Saturday, July 9, 2011

Corapi appears in video; caves - but how long ago?


This post has been updated (see notes at bottom).

JULY 11, 2011:  Comments are now closed.  This has run it's course and it's time to move on.


Upon seeing a video uploaded, in which John Corapi reveals his re-branded image (<== click link to see it) my initial  instinct was to not feed, "the Dog", as he has become known. I decided to go ahead with this post upon seeing what was being displayed in his combox for the video which was topping 800 comments in less than 24 hours since the upload. I'm giving him the free advertisement he is looking for so you can draw your own conclusions if you still think all of this is simply the result of the accusations made, and subsequent administrative leave. 

Let me make clear that I love John Corapi as a brother in Christ.  He will remain in my prayers, and I entrust him to God's love and mercy. However, follow him in this new endeavor is something I cannot do, in good conscience. 

This may be the longest post I've ever made in over 5 years of blogging. No one is being forced to read any part of it, or all of it.  Those who choose to read it, may want to bookmark it, and read a section or two at a time and come back to it.

Target audience for this post?

This post is not for those who have resigned themselves to accept it all for face value  Those people rightly want to keep their head down in prayer for his immortal soul and not see the indignity of it all paraded through the blogosphere.  This is noble and right.  It is the path I am going to take after this post, barring any major significant developments to be passed along for informational purposes. 

I hope we can all be as generous and charitable with other Catholic clerics and bishops who fall, who are not to our liking, not as dynamic, and not seemingly orthodox, lest we become two-faced.  If the misleading words or actions of a cleric on the "left" are worth analysis to help people avoid a moral or spiritual pitfall, is it not equally as just and fair when it involves someone on the "right"?  If it is a right, and sometimes a duty, to call out members of the hierarchy, is it also not a right, and sometimes a duty, to call out popular figures in the Catholic Church who have the potential to mislead unsuspecting souls? 

Hence, this post is for those who are still confused,  angry at the Church, or dismissive of the seriousness of what he is doing in trying to maintain, and gain a following. 


"Black Sheep Dog" image in the making before accusations?


Ponder for a moment the change in appearance of John Corapi from that soul who taught catechism with confidence, joy, and humility.  That's the priest who helped and inspired me back in 2005 when I began to take my faith more seriously.  I owe him a great debt of gratitude for boldly speaking about things I never heard from any pulpit in my life, until I found my current parish, Assumption Grotto where the fullness of the faith flows freely and constructively at every Mass.  May God bless us with many more priests willing to proclaim the fullness of the faith from the pulpit, and bishops with the fortitude to stand up to anyone who would get in their way.  I nearly lost my faith because priests were more concerned with who they might offend if they were truthful, than those docile souls yearning for authentic guidance, teachings, and spiritual development.  There is no place in the Church today for such false charity.  If we cannot trust our own pastors and bishops to give us these things, then to whom shall we go?  It is our eternal salvation they should concern themselves with, not with our self-esteem which is inflated inordinately by the absence of sound teaching, or fanned with the flames of secular humanism. Hold that thought for a moment.

There was a change over the years, and we see below some changes and dates under each of the screen shots.  Tell me why there was a jet black transition in his beard - remarkably now resembling a black sheep dog, dating back to a year ago, long before the letter was sent by Corapi's accuser to the bishops? People began to question it back then, but we now have context that suggests it was  man in the early stages of reinventing himself into a whole new character, one which is far removed from anything Catholic.  While we should take him at his word that his prior absence and subsequent weight loss was related to illness, I can't reconcile that black sheep dog-like beard with anything other than his current image re-branding. Did this really just all happen in the past few months?  In his latest video message he admits it's been a rough 10 years, without elaborating. 

**Some have also observed that the "Black-Sheep Dog" was trademarked by Santa Cruz Media on April 8, 2010 (with the hyphen exactly where shown).  It may have been intended for other purposes than what it is used for now, but it also leaves questions in the minds of many.


On Thursday, April 08, 2010, a U.S. federal trademark registration was filed for THE BLACK-SHEEP DOG. This trademark is owned by Santa Cruz Media, Inc., Kalispell, MT 59901. The USPTO has given the THE BLACK-SHEEP DOG trademark serial number of 85009403. The current federal status of this trademark filing is NOTICE OF ALLOWANCE – ISSUED.


NOTE: The picture which shows the March 26 DeKalb event is a video advertisement uploaded in January 2011 for the event.  That event was cancelled.  All video links are below with notes.


Here is a video list used starting at the upper left.


A revealing quote from a 2007 book

Deacon Greg Kandra sent me a quote this morning as I was writing this post that comes from the 2007 book, "Coronary" which discusses the 2005 multi-million dollar settlement Corapi won against a doctor who told him he needed heart by-pass surgery when he did not need it.

“Corapi said that a long time ago he decided not to let himself get backed into a corner where the church could manipulate him with threats like denying him a pension or a home or an assignment. He worried that it would be a real test of faith for him if the church asked him to go live in a monastery and give up his worldly goods. ‘Hopefully, I would do it,” he said years later, with an inflection in his voice suggesting that he might not. When pressed, however, he conceded that he had superiors like everyone else and if they said, ‘You’re finished,’ he’d be finished. But when really pushed about what he would do if ordered to turn over his assets, he said he had concluded that because of his statuts – somewhere between a member of a religious order and a parish priest – canon law was ambiguous on this question.”

That's really saddening to read.  I have never heard an orthodox priest speak in such an either/or manner. Now, many people continue to think that if he had gone back to his community, he would not have been able to preach.  This is a false conclusion.  Priests travel from many communities all the time to preach at parishes and conferences.  There is little doubt that his community would have continued to keep him on the preaching circuit because that is what he is good at.  Like any other regular member of the community, he would have needed to follow sound spiritual direction and if it meant tweaking his talks to purge them of the off-putting boasting that had become increasingly more prominent. He might have been assigned to other duties now and then, as a pause, and to temper the appetites that grow from too much stardom.

Fr. Gerry Sheehan, SOLT, in an interview with Joan Frawley Desmond about Corapi's relationship with the SOLT, said this (emphasis mine, in bold):

Has SOLT evolved since Father Corapi became a member of the society?


In 1994, our new constitution made SOLT a society of apostolic life. The founder’s arrangement with Father Corapi was established before that time, when Father Flanagan believed that every mission should take care of its own needs.


Now, according to our constitution, a different way of life has been established for members. All the money we make is turned over to the society, which gives us an allowance.


We have begun to address the issues of members who joined the society before the new constitution. The society is moving to a more organized structural phase of its existence, with all the Church discipline that entails.

"It's all SOLT's fault!"

I think assertions found throughout the web that the SOLT made the 1994 constitutional changes just to get into Corapi's pocket book are silly and shallow.  Show me an emerging religious community that does not make attempts to climb the allowable scales, first to a society of apostolic life (which is what happened in 1994), on on up to pontifical status, which I believe they are pursuing now.  I don't see this as anything out of the ordinary and it would be ridiculous for the community to deny itself these higher levels of status because it has a celebrity among it's members.  If the SOLT was pursuing pontifical status, then is it not possible that the push to bring members into conformity with the 1994 constitution, was also coming from Rome?  Let's be real here. If he could not live with the 1994 constitution that we now know requires a promise of poverty, he had a real out.  All he had to do was to ask that he be dispensed from his promises and put in a request to be laicized if there were no other ways to carry out his priestly ministry in a way that worked for him. It probably would have been granted out of charity, given the considerable change the SOLT took from when he first signed on.  It would have been a respectful path to take if it wasn't working for him any longer.


This is not necessarily owned solely by the SOLT for not putting enough pressure on Corapi sooner.  If pressure was going to be put on Corapi by the SOLT, it would have needed the backing of the bishop).  Keep in mind, this part of the equation begins in 1994 when the constitution was changed, not in March 2010 when Bishop Mulvey took the helm in Corpus Christi.  Since Corapi's image transformation to the BSD visibly began over a year ago in February, was he simply just running out of options in holding out at the ranch as the Church put on the squeeze?  Is Mulvey the SOLT shaker many are making him out to be on the web, trying to crush Corapi and wanting to suppress the SOLT? Or, is he a diocesan bishop possibly carrying out his duties and trying to help this community to survive and flourish according to their own constitution?  We don't really know, do we?  So, which is the more virtuous path to take?  1) To assume that the bishop has wicked desires for Corapi and the SOLT. 2) To assume that the bishop has the good of the community, the Church, and Corapi in mind?  If we assume (1) and we are wrong, we have committed a serious fault.  If we assume (2) and we are wrong, we have committed no fault.  The fault in such cases would lie squarely on the bishop and he would pay much harder for it because of how it led others into scandal.


"It's EWTN's fault!"

Some are faulting EWTN.  They claim that EWTN has a history of elevating certain "too good to be true" characters, who later crash in burn.  There are a string of priests who appeared on EWTN, who did crash and burn.  These include, Alberto R. CutiĆ© (aka, "Father Oprah"), Kenneth Roberts, and several more. 

While some of these men are recent converts, or have big tales to tell about their reversion, people naturally gravitate to their stories.  Many remain faithful.  A few succumb to the world, the flesh, and the devil just like any one of us may.  Personally, I think there are serious dangers for such people to be thrust into the spotlight for an indefinite period of time, without very close supervision, and without some down time to temper any attachments they may be gaining from the notoriety and fame.  It creeps up out of nowhere.  It feeds concupiscence.  It opens the door to greater temptations.  This was the great injustice to John Corapi:  Those over him, be it the SOLT, the bishops, or both, let him run free with full knowledge that he was very hard-wired for not one, but several vices, and materialism was a problem in his past life.  Yet,  he was allowed to live off on his own, doing what he wanted, when he wanted, how  he wanted.  So many freedoms, so many more temptations to fight off, and without strong support.

With regards to this criticism of EWTN, I would point to other personalities like Fr. Mitch Pacwa, Fr. Benedict Groeschel, Fr. Charles Connor, Fr. John Trigilio, and a number of other nuts-and-bolts priests who are well known, but who also have an air of simplicity about them.  They are not full of themselves.  We need more of these. I'm leary of any celebrity priest who focuses too much attention on his own conversion for too long.  How many of the EWTN-critical geniuses saying this, sat and watched his program on EWTN right up until the day it was pulled, saw it coming? Even if EWTN saw troubling signs as a few others have been mumbling about in the background in the last year or two, what would they say if EWTN had quietly shelved his programming without something concrete to base it on?

