the city of Puebla. He continued his online ministry and also started to work with local churches and charities. He married a Mexican woman named Karla, whom he met through social media. He also adopted a dog named Churro, who often appears in his videos.
His death claim and his statement
In September 2023, rumors of Padre Adam Kotas’s death began to circulate online, causing alarm and confusion among his fans. Some claimed that he had died in a car accident, while others speculated that he had committed suicide or that he had been killed by the Vatican.
However, there was no official confirmation or evidence of his death, and some of his friends and collaborators denied the rumors and said that he was alive and well. On September 29, 2023, Padre Kotas himself posted a video on his Facebook page, where he addressed the death claim and issued a statement.
Padre Adam Kotas said that he was alive and that the rumors were false and malicious. He also said that he was taking a break from social media to focus on his personal and spiritual life. He thanked his fans for their support and prayers and asked them to respect his privacy and his decision. He also said that he hoped to return to social media soon and that he loved them all.
Personal Life, Spouse, and Family
Padre Adam is married to a woman named Karina, whom he met on social media. He said that he fell in love with her and that he asked for permission from his bishop to marry her. He said that he did not break his vow of celibacy, because he had never taken it in the first place. He said that he was ordained as a priest under the condition of celibacy, which he could renounce at any time.
He also said that he did not believe that celibacy was a divine law, but a human discipline that could change according to the times and the needs of the church. He said that he supported the idea of optional celibacy for priests and that he hoped that the Roman Catholic Church would reconsider its stance on this issue.
Padre Adam Kotas and his wife live in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he serves as a priest of the Polish National Catholic Church. He also continues to create content for his social media platforms, where he interacts with his fans and followers.
Trivia
- Adam Kotas has a net worth of $4 million as of 2023, according to some sources.
- Kotas has written several books, such as “The Mischievous Priest: The Life and Adventures of Padre Adam” and “Laughing with God: How to Find Joy and Peace in a Troubled World”.
- Kotas has received several awards and recognitions, such as the “Best Social Media Influencer” by the Latin American Association of Journalists and the “Most Inspiring Priest” by the Polish American Foundation.
- Padre Adam has also participated in various charitable and humanitarian causes, such as helping the victims of natural disasters, supporting the education of children, and promoting the rights of women and minorities.
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