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| Fr. Eduard Perrone delivering a homily on Saturday, June 25, 2011 at Mass with the Helpers of God's Precious Infants. |
Note: On July 5, 2011, Fr. Corapi's Superior, Fr. Gerry Sheehan issued another statement concerning his case. Please see my post: SOLT superior responds to Corapi's "false statements and characterizations"
Before I get to the subject matter, I want to update you about the status of photos I have taken at some recent events, see the note at the bottom of this post.
In his weekly column for June 26, 2011, Grotto's pastor, Father Eduard Perrone took some time to offer a few thoughts on the recent developments concerning recent news on Father John Corapi. He starts first with a word about Corpus Christi. I am breaking larger paragraphs up for more white space to make it easier to read on the web. Included further down are more recent posts by a couple of blogging priests.
From the other side of the pond, Fr. Tim Finigan in the UK offered reflections from a priestly point of view that I meant to pass along a few days ago. He also talks about how the news impacted him as a priest-blogger. I have often looked at Fr. Finigan as the "Fr. Perrone of the UK". If ever traveling in th Archdiocese of Southwark, do visit Our Lady of the Rosary in Blackfen. Most Grotto-goers would feel "at home" in his parish.
Corpus Christi is the theme of the day, a very observable expression of Catholic belief that Christ dwells invisibly behind the appearances of the bread and wine that had been consecrated by the priest at Mass. Today’s external ceremony following the noon Mass will be in the solemn procession with the Blessed Sacrament. The radical nature of the doctrine may be evident from the recognition that should the Eucharist not be what Catholics profess it to be, its worship by the Church would be gross idolatry: a bending of the knee and the adoring of bread and wine. If, however, Christ’s words be true–which they infallibly must be–then the Eucharist is His very flesh and blood, the worthy reception of which in Holy Communion brings grace and eternal life to the recipient. The emphasis of today’s feast is on the Real Presence: the affirmation of Catholic belief that the Eucharist is the living God.
I don’t often get caught up in newsy things for the good reason that immediate commentary (which is the order of the day) is often ill-judged for want of sufficient time for reflection and the formation of a mature judgment. Here I make an exception, though I hope with discretion, regarding the unwelcome news that media-hit and darling of Catholic conservatives, Fr. John Corapi, announced that he will leave the active ministry of the priesthood.
This report followed a complaint made against the priest for alleged bad behavior–an aspect of this matter I will not probe here. For me, the disturbing issues are two: the fact that this priest felt straight jacketed by the policy formulated by the American bishops for dealing with such cases, to the effect that when an accusation of impropriety is made against a priest or a religious, bishops are effectively protected against legal penalties but the priest is left alone and helpless to defend his good name. Fr. Corapi was thus disabled from exercising public priestly functions, having been silenced, without any priestly ‘work’ he could possibly do. That condition might have gone on indefinitely with the priest forced to lead an inactive life.
This brings up the second unsettling thing, namely, of how this priest reacted in this circumstance. Suffering insult or moral injury with patience and in silence is the way the saints have followed; quitting the priesthood is not. Certainly a priest, as anyone, has a right, even a duty, to defend his good name especially when scandal is involved–which is indeed the case with this high profile priest. Would that not have been sufficient in this case? The man must answer that for himself.
The reason I am writing about this is because Corapi (he has now dropped the title ‘father’) was a priest well regarded by traditional Catholics. His was a hard hitting, direct and bold style of dealing with doctrinal disinformation and dissent in the Church. So now people have asked whether what they learned from his preaching may have been erroneous or flawed. This new situation casts no shadow on his former preaching. Though I have heard relatively little of it myself, I have not known Corapi’s teaching to be faulty. And so, you can keep your DVDs and CDs of his talks; they may continue to be useful as catechetical tools and may yet inspire in you a deeper faith in Christ and love for the Church. Nothing there is changed.
Another priest from the other side of the pond, but currently in the Diocese of Marquette, Michigan, Fr. John Boyle offered some thoughts yesterday. If you are in the area of Gwinn, after July 1st, drop in and see him at St. Anthony of Padua where he will serve as parochial administrator for the next two years. Fr. Boyle paid a visit to Assumption Grotto one Sunday not long ago and concelebrated the Noon Mass.
I'm just going to close the combox on this subject because it is an emotional issue for many.
Photoposts Coming...
I have several photo series in the works and you will see posts appearing on them as early as tomorrow night in the following sequence:
1) Call to Holiness (took place on June 11, 2011)
2) Helpers of God's Precious Infants vigil (took place on June 25)
3) Corpus Christi Photos (from today).
For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog
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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!
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