I'm not going to fault EWTN for having presented figures to us that we seemed to want.  Rather, I would like to think that EWTN will grow and learn from this.  While some watch Corapi get yanked from the lineup and shake their heads saying, "another one bit the dust at EWTN", his material was on for a very long time, so it's not like they just put him up there in the last couple of years.

Setting aside Corapi, at what point, do we simply accept the fact that the Judas factor will always be with us?  There will always be those priests who, using their God-given free will, will make bad and evil choices. 

I've read a number of people say they are going to withhold their donations and support from EWTN for pulling the videos.  Newsflash: They cannot feature videos of a self-proclaimed, "once called Father" priest. If they go out of business, just remember your "contribution" when you lament that papal Mass, or rarely televised Solemn High Mass you won't get to watch, or Catholic movie, or lenten reflection. 


You say "Fruits?" But from which tree?

Of those who are praying, there are some rightly praying for a number of his followers who are now confused and shaking their virtual fist at the Church, some of them falling on their Catholic swords and abandoning the faith because of the "injustice" they believe has come down on John Corapi. Even among Catholics - Corapi was only known to a small segment within "the market". However, with followers likely into the millions, he had no trouble filling a stadium with 10,000 people.  Among those who did know him, there are friends divided, families divided, and even rectories divided.

Some are tossing out the "good fruits" argument.  It's true that some have converted over the years.  God worked through Father John Corapi by grace, as He works through any priest.  Keep in mind, Corapi was simply an instrument in God's hand.  Were good fruits produced with Corapi's cooperation with God's grace? Of course.  Those are valid, good fruits.  But, it is always in the context of a particular event that we must examine the fruits.  Let's start with the day he was put on administrative leave and ask ourselves what kind of fruits we have seen.  

Always remember the 3D's when discerning spirits in any situation:

1) Defiance and/or Disobedience
2) Division and/or Disunity
3) Disorder

What should you remember about these?  They are fruits, but they are not fruits of the Holy Spirit. Have we not been seeing these fruits since it all began?  Are they evidence that the Angel of Darkness is involved?  Perhaps, and perhaps not.  Sometimes Satan doesn't need to bother with somoene if the choices they are making are to his liking.  I wouldn't presume, as a matter of fact, to state that Satan is behind this.  However, there is one more element to ponder in this regard. 

Now we come back to that thought I asked you to hold at the beginning, if you are still breathing after this long post. 

The mark of the priesthood is ever in the cross-hairs of the Angel of Darkness.  If he can get one cleric to fall, especially with a very large following, he knows he has a good chance of pulling along some of those lambs.  Satan knows something else too.  He cannot get orthodox Catholics, especially those of a traditional bent, of which I consider myself, to dissent on matters of sexual morality as we see with those on the other end of that spectrum.  So how does he go after them?  He puts before them candy in the form of a great cleric, or visionaries who are, by all appearances, very orthodox and devout.  All such a person needs to do is take up certain causes that resonate well with such Catholics.  Combine with that the fact that many Catholics have been deprived of these same things by their pastors and their bishops in the decades following Vatican II: Eucharistic and Marian devotion, authentic pro-life efforts from conception to natural death, and preaching the fullness of the faith from the pulpit.  It's a perfect storm, and a perfect opportunity - this combination, for Satan to fill the void with his candy.

Instead of being fed these things by their pastors and their bishops, the flock is out wandering and seeking them wherever they can find them.  Some land in parishes not in communion with the Catholic Church. Others look for them wherever they can find them - on the web, on TV, radio, you name it. Many of these resources are very good.  Some have truth but are caustic and merely making people aware of just how starved they are and not really building up the Body of Christ, but singing to a disaffected and disgruntled choir.  Then, there are those that are pure spiritual traps, looking to string people along just long enough to get them to turn on the Church.  Not all people who flock to the site of unapproved or condemned apparitions go for the sensationalism and wave of enthusiasm that accompanies these things.  Rather, they are rightly comforted and aided by those tried and true Catholic devotions they find at these places.  If they were fostered generously at the parish and diocesan level, perhaps they wouldn't find a need to engage in spiritual Russian roulette with  every apparition claim that comes along.

For some poor souls, Fr. John Corapi was the only voice orthodoxy within reach.  That is why they are reeling.  Mocking them won't help.  They are tired of being stepped on by other sheep who have picked up the disease of dissent and are fouling up their parishes and diocese unimpeded by the very shepherds who are suppose to protect them.

The Holy Spirit is working through many of these organizations, movements,  and people.  But, the faithful need to be wary of anything which takes a turn that involves the 3D's I mentioned earlier.  Past good fruits, is no guarantee of future good fruits! The presence of the 3D's is a sign that some other spirit, if not human fallen nature, then Satan himself is driving the bus.  Get off quick before it picks up speed in its journey over a cliff edge.

On Obedience

No one is obliged to obey something which they believe is objectively immoral.  If the pastor of a parish forbids a young associate priest from speaking the truth about the Church's teaching on contraception as a Confessor, he not only can disregard such a directive, but has a duty to reject it.

Is it right for the head of a community, or a diocesan bishop over a society of apostolic life, to direct someone to live within it's constitution? You bet.  This is the part that has caused many to prayerfully let go of John Corapi, and leave him to use his God-given free will.  Even if it could be proven that his canonical rights were violated with the initial administrative leave, what harm would have come to him, had he gone quietly back to community where he would have had a roof over his head, a place to lay his head at night, meals to eat, heat, warmth, and medical needs met as he waited the process out and made his appeals?  It's so much more than the many other falsely accused priests in such situations have. What would not have been fed in community during such cooperation, would be any appetites he may have for the kinds of things detailed in SOLT"s July 5th statement.

All the legal and canonical cartwheels in the world are no substitute for simplicity, and complete, unconditional trust in God who knows the truth, and what is best for John Corapi's immortal soul.

Obedience to even a mere "suggestion", as Corapi called it, is God-pleasing.  ***Servant of God, John A. Hardon, SJ wrote (emphasis mine):

Third, priests are told to carry out obediently the commands and suggestions of the Pope, their bishop and their superiors. There are two profound insights here. The first is that perfect obedience in anyone, here in a priest, does not wait to be commanded. In fact, by the time a person has to be commanded, he or she may still obey of course, but that is not the main function of obedience, to give solemn commands. True obedience responds even to the suggestions or intimations of ecclesiastical authority.

Read more from this really great article by Fr. Hardon: "Humility and Obedience in the Priest".

Here are more quotes on obedience from the saints:

”It is better to cherish the humble desire of living according to the rule of the community, and to be diligent in its observance, than to entertain exalted desires of performing imaginary wonders, for such imaginations only tend to swell our hearts with pride, lead us to undervalue our brethren, from an impression that we are better than they.”
--Saint Pacomius


“Obedience, is rightly placed before all other sacrifices, for in offering a victim as sacrifice, one offers a life that is not one’s own; but when one obeys one is immolating one’s own will.”
--St. Gregory the Great

A black beard, a dog, and a new image

If I set aside the accusations made against John Corapi, and suspend judgment altogether on that, and even if the accuser is guilty of all that he has accused her of in public, it is his behavior since the launch of this Black Sheep Dog website that has revealed to me a man that, at the very least, seems to have grown tired of what he was doing, perhaps some time ago. 

For those who thought there was some kind of canonical cartwheel he was planning that would permit him to clear his name, then go back to public ministry, it seems pretty certain, he is looking to be laicized. Sadly, his first video in which he shows himself, is nothing short of a sales pitch to follow him as he tries to re-brand himself into a new market.  Priests who held out hope that he was going to fight to bring an end to injustice to innocent priests who are accused, don't hold your breath.

Delilah cutting Samson's Hair
Don't delude yourself that he will be winning people to Christ with this new venture.  Entertaining such thoughts fails to comprehend the power of grace.  A priest, without faculties, who is deemed unfit for public ministry by the Church, but nonetheless gives the impression he can still lead people to Christ without all that, is as powerful as Samson without his long locks.  I'm not saying he won't win people to himself.  He can be very dynamic, and he has figured just what kind of buzzwords attract good people who don't like what is happening in our nation. 

He's moving on, publicly, before the paper work is complete, before he is dispensed from his promises as a priest and member of the SOLT, and before he is laicized, which is all but certain to happen with the "change" he announced in that video.  He has more money than most could ever dream of having, to live comfortably and quietly, albeit probably not at the lavish level he now lives.  Watching this video, hearing him say it hasn't only been a tough few months, but a tough year, and then, somewhat sheepishly (pun intended), that it has been a rough 10 years, sure got my attention.  Whatever does that mean? 

With each new post he writes, audio he releases, and video he uploads on his new website, it is clear that more people are letting go, many giving him one last act of charity by thanking him for the good he did for them in years past, and a promise to pray for him as they say goodbye.  Others feel he is committing various acts of betrayal - betraying his priesthood, the Church, his own teachings.  Those who defend him in those comboxes have various reasons for doing so. Some believe he is a victim of false accusations and is entirely innocent.  Others are willing to accept that he has fallen back on some of his old ways - ways which were hard-wired into him for many years. Some of these people plead for others to forgive him and just accept his new venture, shouting "ONWARD", his new bark. There are those who still feel he is doing this to help the priesthood, and others who feel he is exploiting this for his own gain in ways that are detrimental to the cause of truly innocent priests who are falsely accused.  Then, there are the non-Catholics following him, cheering him on.  On both sides, there are those who are expressing themselves in truly vile ways behaving like pagans who do not know Jesus Christ.  Anyone Catholic leaving such comments needs to do an examination of conscience.  God knows exactly who is behind the statements made anonymously or with pseudonym.  They ought also to look at their own comments through the lens of a non-Catholic who happens to stumble upon the post.  This is division and disorder on stage.


I saw a post by Dr. Gerard Nadal, this morning who for the longest time, laudably, gave him the benefit of every single doubt.  He wrote yesterday after watching the video:

The pictures chronicle the sad story. As I move on, I’ll have the Divine Mercy Novena for Father Corapi in a new folder entitled “Priests” in the “Category” panel to the right. I’ll continue to pray for Father Corapi, but there is little left to do for a man who can’t see that he’s drowning, and who keeps batting away the life rings being thrown to him. 
Again, for Father’s distraught followers, the Church has no shortage of excellent spiritual guides as priests, deacons and religious men and women.

Even the much beloved champion of life and orthodoxy, Bishop Gracida, appears to be distancing himself.  The webmaster for the SOLT site, Fr. Samuel Medley, offered his painful thoughts.

In his video, Corapi tells us not to be bitter with the Church, and proclaims he loves the Church.  I pray that John Corapi will back that up by meeting his Sunday obligation like any other Catholic, use the Sacraments regularly, and that he recalls all that he taught in his catechism which he knows like the back of his hand.  This includes everything pertaining to the virtues, as well as morality, most especially with regards to his current status.  He remains, at this time, Catholic priest, with an obligation to celibacy, and the level of chastity demanded of anyone not bonded in sacramental marriage.  This does not cease until the Church says so.

As we pray for him,  let us pray for those whose faith is in any way shaken by this, and for unity in the Church.  

****If you are looking for other things to read, some of them with good references, visit the Pulp.it for today, which has an "extra" on Corapi.  I also want to direct your attention to a post entitled: The SOLT response regarding Fr. Corapi and the response of Thomas Ć  Kempis by David Werling at the Ars Celebrandi blog.  David's point about what was going on at the Facebook page of Fr. John Corapi, with over 53,000 "fans", and the vile behavior of many was precisely one of the motivators for me in writing this post.  Fr. Corapi has done nothing to stop the absolutely sick behavior going on in his blog combox, and at his Facebook fan page. 

For those who have been yearning to hear Fr. Corapi  just mention the Blessed Virgin Mary to no avail, I offer you something that was in today's Office of Readings:




From the Mariology of Blessed Dominic of the Mother of God, priest
(Italian autograph manuscript in AGCP B. I, VIII, V-15; Parte II ff: 136-138)


Mary always shows herself as the mother of hope


One of the titles rightly attributed to the Blessed Virgin Mary is that of Mother of Holy Hope. Hope is that virtue which anchors the ship of our soul in the stormy sea of this troubled world. It is a comfort left to us after the fall of Adam, a support in our weakness which encourages us to practice the Christian virtues. Hope is defined by theologians as a virtue planted in us by God which enables us confidently to expect from God eternal life and the aids that lead to it. Since Mary possessed this virtue in an heroic degree, she is appropriately called Mother of Holy Hope.

Instead of looking to worldly patrons, as people generally do, Mary trusted solely in God. She desired nothing and sought nothing but eternal life and the way to reach it. The world and all those things that the children of Adam are deceived into admiring and desiring were to her as though not existing. For her, earth seemed to be a desert, so that even the angels marveled, if one may speak in that way, that she could be so complete a stranger to created things. They seemed to say: “Who is this coming up from the desert, leaning upon her lover?”


Although endowed with extraordinary graces and unstained by original sin, Mary never counted on any resource of her own. Rather, she knew that God is the author of every good thing and the source of all perfection. She confided in him amid the dangers of persecution while she was a fugitive from her own country. She hoped in him even when she saw her divine Son die on the cross and the apostles dispersed, and she hoped in him when enemies turned on the infant Church, the loving bride of her divine Son. Supported by this confidence, she remained firm in the midst of what seemed like disaster, and strengthened those who, in their discouragement and need, turned to her as to a mother. She encouraged the weak, lifted up those who had fallen and urged the strong to ever greater trust.


We must not think that Mary has resigned from such maternal service in our day. Certainly not! Even now, from that exalted throne where she reigns in glory, Mary reaches out a mother’s hand to those who have failed. She graciously appears to them in the ways, and meets them with all solicitude, comforting them and giving them courage. She heartens the good, praying that they may be fearless and unconquerable in the adversities of life. She inspires pastors and inflames with love the flock they shepherd for Christ. In a word, she never ceases to exercise her role as Mother of Holy Hope.


UPDATE/EDIT NOTES
Note: This post has been edited from when it was first published for clarity on certain points where there was confusion. Significant changes or additional content is noted here:


**July 10, 2011: 11:00am: Added note about "Black-Sheep Dog" trademark.
***July 10, 2011: 6:30pm: Added quote by Fr. Hardon on obedience and related link.
****July 11, 2011: 6:00pm: Changed red text at top to announce the end of the "anonymous" comment option since so many people were leaving their comments unsigned with some kind of name or psuedonym that would hinder confusion about which one said what. Also, added links to additional resources.


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81 comments:

Ken Follis said...

Ma'am, this is a beautiful and brilliant post. I will simply add that for folks who think that the SOLT's new 1994 constitution was simply a "bait and switch" for Corapi, realize that this was before Fr. Corapi "made his millions" or was even popular. What seems to also overlooked by his supporters who think he gave loads of money to the society, is we have only his word on this. There was no bank statements provided in his last announcement or before. Also, he was a perpetual member, as you eloquently pointed out. He could have moved to a more like minded community or become a secular priest had he not liked the changes. Furthermore, of all the supposed contribution he made to the SOLT, ask simply, "Who housed, fed, entertained, and educated Fr. Corapi long before his establishing of a for-profit media house or even his near 3 million settlement?" He has bit the hand that fed him.

Christine said...

"I love John Corapi as a brother in Christ."

He is not a brother in Christ; he is a father in Christ, and as he is sacerdos in aeternum, the proper address is Father John Corapi (regardless of what he chooses to call himself). He hasn't been laicized yet, so we shouldn't be calling him by the common name he calls himself.

Thank you for a charitable and balanced post. He said explicitly in his video, "Follow Jesus and the Church--don't follow me." I see a man who has suffered and struggled for a long time and has grown disillusioned, and has now sadly has succumbed to weakness. If I were exposed to the same worldly temptations as he, how do I know I would've fared any better? How do any of us here know?

Fr. Medley, whom you link to, and who has more inside information on this controversy than all of us combined, has this to say on responding to scandal in the Church:

"If I see my brother sinning...I don't point the finger at him. If I do say something to him, it's as if looking at the mountain of my own iniquity on this side of the scale and I measure that up with the grain of sand that I'm looking at on his side of the scale. And that's how I face the sins of others."

Wise words which all of us commentators would do well to put into practice before making public comments about a fallen priest.

Maria said...

Good for you, Christine!

Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS said...

@Christine,

I see any priest as both a Father, and a brother in Christ. No disrespect was intended.

Fr. Sam Medley has it right in the quote you offer. It was my attitude when I first saw the video, to not draw attention to him. But seeing some Catholics cheering him on and wanting to follow him into this "change" he is making, I decided to make my post. The post is not to criticize him, but to get people to think real hard about who they are following.

He tells people to love the Church. He tells us he is not bitter with the Church and asks us not to be bitter. Can we expect that he will never again show the kind of bitterness he has in those audios and posts at the BSD website? Bitterness that will continue to fuel people's anger at the Church?

Many people are angry at the Church. These people need to re-evaluate that anger in light of what appears to be a late, mid-life crisis that may have been going on for some years.

Manny said...

This is outstanding work Ms. Korzeniewski. I'm not one of those who was ever a committed Corapi devotee, but I did appreciate his sermons on EWTN, which I caught on occaision. Though he was a bit bombastic, I liked him. And I was one who at the beginning of this ordeal gave Corapi the benefit of the doubt, but as the details trickled out and as Corapi's responses got less credible, I pretty much realized the allegations are roughly true. And the black sheepdog thing really sealed it up. That is extremely strange. I became somewhat bitter toward him. He was and probably still is manipulating us. Yesterday when I saw his video with the black leather jacket, I started getting feelings of pity for him. Of course I still think he's guilty, but one could see he's hurting. The video sequence you provided says it all. Something has changed within him these past two years. His statement in this last video about not balming the church and still loving the church really pulls at my heart strings. The only thing I can't decide is whether he's sincere or this is another act of manipulation. I will accept it as sincere and will pray for him.

Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS said...

The biggest form of deception is first, self-deception. Our perception of of what is fair and just and be clouded when we yield to the world, the flesh, the devil.

No one is beyond the reach of God - ever. But the first step they must take, once they identify a weakness, is to battle it head on.

It seems he was at least somewhat aware that he had an attachment to his assets. Many a priest would give up their lives and even their good names, before giving up their collars.

I hope and pray Fr. Corapi will continue to evaluate this aspect of his spiritual life.

When we yield to small things, it gets more difficult to say "no" to the bigger things.

The practice of virtues is not somehting that can be avoided in the spiritual life. It's like trying to guard a fortress with pea shooters.

Christine said...

Diane,
I see that you are a Secular Discalced Carmelite. That makes you my sister; I will be receiving the Scapular tomorrow in a special ceremony with my OCDS community, and look forward to my continuing formation.

Thank you for your response. In his latest post, I see the number of his followers dwindling dramatically, and the great majority of comments angry and critical of him, not of the Church. Some comments are downright vile (e.g., one fellow mocks, "I hope you get to f*** a lot of MILFS in that Harley Davidson jacket!" and another repeatedly calls him a homosexual). Some have remarked that his reduced weight, the strange jaw movements and haggard look are classic symptoms of addiction. If he's relapsed, I think he deserves a lot more compassion than what he's gotten so far from most Catholic bloggers. I think yours to be some of the most balanced commentary on the internet, but I've been very disheartened by other popular Catholic websites that have either torn into this priest or ridiculed him. Fr. Corapi may have caused scandal, but the vicious reaction I've seen in much of the blogosphere has scandalized me even more.

Joe @ Defend Us In Battle said...

Diane:

Thanks for this. I have had a lot of spiritual searching regarding all of this and it has deeply affected me. I know that this was a labor to write, but I know it will come to shape the discussion on the matter in a level and more moderate way than some other blogs are currently doing.

Thank you again.

Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS said...

I saw some of those in the latest post and that is why I pointed out that there are vile things happening in both camps. Like other bloggers, I am privvy to unmoderated comments which are not even suitable for posting because of the language. These have mostly been defensive of Corapi, while attacking the Church.

There are a couple of things going on here. One, is that a human being is truly going through some kind of deep inner struggle. No one can know the depth of compassion in my heart right now, and even deeper concern for him as a person, and for his soul. The other aspect is that there are people who are confused and angry. It's not just about what people are doing to Fr. Corapi, but about what is happening with these people.

Everyone who has left a comment, or made a blogpost, will have to do their own examination of conscience as to whether they have caused him to descend even further, or whether their comments have scandalized others.

It's kind of like someone having a Catholic bumper sticker on their car, then flipping someone off as they zoom past and then realize, they were not a good example of a Catholic. Just because someone uses a pseudonym, doesn't get them off the hook, because God knows who they are. It will take people some time to process their own responses to this, and hopefully, people make an examination of conscience and take into Sacramental Confession what belongs there.

Many left beautiful, bold prayers and invitations for him to return to his community and, as Gerry Nadal pointed out, threw him life rings. This is laudable.

It's not good to kick a man when he is down; at the same time, he has the potential to scandalize people further in a variety of ways. Time will tell.

Terry Nelson said...

Thanks Diane for such an insightful post. Very good.

The Little Way said...

Diane
I have linked to your post from my own blog because I honestly believe this is the best commentary I've read so far on this very sad issue. I make no speculation on the accusations against Father Corapi, but as he is a public figure who has responded in a decidedly public way, I do have the right to comment on how he has chosen to respond to these charges. What also concerns me is this notion that we should say nothing about this issue because it involves a fallen priest. My own conscience tells me that maybe if I'd spoken up sooner when things about Father struck me as not quite right, others would also have spoken up and he would have been spared this fall. He apparently lived a more secular life than I, as a lay person, do. Matches and gasoline waiting to ignite and no one took either combustive out of his hands. I spend more time praying for Father than I do talking about him, and will continue to do so. And I thank you again for such a reasoned and charitable commentary.
Joyce

RC said...

Hi, Diane!

As you point out, Fr. Corapi had options in 1994 if he felt he could not make a promise of poverty and live in community like other members of SOLT living under its new rule and constitution. He could have sought to be released from his membership in SOLT, and he could have sought laicization, as you point out.

There is also another option he might have pursued: to find a sympathetic bishop and seek to enter the diocesan priesthood. This would have left him free to own property. And he might have been able to continue his work as a public preacher, if the bishop were to agree to it.

I wonder why he didn't take up this route, but instead let the conflict with SOLT leaders drag on until this year.

Anonymous said...

The whole hair dye thing is ludicrous and trivial. I'm a convert of 25+ years and I've heard a lot of stupid, superficial and superstitious crap in that time, but this well may take the cake.

Catholics better get around to behaving like Christians before the 2nd coming or a lot of them might get a big, big surprise. Self-righteousness is its own reward. And its only reward.

Marie said...

The most thorough and lucid post I have seen on the scandal. Thank you. Now if only we Catholics could end our addiction to idolizing Catholic personalities as though they were canonized saints. We are no better than teens and their rock stars. So many have crashed and burned yet we never learn. I shudder to think that when the AntiChrist finally makes his appearance how easy it will be for him to get people to follow him. He will say the things we want to hear until he has our loyalty and then he will defy the Church and make it all seem like the right thing to do. Diane, don't ever be afraid to sound the alarm!

Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS said...

Anonymous Sat Jul 09, 11:34:00 PM 2011:

Do you not see any possible connection at all between the choice of a black sheep dog, and a year long transition to a black beard?

Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS said...

NOTE TO ALL COMMENTERS

If you want to use the anonymous option, you must sign a name so people can respond and know which anonymous person they are responding to.

Better yet, choose the "NAME/URL" option, and just type in a name - a first name a nickname, whatever and leave the URL blank if you don't have one.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Joan said...

John Corapi seems to be pulling a very public Charlie Sheen rant and using his followers and the faithful to cause division when humility would have been a better choice.

He appears to have made a black sheep dog choice which he has forced us to watch in a very painful way.
Charlie Sheen did the same. Corapi said he wouldn't crawl under a rock but he appears to already have been under that rock.
The childish rebellious leather jacket and black beard dye transformation leaves me speechless.
He needs help from those living and working with him.
I guess the money was the deciding factor in his choice. Disobeying is the problem. The Church doesn't need a Rogue Priest in disobedience.

John Simon said...

Thanks for your posts on this sensitive topic. You have provided valuable information for the Catholic community. Keep us the great work!!

DU said...

Well done. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis.

Brigette said...

Diane,
You covered this THOROUGHLY, I understand why you felt the need to post after reading the absolutely vile things people are writing on his Blacksheepdog site.

You can almost hear the devil laughing. I am sad, like you and everyone, about how this turned out....but I say again to any that may be reading this....If you DO CARE about Fr. Corapi, do NOT BUY his autobiography giving him millions more to fall into sin with. Do NOT follow him to radio, web, events etc...again....feeding vices we do not want to see him living. His video was an ad. I'm sorry, sitting in a makeshift soft background, very expensive Harley Davison jacket, hardly ever looking at the camera blathering on about what seems are all money-making ventures. Especially that book. I so wish that at least this message would get out...don't send the money. No more. He has enough. A holy priest would have YANKED down, I tell you, YANKED DOWN a website that had people attacking each other to this degree. The website ALONE is scandalous.

He just sat there letting it go on gauging his popularity. That he even CONTEMPLATED putting those tapes on the site but then changing his mind after what they wrote...
unbelievable. That should have been a no brainer for ANYONE spiritual.

I CAN SURELY see why SOLT HAD TO release some details. They were watching the sheep devour each other over one man.

Suffering brings holiness. Fr. Hardon THANKED God for suffering...
AND ASKED FOR MORE...to SAVE souls with it. Some can't suffer, they're just bitter. Too bad...no fruits then.

Fr. John Hardon....pray for us.

St. Joseph, protect the Church.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help...pray for Fr. Corapi. Wake him up.


Enough about him is right. Diane, you've now said all there is to say. It was healing to read.

Mary said...

Gosh, he has taught me so much- praying the rosary= praying the gospel. "Tolerance"- we tolerate the good, not evil. Why does God allow evil...only to bring good out of it. ... and so he taught us.
oh, and the 10 yr thing- remember how long he was sick and no one could diagnose the cause. Now that IS a frightening ordeal.
For every demon we have tempting us, priests must have at least 70x7Sr Emmanuel in her book Medjugorge in the Nineties" says that the Blessed Mother asked for prayers for priests, non-believers and youth. Amen

Ellen said...

I've been listening to Father Corapi for nearly 10 years, and I believed he was innocent until the SOLT statement came out. I've been mulling over this for days, thinking how he's fooled and manipulated so many of us for so long, yet all of his teachings were so good. If only he'd listen to his own CD's! (Esp the one on humility)
I feel like a victim of post traumatic stress syndrome. I feel angry and victimized but that's life in the big city, isn't it? Father Corapi is just another human with feet of clay. The one to look to is Jesus. Obviously, I won't buy any more of his materials, but should I send back the CD's I have?
Thank you for such a fair and balanced treatment of the whole affair. I have seen websites of bloggers who have hated Father and who are just ecstatic that he has finally been brought down, and this is not Christian at all. On the other hand, I feel so sad for the devotees who are still clinging to him with their last breath. They need to stop drinking the Kool Aid. Please continue to follow the story.

Kevin said...

Christine,

While some of the comments by his critics on his website cannot be defended, which "Catholic bloggers" have treated him with a lack of compassion?

Even Mark Shea (the only to equal Fr. Corapi in his bombastic style) has numerous times presumed his innocence, until it became clear one could no longer do so when looking at the facts objectively.

Outside of him, the rest of the commentary on the actual blogosphere (not the comboxes) has been very charitable I feel. Some might not have liked the "God's Chihihua's" bit. Me, I saw it as using humor to prove the absurdity of what Fr. Corapi said he was doing.

Kevin said...

In regards to the beard changing color:

I don't think it is self-righteousness to be disturbed. The change was a symptom of something greater: Fr Corapi's retreat into the world.

Dying gray is a sign of vanity. You are trying to improve your physical appearance as nature begins to take its course. It is not inherently sinful per se, but it is an imperfection. Not carefully guarded, it can become sinful.

For what reason is a priest to do such? Who is he trying to impress? Combine that with his boasting of wealth, it is conduct not becoming of a priest. Sadly, that conduct became activities (if even 10% of what SOLT said was true) which are gravely sinful.

In regards to what Ellen said, it is a tough question what to do with his previous material. It goes without saying that a Catholic cannot nowadays buy that material. He's a suspended priest, and you can't contribute to his rebellion.

What about old stuff of his that you have? It certainly is orthodox material. At that point, a prudent examination of your own state is required. Can one compartmentalize the good of Fr. Corapi with his current state of rebellion? Is one able to objectively seperate the two? Or will listening/reading that existing material only add further to one's troubles over the entire scenario? That isn't a question any of us can answer outright. It's something to be taken to your spiritual director/confessor and God. All that can be said is there is nothing wrong with prudentially avoiding the situation entirely. Sometimes the safest route is the smartest.

Anonymous said...

I don't know about the connection between the black goatee and Black sheepdog, but I find that facial hair on any priest is an attempt to impress someone. Men grow mustaches and beards for others and not themselves. Facial hair is an expression of one's vanity and desire to be someone they're not.

Anonymous said...

Father Corapi had been out of the public eye for some time. The videos that EWTN showed were really old most especially the catechism. He seemed done a long time ago.

Gre inarlington diocese

Anonymous said...

I find this judgment of Fr. Corapi disturbing. Now people are speculating on why he dyed his beard? Are we seriously going that route?

He dyed his beard a popular color. And we're now using that to slander the man? I have a problem with that. I think people are reading much more into it than need be, and casting stones.

Until he teaches heresy, I don't see any need to avoid the man. If he continues to be as outspoken about Catholicism as he has been, then he's likely still one of the best preachers around for the Faith.

I weep for what this has revealed in Catholics. Guilty or not guilty, it seems that this whole thing has revealed a deep judgmental side to many Catholics. Now we start bashing a man for dying his beard? Have we really become this? I think right now, we need to worry less about what color Fr. Corapi's beard is and more about whether or not we're truly treating him, and everyone else, the way we are called to as Catholics. Speculating and gossiping about his motives for dying his beard - that doesn't strike me as appropriate or productive.

Kevin said...

Pope Benedict IX was a perfectly doctrinally orthodox Pope. Yet he was also, as the Catholic Encyclopedia says, a "disgrace to the office of the Papacy." The same with the Popes around the time of the Reformation. They weren't heretical. Yet their opulence and lax morals no doubt provided a breeding ground for an obscure Augustinian Priest to launch a fullscale rebellion against the Church.

There is more than simple doctrinal Orthodoxy. Catholicism is more than a set of intellectual propositions. Important as they are, they are nothing without living the authentic virtues of faith, hope, and charity. And one cannot claim to have those virtues if they are not following the state their vocation demands of them.

I don't really have a problem with facial hair (to the first anon) provided one is well groomed. Provided we don't have a pope with a beard like Brian Wilson, no problem. Yet when one is dying it to enhance their physical features, it is cause for concern. That being said, there is something to be said for those priests who maintain a very simple physical appearance, well groomed but simple.

Equally moreso when that change in appearance accompanies a change in the way they carry themselves. It is indisputable over the past 2 years, Fr. Corapi's writing and preaching has become more about what HE has done, and what HE owns.

His latest defense against SOLT was entirely focused around what a businessman he is. He never answered the question about the properness of a priest owning sports cars and luxury yachts as a way of hindering their effectivness in preaching (and living) a life of self-denial. Rather, it was about what a shrewd businessman he was, as if the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about a business model.

One does not need to "speculate" that the dying of the beard was part of the "BSD" persona. I will part with Diane on that point. Yet the question people have to ask: why on earth is a priest doing such things? When 64 year old laymen do such things, we think they are foolishly trying to recapture their youth, as if youth was ever about physical appearance. While priests should never be viewed as supermen, they are, and of right ought to be held to a higher standard.

We seem to also be forgetting something. Out of obedience, HE CANNOT PREACH IN PUBLIC ABOUT THE FAITH. Obedience is the important issue here. If one is disobedient to a legitimate command from a lawful superior, one cannot be considered teaching right doctrine.

Moral of the story? There's a difference between right teaching and right practice. If you do not have the latter, having the former is not worth much (important as it is), since it will more often than not serve to your condemnation in the end if not changed.

Slick said...

Fabulous info and post! This is a disturbing scandal and seems to be dividing the faithful. There are a couple good articles by Deacon Dan Gannon on http://www.catholicurrent.com/#/, which give a pastoral approach and hope that a greater good may come from all this.

Christine said...

"HE CANNOT PREACH IN PUBLIC ABOUT THE FAITH."

To be more specific, when a priest's faculties are suspended (or terminated forever), he is not allowed to present himself in clerics or function publicly *as a priest*.

This does not mean he cannot ever provide public commentary as a layman. For example, a laicized priest doesn't violate canon law if he becomes a TV commentator on current events, as long as he is not presenting himself as a priest. Same applies to suspended priests.

This is why Fr. Corapi no longer calls himself "Father" publicly, but rather simply "John Corapi", and provides commentary under that name. He may be guilty of many things, but he has not violated canon law in this sense. The only violation of obedience here is his refusal to return to the SOLT community as his superior ordered.

Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS said...

Christine,

Fr. Corapi has begun a new life in public speaking before he has been dispensed from the promises he has made. He has not been dispensed by the Church from his priestly obligations.

He has never answered the question of whether he is seeking laicization. He should be up front with followers about that if this is what he wants. When, and if he does answer that question, I hope he will also offer truthfully, whether it was all getting too old.

One main point of my post was to offer an alternate, possible explanation to his departure from the SOLT, and mostly likely into a laicized state of lie. The only one he was presenting was one that cause bitterness and anger at the Church.

In some of the content at the BSD website, especially in his audio, "Unleashed" he spoke out of both sides of his mouth, sometimes in the same paragraph.

Priests have suffered injustices going to back to Jesus Christ the High Priest. Any man entering the clergy who thinks he will escape persecution and trials from within, and by the hands of those who are suppose to support them, need to think long and hard about how they might respond to such things.

Fr. John Hardon, SJ really got kicked around by his own order and mistreated. He was calumniated, had his good name dragged through the mud, and worse - sent to sit under a rock where he died to self. God polished him through all of that into the Servant of God he is today, and in the minds of others, a Saint. He accepted all of that with docility. He blessed his persecutors, and asked God's forgiveness for them.

Fr. Hardon understood the Cross. It's unfortunate that among the things rendered to the Smithsonian after Vatican II were teachings of the Cross. That's why few understand things mortification, reparation, expiation and their role in the spiritual life, and in the Mystical Body of Christ.

Christine said...

Diane,
I don't disagree with anything you've written. I was simply clarifying a claim made by Kevin that was inaccurate. We might accuse Fr. Corapi of many things, but let's be accurate in our assessment: he is not violating canon law by providing public commentary under the name "John Corapi."

Is he acting unwisely? Yes. Is he being disobedient by refusing to return to the SOLT community? Yes. Is he providing scandal by his behavior? Yes. Yes, yes, yes to all these things.

My point was to clarify an inaccuracy--that is all. I am not an apologist for Fr. Corapi's behavior.

Kevin said...

Christine,

In addition to not presenting himself as a priest directly, he cannot give the appearance of such. A well known priest who is suspended/laicized can't really comment on matters touching on the faith in a public venue. People will not distinguish between the "Father" aspect and the "man."

Look at Corapi's followers now. even though he is suspended, and he is not calling himself "Father", his defenders stick up for him by saying "Never attack a priest!" as if there is anything in common between him and a priest in good standing outside of the fact both were ordained.

So if he were to go on a news show and speak about Catholic matters, it would not do enough to say "Well I didn't present myself as a priest!"

It is why Fr. Sheehan says:

SOLT's prior direction to Fr. John Corapi not to engage in any preaching or teaching, the celebration of the sacraments or other public ministry continues.

It didn't just say things relating to priestly duties. If he were to show up at a Catholic Church and give a talk about the Sacraments, or even how the Church relates in the political sphere (something he seems to have an interest in) he will have violated the directive of his superior.

I really don't think he took this into account when he made his decision. Whatever canon lawyer gave him the advice that he should do this deserves to have the equivalent of a disbarrment hearing. I would say he is now starting to realize how limited his options are, and he is not happy with it.

Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS said...

Kevin said: One does not need to "speculate" that the dying of the beard was part of the "BSD" persona. I will part with Diane on that point. Yet the question people have to ask: why on earth is a priest doing such things?

Fair enough Kevin.

I will offer clarification here since it could have been misleading in my post.

I wouldn't say with any certainty that there is a conscious connection on the part of Fr. Corapi between the BSD the transition to the neatly trimmed beard/goatee, whatever it is called.

However, given the timeline of appearance change along with when the BSD trademark was taken out by Santa Cruz Media in April 2010, I will call it an observation.

Incidentally, I have just updated the post with that trademark information.

Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS said...

Christine,

Since I am not a canon law expert, I do not quite know whether Fr. Corapi making any public appearance at all is ok, or not.

I have tried to give him the benefit of the doubt to some extent, that perhaps the reason he has not mentioned the Blessed Virgin Mary all this time, to the dismay of many, and other religiously themed things, is because he is trying to avoid "preaching".

However, he has not had any problem publicly castigating the Church, especially in his audio, "Unleashed".

I leave that to canonists, and it would be interesting to hear from some who would know whether his continuing in such a public way is violating anything at this time.

One thing I can draw on from past experience, is that many priests who are laicized go into obscurity, unless they leave the Church. Perhaps that is situational, depending on certain circumstances following one's departure.

The Church is not obligated to dispense Fr. Corapi from his promises and priestly obligations, any more than it must grant an annulment to a marriage. He is at the mercy of the Church in this regard and given his behavior in recent weeks, I suspect they will oblige him.

That said, I believe the Church will set down the conditions. They may set down conditions that would free him to pursue a life in the political talk machine, provided he does not comment on Catholicism, the Church or his life as a priest.

What concerns me right now, for him, is that he is continuing on his own without approval, and with apparent disapproval as Kevin quoted.

He chose community life. He chose the priesthood. He had "five university degrees" and he should know that his life in both of those areas does not end until the Church says so, not when he chooses.

Woody said...

All who choose to follow Fr. Corapi must do so at their own peril. It is hard to let go of a figure you liked and respected so much. However, I trust another much more than he. See the Divine Mercy Chaplet!

Kevin said...

He may go into political talk, but I really don't think he will get much traction.

Yes, he is a good speaker. but he's also a 64 year old disgraced priest. (Even if that were not a fair assesment, this will be how it plays out.) Think there's really a substantial audience for that?

What about one assumed guilty of grave sexual impropriety? Even if he were innocent, he will not be given the presumption of innocence his "fans" in the Church have given him. He really won't have much in the way of a market for what he is doing.

He understood it properly, and hence why he was suing: in order to have any life with his skills, he needs to remain a priest in good standing. If he isn't, then he is essentially done.

The two problems with that are 1) his own behavior, even outside the allegations, made him no longer a priest in good standing. 2.) He has essentially forfeited the ability to either vindicate his innocence in the church, or be rehabilitated into a priest in good standing (albeit a diminished one.)

I think he is beginning to realize this. My fear is that he will only come to the realization once it becomes impossible to return to SOLT, at least due to everyone leaving on such nasty terms.

Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS said...

My worst fear for Fr. Corapi, is that his point made at the end of this video clip could turn into a reality. Fast forward and watch the last 2 minutes, especially the final minute:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVVga-azackM

If he sold everything he owned and took up residence in a decent, but modest apartment or home, did not have any kind if drug dependency requiring large sums of cash, he could live a much better retirement than most people, and especially better than most priests.

If there is any truth to SOLT's claim about drug use, then he is in serious trouble physically, emotionally and spiritually.

However, God understands the force involved with addiction, and it is a mercifully, mitigating factor that will be taken into account by Him.

On this, we have to entrust him to God's love and mercy.

It is another reason why people are further ahead not going to his website any longer, not using the "like" button in Facebook, not following him in Twitter, and encouraging him on this path.

If any part of what SOLT has released, and in light of his new "change" as seen in the video, this man's soul could be in serious danger. That said, anyone visiting his site and pushing him with mocking, sarcasm, and anything less than prayerful appeals could have to account for pushing him further into the abyss to which he has descended.

He needs prayers. Lots of them. He was humbled once before, and no one is ever beyond God's reach.

Unknown said...

My impression is that Corapi was cynically pretending to be a priest while living the lifestyle of a wealthy televangelist. Corapi was unwilling to relinquish his Hollywood lifestyle for an authentic life in Christ. Sad...

Anonymous said...

We must all guard our faith. It doesn't make any difference if we are religious or laity. We may all fall if we are not careful. Adam fell and he was in the Garden of Eden. Solomon fell and he saw the face of God. And Satan fell and he was in Heaven. Everyone of us are susceptible to the earths sways. We can all be in the same situation if we let down our guard.

May we all pray for one another that we can keep our guard up an never let the influences of the world make us lose our faith.

God bless us all

Anonymous said...

I don't know how many remember Monsignor Ronald Knox, one of the great religious writers. When he found a time conflict between his diocesan assignments and writing, he humbly sat down with his bishop and worked things out. If he supported himself then and in his old age, he could choose his work while still remaining an exceptionally faithful priest.

Fr. Corapi must have known of this. If he really was unable to give up his millionaire lifestyle, or to live in community when not on missions, OK. He had no need to be laicized, unless all the other matters were true.

Anonymous said...

In all the blogs about Fr. Corapi (and he is still a priest, thus the name "Father," I have seen only one person use the word "Addiction." Has anyone read the "12 Steps of Alcoholic Anonymous?" It is all there !

This man is very sick with a huge addiction problem. He may have even used "religion" as an addiction for awhile, thinking it would change him and make him better.

Fr. Corapi's life is unmanageable and he is a sick man....one would turn their back on someone who has cancer...he has an illness called "ALCOHOLISM."

Until he "smashes his ego" and admits that he cannot get rid of this addiction by himself alone, he will not get well !!!

Maybe an intervention by his "colleauges" could have helped awhile back...he could not possibly have hid his addiction from others in the clergy for this long...

Cancer patients get treatment....

How about SOLT putting their arms around him now and do an intervention...not too late !!!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS said...

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Theo West said...

Regarding canon law, I'm not a canon lawyer, but I have a copy with commentary and have been reading it. It appears there's several canons he's in violation of, regarding duties as a religious, duties to superiors and bishop, the duty to conduct apostolates in communion with the Church, the process of being released from vows, etc. Fr. Corapi has turned into a real loose cannon (pun intended). And his playing "victim" is silly given his wealthy lifestyle, an insult to the real saints who obeyed their superiors at great cost to themselves.

Unless of course he's simply lost his sanity, in which case he really does need prayer and pastoral care from his religious community. So SOLT is right to try to reign him in, all things considered.

Frankly, I'm wondering if he might be flirting with excommunication or other penal sanction if he doesn't reform himself. His letter of resignation was denied, so he's still a priest under vows of obedience. He's been given direct orders by his superior to cease all public activity, which he continues to flagrantly and publicly disobey, causing scandal in the process. They could canonically dismiss him for causing scandal, but it looks like they don't want to, due to the danger he poses to the faithful if he's cut loose.

There's also the Montana bishop, in whose diocese Fr. Corapi resides. As a religious priest, Fr. Corapi is there only with the permission of that bishop, which is also a matter governed by canon law. If the bishop withdraws his permission, Fr. Corapi has to leave, and if not released from his priestly vows, he needs permission from the bishop of whatever diocese he may move to. What bishop would take him now, an unfit, disgraced and flagrantly disobedient priest, barred from public ministry?

Unless of course SOLT decides to grant his request and laicize him, which seems unlikely, given that he is considered unfit for ministry, a danger to the faithful due to his misleading statements and behavior. And another twist: if they doubt his sanity (depending on how you interpret “unfit”), they might be canonically prevented from letting him go. Would be irresponsible for them to turn him loose now with so many unanswered questions, like shuttling an abusive priest to a different diocese. Better to send him off to a monastery to lead a life of prayer and penance, until and unless his name is cleared - or to a rehab center, if drugs and alcohol are the problem. But the last thing they should do is willingly let him remain in public.

Regardless of what anyone thinks about this mess, the fact of the matter is that Fr. Corapi is not presently free to do whatever he pleases, due to his priestly vow of obedience from which he has not been dispensed. Will certainly be interesting to see what happens when SOLT concludes its general chapter at the end of this month. Prayers for Fr. Corapi, and for the SOLT leadership. May the truth be known, and God’s good will be done!

Anonymous said...

RC

Just wanted to clarify a few things that I think you are saying here:

That some of his superiors "looked the other way" over the years and did not want to confront him on his addiction problems, because of his "pauper to priest" notoriety in the secular field ?

Maybe, too, he thought that becoming a priest would get rid of his demons ?

Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS said...

Theo,

I think we need to be careful with regards to canon law.

That is why I left it as a question. Anyone can read individual canons, but there are others that apply and it all must be taken into context.

Also, Fr. Corapi does not have a vow of obedience. As a member of a society of apostolic life (SAL) he does not take vows, but makes promises. He has a promise of obedience.

My understanding is that a vow has canonical force, as well as moral force, but a promise only has moral force. As to what that means, once again, I leave that as a question.

Maria said...

Diane:

826 Charity is the soul of the holiness to which all are called: it "governs, shapes, and perfects all the means of sanctification."297


If the Church was a body composed of different members, it couldn't lack the noblest of all; it must have a Heart, and a Heart BURNING WITH LOVE. And I realized that this love alone was the true motive force which enabled the other members of the Church to act; if it ceased to function, the Apostles would forget to preach the gospel, the Martyrs would refuse to shed their blood. LOVE, IN FACT, IS THE VOCATION WHICH INCLUDES ALL OTHERS; IT'S A UNIVERSE OF ITS OWN, COMPRISING ALL TIME AND SPACE - IT'S ETERNAL! 298

This is Therese of Lisieux whom you can appreciate. Let us proceed with love, yes?

Hey nonny, mouse. said...

Certain kinds of medical treatment can make hair (therefore beards, I presume) grow in a different color. This isn't very likely, but it does happen. So I wouldn't put absolute weight on that particular thing. However, I agree that, all taken together, he seems like an addict on the relapse spiral, in attitude and emotions ("dry drunk") if not actual use. I pray for him, because there but for the grace of God (and perhaps, because I would be a very unimportant trophy in spiritual warfare) go I.

for the grace of God, go I said...

Theo:

You said in your 5th paragraph, "if drugs and alcohol are the problem" IF ???
You and his superiors are in as much denial as Fr. Corapi....

He has been allowed to continue in this manner with years, with superior "heads turned the other way" because of not wanting to confront him....wasn't he popular with the public? was he allowed to be put on a "pedestal" for a long time ? Yes. Should not his superiors have helped him with his addiction problem a long time ago ?
Yes....can they still do an intervention on him which would be an openly, undeniably act of kindness and ultimate love for their brother ? Yes....

Theo West said...

Diane - Did he not take a vow of obedience when ordained a priest? And he can't dispense himself from being a priest, but that is how he is portraying himself, as if no longer a priest.

Interesting questions, though I have no idea how it will all play out. Prayers for all concerned.

Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS said...

Theo,

Religious Order priests make a vow of obedience. Diocesan priests, and those in societies of apostolic life (which falls under a bishop), make a promise of obedience.

Here again, I myself have been trying to find more detailed info on the difference. From what I understand, a vow has canonical force and moral force, but a promise has only the moral force.

Stepping aside from canon law, is something worth reading.

With regards to obedience, I just found another very good article by Fr. John A. Hardon, the master catechist who himself suffered much injustice at the hands of superiors and bishops. He writes (emphasis mine):

Third, priests are told to carry out obediently the commands and suggestions of the Pope, their bishop and their superiors. There are two profound insights here. The first is that perfect obedience in anyone, here in a priest, does not wait to be commanded. In fact, by the time a person has to be commanded, he or she may still obey of course, but that is not the main function of obedience, to give solemn commands. True obedience responds even to the suggestions or intimations of ecclesiastical authority.

Read more from this really great article by Fr. Hardon: "Humility and Obedience in the Priest"

http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/priesthd/humility.htm

In fact, I'm going to go embed that quote and link in the main body of the post.

Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS said...

IF YOUR "ANONYMOUS" POST IS NOT MODERATED, IT COULD BE BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT PUT SOME KIND OF NAME OR PSEUDONYM IN THE BODY OF THE POST.

IMAGINE 50 PEOPLE ALL USING "ANONYMOUS" AND NO ONE KNOWING WHICH ANONMYOUS SOMEONE ELSE IS REFERRING TO IN THEIR RESPONSE.

PLEASE

SIGN

THE

BOTTOM

OF

ANONYMOUS

POSTS

WITH

SOME

KIND

OF NAME OR PSEUDONYM

IF

YOU

WANT

IT

APPROVED

Christine said...

"That said, anyone visiting his site and pushing him with mocking, sarcasm, and anything less than prayerful appeals could have to account for pushing him further into the abyss to which he has descended."

Nicely put, Diane.

Maria said...

Dinae:

1 Corinthians 13

If I speak with the tongues of men, and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely; is not puffed up;

Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil;

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth;

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Charity never falleth away: whether prophecies shall be made void, or tongues shall cease, or knowledge shall be destroyed.

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

But when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But, when I became a man, I put away the things of a child.

We see now through a glass in a dark manner; but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then I shall know even as I am known.

And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity.

Maria said...

Diane:

Fr Hardon also tells us: "Remember the self-righteous Simon, the Pharisee, he was one of those who considered himself quite sinless because he kept the external regulations of the law. Whereas the sinful woman had no illusions about her state of soul, she knew she had gravely sinned. Let us listen to Jesus, “Simon”, our Lord said, “you see this woman? I came to your house and you poured no water over my feet, but she has poured out her tears over my feet and wiped them away with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she has been covering my feet with kisses ever since I came in. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. For this reason I tell you that her sins, her many sins, have been forgiven her or she would not have shown such great love. It is a person who is forgiven little who shows little love”, unquote Jesus. St. Luke, the evangelist of God’s mercy, could not have been more plain.FORGIVEN SIN INSPIRES EXTRAVAGANT LOVE , let me repeat, forgiven sin inspires extravagant love...What does God want from us? He wants from us what we mainly want from Him, in one word, MERCY".

Just Another Diane said...

Diane, thank you for your article. You touched on so many points. I think you offered an excellent explanation on why Fr. Corapi's followers felt so let down. I was one of those conservative Catholics who admired Fr. Corapi for his preaching orthodoxy as I didn't hear this anywhere else, including church. I was bothered by the fact that I was so bothered by this whole mess. Your explanation makes perfect sense to me.

I am now at peace with him. I will not be a blind follower and I will not follow him as he continues along his path. He is not my faith and he can't destroy it either. All I can do is offer prayers for him, that he will come to his senses and make amends. But I am not expecting that or anything from him. I have let him go. I am done.

One thing though about his appearance. You can't deny that he looks like Anton Lavey. When I thought it couldn't get worse, he put on the Harley Davidson leather jacket and it did get worse. He does not look like a black sheep. He looks like Anton Lavey.

Anonymous said...

I am what would many would consider a Fr. Corapi "fan". However, I preface my comments by sharing; my loyalty is to the Truth and the Catholic Church not to Fr. Corapi.

Some thoughts. First, Fr. Corapi has done wrong. I'm just not sure what. Neither side is on terra firma. For me, the most egregious and offputting aspect is what looks like materialism. I have compassion for someone (priest or not) who had an addiction to drugs, alcohol, or sex, etc. But the marketing and the sidebars surrounding money in this scandal are just ludicrous.

Secondly, Fr. Corapi, as a man, is lost. The last three seconds of his most recent video (Harley jacket one) were so expressive. Watch it again and you see a lost soul. Again, I don't know what he did that was wrong but he's reverting to text book behavior of addicted or once addicted people who take on "victim" status.

Thirdly, thank you for this post Diane but what you posit about Fr. Corapi's beard just comes across as very farcical and far fetched. We see that he's gone back to the world. He was concerned about how he looks to others. Hence, he dyed his beard. That's it. I can't go on that to start a thread of premeditated behavior. Very lean.

Fourthly, there is a tremendous lack of charity on the blogs. The devil is laughing at us. I've clearly seen the spite the Corapi side (if you will) has hurled. Don't like that AT ALL. But just as much with the non-Corapi side with flippancy, cynicism, and rushing to judge a man who clearly has inner demons that one can only imagine. Come on.

Again, thanks for the post Diane. But reading and rereading it left me with the irrefutable impression that it was a pejorative post. You wrote it was for "those who are still confused, angry at the Church, or dismissive of the seriousness...". No it wasn't. It was theorizing on how Fr. Corapi came to be the Black Sheep Dog (a very silly psuedonym...but anyway) and an overall screed on Fr. Corapi's bad decisions (that I am not excusing). You might well be entitled to that but then you writing about charity on both sides comes across as sanctimonious (I certainly hope it's genuine but...) and the article's stated purpose is misleading.

I agree with Dr. Gerard Nadal's post about the Church having excellent spiritual guides. I don't rely on one theologian. The Holy Spirit provides. But again, casting those on the Corapi-side as "followers", as "fans", and painting them as zealots for a preacher (Protestants essentially) is lame and very uncharitable.

My two cents.

Oz

Bunny said...

Reading of this result for Fr Corapi breaks my heart. Priests like Fr. Corapi are targets for the Devil...We need more fire in our priests. That is the way the priests were 65 years ago when I joined the Church. The Novena's and Tridiuim's were exciting and well attended. I hate to see Fr the way he looks now and I will keep on praying for him as well as all the other clergy. Too many judges in the world today. Most have a bigger beam coming out of their eye. Please Father...reconsider. We need you. Bunny

Theo West said...

Diane - I love your quote from Fr. Hardon. I was trying to think of a way to express the same thing. By this I mean that I don't care if it's a promise or a vow, it's bad to break a promise, too. And we are all called to be humble, willing and generous of heart, especially in prompt obedience.

It also applies to the faithful: we are to obey not only the infallible teaching of the Magisterium, but also the ordinary teaching, including on things which are changeable. A religious, including in a society like SOLT, is supposed to obey their ordinary, the ordinary being the superior of the order. It's not about "how much can I get away with," but with the selfless attitude of the heart which is ready to obey whatever the cost to self.

It's a worthy discussion in an area of confusion. Fr. Corapi is a public figure whose actions affect all of us, so naturally we want to talk about it, not simply to gossip or detract, as some seem to think, but to try to understand the situation. Thank you for your worthy contribution and willingness to discuss things without rushing to judgment. I just wish everyone were as calm-headed about it as you are!

Whatever the cause of Fr. Corapi's behavior, I do pray he will turn around, reform, and make a real recovery, because I just don't see any real good coming of his present course of action.

Pray the Rosary said...

In regards to the second assumption, "2) To assume that the bishop has the good of the community, the Church, and Corapi in mind?", it is an assumption that I have embraced. Bishops are given graces and gifts because of their office. It is pleasing to Our Father to listen to them because in listening to them we listen to Our Father. Obedience is the character of Jesus' relationship with Our Father and the Holy Spirit's relationship to Jesus and Our Father. Fr Gerry Sheehan, SOLT Regional Servant, expresses this well in a homily that was posted on the internet many months ago in 2008, before GOD Tube went back to its original name. It is one of the best homilies I have ever heard on obedience, http://www.scripturerosary.com/

Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS said...

IF YOUR "ANONYMOUS" POST IS NOT MODERATED, IT COULD BE BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT PUT SOME KIND OF NAME OR PSEUDONYM IN THE BODY OF THE POST.

IMAGINE 50 PEOPLE ALL USING "ANONYMOUS" AND NO ONE KNOWING WHICH ANONMYOUS SOMEONE ELSE IS REFERRING TO IN THEIR RESPONSE.

PLEASE

SIGN

THE

BOTTOM

OF

ANONYMOUS

POSTS

WITH

SOME

KIND

OF NAME OR PSEUDONYM

IF

YOU

WANT

IT

APPROVED

an OCDS novice said...

I noticed in the TAN Saint calendars there are still listed "Ember days" (which even I don't remember, and I was born in 1960) that were for the sanctification of the clergy. They were three days I think (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) every season (so four times a year) of offering up fasting for the clergy and maybe even for good crops, too. Given the heart-breaking "disgraces"of some high-profile clergy in recent years, to once again follow those "Ember days" practice, even on a voluntary basis, might be a way to bring some reparation and hope out of these "scandals." It seems our clergy have been left without as much prayer cover as they could have had. There were famous preachers in the past (St. Anthony of Padua and St. Louis de Montfort come immediately to mind) so it must not be the preaching, per se, but that the dangers of such visibility -- the fame and accolade -- must be countered with a penitential spirit both in the preacher and in the laity.

Richard W Comerford said...

Re: The Scandal, Corapi & Bureaucrats

The important thing here (beyond Corapi's immortal soul) is the tie in to the Great Scandal. For 50-yeas our Bishops as a group (with certain heroic exceptions)and their bureaucrats enabled and protected predatory priests and religious while at the same time denying the protection of both simple justice and Canon Law to innocents.

There appear to be 3-problems in the Corapi case which offend against both justice and Canon Law.

1. SOLT first suspended Corapi without due process.

2. SOLT failed to protect Corapi's good name publicly accusing him of, among other thing, allegedly consorting with a prostitute.

3. SOLT publicly announced Corapi's alleged sins based on a "fact finding" team which was hired and paid for by SOLT and without first obtaining a judgement in a Church or Canonical trial.

One would think that a half-century into the Great Scandal (and with the current mess in Philadelphia before us) that the Church bureaucrats would finally get this right.

God bless

Richard W Comerford

Just Another Diane said...

Anonymous posted the following comment on July 10 at 8:50 Pm: "Secondly, Fr. Corapi, as a man, is lost. The last three seconds of his most recent video (Harley jacket one) were so expressive. Watch it again and you see a lost soul".

Wow! I just watched that and now my heart is broken and I feel such sadness. And guilt for judging him once again. Just when I think I am past this, something draws me back in and confuses me. Am I the only one going back and forth on this?

In any event, anonymous is right and you see a broken man in those last 3 seconds. I will pray he finds his way back.

Anonymous said...

I realize that some have taken exception to certain Catholic bloggers being too hard on Father Corapi, but hindsight is always 20/20. The fact of the matter is, this wasn't some percolating, gradually unfolding event. This was a brushfire. And with Fr. Corapi having started said brushfire, and with his enromous influence on perhaps millions of followers, I think the response by Catholic bloggers was appropriate, given that at some point, the concern for Fr. Corapi's feelings has to switch to concern for the souls he could very likely lead out of the Church.

Corapi took his war public, and the public had the right to fire back where souls are at stake. In what was a somewhat diabolical twist on fraternal correction, a priest went to the public as a means of correcting the Church.

We can all pray and hope for him to straighten things out, but I'd rather offer up my prayers for priests who are persecuted for being loyal to the Church, not the other way around.

Chris

Anonymous said...

1. SOLT first suspended Corapi without due process.

According to Corapi.

2. SOLT failed to protect Corapi's good name publicly accusing him of, among other thing, allegedly consorting with a prostitute.

Corapi did not even seek to preserve his own good name, by virtue of freely choosing a new identity. Furthermore, he went out of his way to name his accuser without techinically doing so. It's also a greater protection that the accused are named, so that unsavory secret trials cannot take place. While being publicly named is bad in the short-term, it also provides people the ability to come to the accused's defense.

3. SOLT publicly announced Corapi's alleged sins based on a "fact finding" team which was hired and paid for by SOLT and without first obtaining a judgement in a Church or Canonical trial.

If SOLT felt the charges were credible, I guarantee it wasn't based on one accusation. It's likely that Corapi threatened to destroy his accuser and "out" the whole process, and SOLT rightly determined that it was a greater evil to let him do so and jeopardize the spiritual well-being of his followers. And let's not forget that he broadcast the alleged sins of his accuser before SOLT spoke, which was a very tawdry effort by Corapi to force his accuser to defend herself by identifying herself. With no way to rebut the charges against her own reputation, SOLT was well within reason to expose his hypocrisy, in her defense. And since Corapi elected of his own free will to bring the trial process to a halt, SOLT is not obliged to abide by the norms surrounding a trial that will never take place, by choice of the accused.

Chris

Anonymous said...

And since Corapi elected of his own free will to bring the trial process to a halt, SOLT is not obliged to abide by the norms surrounding a trial that will never take place, by choice of the accused.

============================
Huh?? It was stated that the investigation could not proceed, an investigation that had been ordered to follow Canon Law and those facts outlined for the public, with a civil case initiated. Now then, Canon Law cannot deprive any accused of his human civil rights. There is a lot of manipulations, within legalities, taking place on all sides.

If one reads the entire SOLT statement one can also read a few suppositions with the terms such as "may" and "key" again blamed on the civil case as possibly being responsible for the non-cooperation of those possibly "key" witnesses who "may" know more. But, hey, since we may never know those missing facts which are assumed for certain, well let's go on what there is so far so we can at least defend our personal stance and actions taken.

Maybe, but who freed up those performing an investigation as only requested by the bishop and according to those specific stipulations from those parameters?

Anonymouse

RC said...

Hi, Diane!

Somebody ("anonymouse" on July 10 at 3:50 pm) posted an incorrect quote above and put my name on it:

RC said...
He also had the choice, as did all others within his year group, to simply remain as was....


Is there some confusion? I didn't say that or any of the stuff that followed about Corapi, addiction, psychiatric advice, etc.

----

Then, to add to the confusion, another commenter ("Anonymous" on July 10 at 4:34 pm) put in some counter-arguments and addressed them to my name! -- not recognizing that "anonymouse" had written the stuff about addiction.

----

I just wanted to correct this error, before any more confused commenters send complaints to "RC" about things RC didn't write!

Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS said...

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PLEASE READ

I regret that I had to close the "anonymous" comment option because I got tired of rejecting those without a name or pseudonym despite making 5-6 attempts. This also eliminates the convenient Name/URL option. You will need to use an Open ID to comment. Open ID allows you to comment using your own Facebook, Yahoo, MSN, Google, or any number of other accounts.

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Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS said...

The comment left by

"anonymouse" on July 10 at 3:50 pm
was deleted because it was misleading people into believing RC was posting it.

Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS said...

@Richard Comeford

Fr. Corapi had lots of choices.

The first choice he had was to ride out the process quietly, no matter how illicit or illegal he thought it was. He would have then had the option to appeal.

Could this have taken a long time?

Probably not nearly as long as it would have taken for the average "Fr. Joe" who is accused, given his fame.

Unlike "Fr. Joe", Fr. Corapi would not have been thrown out of a rectory, lost his income and been out on his own has he awaited. Fr. Corapi had more than enough money to ride it out. He also had an optio that the "Fr. Joe's" out there don't have - an open door at the community where he would have been fed, clothed, and had his medical needs taken care of.

Instead, Fr. Corapi chose to fight his case in the court of public opinion, with just enough information coming out all these months for some to figure out exactly who his primary accuser presumably is, by name.

He chose to launch an unapproved website in which he proceeded to speak sweatly about the Church one minute, then attack her the next.

Fr. Corapi stated at the BSD website that he sent information for the investigation which should have discredited his accuser - the very one that a good number of people already knew by name because of all that he had leaked out in his one sided narrative in that court of public opinion.

If that investigation team had the information sent by Corapi which he says discredited the woman in question, and her husband, they apparently felt a need to speak to her further. Corapi doesn't get to make a final judgment on who the investigative team speaks to. He can make his case why they shouldn't, but in the end, they determined there was a need to talk to her, and other witnesses.

Did he lift the legal gag he had on her, and the other witnesses? No.

It seems we have canonists on both sides of the aisle: Some say his canonical rights were violated, and others say that they were not. If canonists cannot agree, then how can ordinary lay people possibly make that discernment?

I will address your point about SOLT's July 5th statement in the next comment.

Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS said...

@Richard Comeford,

With regards to your point about releasing details the investigative team had determined to be true, there are exceptions in the Church's teaching with regards to detraction (and I want to note that Fr. Corapi did not really give much in the way of denying specific things in that list, which really set people off)

Here again, just as canonists cannot agree on whether Corapi's rights were violated, moral theologians will be debating for some time whether Fr. Sheehan had justification to release the details he did based on this (from the New Catholic Encyclopedia, 1967) in the section on "Detraction".

Therefore, you, I and hundreds of others are not going to solve it. God will ultimately judge the actions all of the people involved in this sad case.

Here is what is written on exceptions to detraction

Exceptions. The virtue of veracity forbids lying at all times, but it does not demand that a person reveal the truth at all times. There are occasions when a person is obliged in conscience to hide the truth. On the other hand, a person may sometimes licitly reveal the truth, even though this may result in harm to another's reputation. Examples of this occur when there is a conflict between the rights of the person about whom something discreditable is known and moral rights of equal or greater urgency. Thus, when the continued ignorance of a blackening truth will cause harm to the common good, to an innocent third party, to the one about whom the truth is known, or to the one who knows the truth, the facts need not be kept secret. For example, one who knows that an innocent person will be sent to prison may licitly reveal the identity of the true criminal. For the manifestation of a blackening truth to be licit, it must be a necessary means to avoid harm, and the manifestation must be made with as little injury to the person's reputation as possible.

Richard W Comerford said...

Ms. K:

"Fr. Corapi had lots of choices."
No. He had under Canon Law only one choice. Accept the suspension. Which he did.

"The first choice he had was to ride out the process quietly, no matter how illicit or illegal he thought it was. He would have then had the option to appeal."

You are quite mistaken. The "process" as you call it often does not go forward at the Diocesan level making appeals quite fruitless.

"Fr. Corapi would not have been thrown out of a rectory, lost his income and been out on his own has he awaited"

You know this how?

"Fr. Corapi had more than enough money to ride it out."

You know this? You have talked to his accountant?

"Instead, Fr. Corapi chose to fight his case in the court of public opinion"

Corapi accepted his suspension. There is no requirement under Cannon Law that he maintain a public silence.

"He chose to launch an unapproved website"

Unapproved? There is such a thing as approved and unapproved websites? Is you website "approved"?

"they apparently felt a need to speak to her further"

They may have. But you do not know this.

"Did he lift the legal gag he had on her, and the other witnesses?"

A person by prior agreement cannot be prevented from testifying on criminal matters such as drug abuse and prostitution.

"If canonists cannot agree, then how can ordinary lay people possibly make that discernment?"

It depends on who is paying the Canon layer's bill to determine on which side of the aisle he is standing. Canon Law was written for the people of God not for Canon lawyers.

Corapi has accepted his suspension. He has not challenged Church teaching on either faith or morals. This not a bad outcome as far as Corapi goes..

God bless

Richard W Comerford

Richard W Comerford said...

Ms. K:

"With regards to your point about releasing details the investigative team had determined to be true, there are exceptions in the Church's teaching with regards to detraction"

This is not a matter of detraction. It is a matter of obedience, due process and compliance with Canon law.

"just as canonists cannot agree on whether Corapi's rights were violated, moral theologians will be debating for some time whether Fr. Sheehan had justification to release the details"

Again it is a matter of obedience to Canon law which is quite clear on this matter. Whoever is responsible for releasing the latest wave of accusations against Corapi is in violation of Canon Law.

You are quite wrong if you are framing this matter around the picture of the Bishop/Superior vs Corapi. Corapi literally is their spiritual son. The example for Corapi's Bishop and Superior to follow is the parable of the prodigal son.

God bless

Richard W Comerford

Richard W Comerford said...

Mr. Chris:

1. SOLT first suspended Corapi without due process.

"According to Corapi."

No according to Canon Law.Before a Bishop or Superior can suspend a priest he must allow the appearance of an advocate, promoter of justice and a written defense by the accused. He must also provide the accused with a copy of the accusations and a list of the Canons allegedly violated on which the accused may base his defense.

Instead Corapi was suspended without due process, a fact finding team (of which there is no mention in Canon Law) was dispatched; and a new wave of accusations against Corapi was publicly announced.

Godbless

Richard W Comerford

Richard W Comerford said...

Mr. Chris:

2. SOLT failed to protect Corapi's good name publicly accusing him of, among other thing, allegedly consorting with a prostitute.

"Corapi did not even seek to preserve his own good name"

If my child acts badly that does not grant me right to act badly in return. The relationship between Corapi and his Bishop/Superior is exactly that of a son and his father. And in this case the father is also bound by law to protect his son's good name.

God bless

Richard W Comerford

Richard W Comerford said...

Mr Chris

3. SOLT publicly announced Corapi's alleged sins based on a "fact finding" team which was hired and paid for by SOLT and without first obtaining a judgement in a Church or Canonical trial.

"If SOLT felt the charges were credible, I guarantee it wasn't based on one accusation."

And you know this how?

"It's likely that Corapi threatened to destroy his accuser and "out" the whole process,"

Again you know this how?

"SOLT rightly determined that it was a greater evil to let him do so and jeopardize the spiritual well-being of his followers"

SOLT cannot choose between greater or lesser evils.

"let's not forget that he broadcast the alleged sins of his accuser before SOLT spoke"

Corapi and SOLT announced Corapi's suspension on the same day.

"With no way to rebut the charges against her own reputation, SOLT was well within reason to expose his hypocrisy, in her defense."

SOLT is not charged under Canon Law to defend the accuser.

"Corapi elected of his own free will to bring the trial process to a halt"

What you describe as the trail process never started and once started Corapi cannot stop it.

"SOLT is not obliged to abide by the norms surrounding a trial that will never take place"

SOLT is obliged to abide with both Canon Law and simple justice.

God bless

Richard W Comerford

RC said...

Fr. Corapi has not been suspended.

To explain this: "suspension 'a divinis'" refers to a canonical censure imposed by a judge (can. 1333) which forbids a priest to celebrate the Sacraments even privately. This has not happened to Fr. Corapi. SOLT's public statements do not indicate any restriction on Fr. Corapi's right to celebrate Mass privately.

Sometimes church spokesmen and the Catholic press use confusing terms. They may speak of "suspension" when really a different procedure has been used, as in Fr. Corapi's case.

Fr. Corapi has been ordered to cease public ministry. This action is an administrative act by a superior. It is different from true suspension, which is a censure imposed by a judge.

Furthermore, this administrative action is within the superior's authority, and it does not deprive Fr. Corapi of any right. That is to say: public ministry is not a right of a priest, according to church law. It is granted by permission. If the superior of the community or the bishop of the place denies permission, public ministry is not allowed.

Such administrative actions may be just or unjust, but this discretion in the hands of superiors and bishops is basic to the regulation of public ministry for the Church.

Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS said...

For those interested, there is a 40 minute discussion with a canon lawyer about this case, prior to the July 5th statement by SOLT, much of which still applies. If there is an updated discussion with this canonist or another, I'll pass it along in a new post.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8ysjr-cAj2Y

Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS said...

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED


Folks, with this comment, I am closing the thread.

I think this has more than run it's course.

It's time to move on.

Thanks to all for a reasonably civil dialogue.

Keep everyone involved or impacted by this matter in your prayers.

God bless and good night.