Fr. Corapi Responds to Some of His Order's Charges

[franas]

How do you know these things about this woman?

I’'ve to sift through a lot of info carefully to gather the facts. She is Fr. Corapi’s god daughter. She and husband both worked for Santa Cruz Media until two years ago. It appears that she had became"disruptive" at work and was asked to leave with an offer of a NDC to not talk or associate herself with Fr. Corapi and/or Santa Cruz Media. I also learned that the couple had recently tried to sell Fr. Corapi’s rosary on eBay for an opening bid of $5000 (See cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160588110925) supposedly to fund a website which they have created. The lister only had one (1) history of transaction on eBay, which was also sellling a set of Fr. Corapi’s books on July 2010. I will suggest strongly to read the content of the lawsuit filed by Fr. Corapi which is now widely available on the Net. It’s strange to me that the accuser of Fr. Corapi didn’t think it’s against principle to sell Fr. Corapi’s rosary or books for profit if he’s the villain she described him to be.

 

[mom4mary]

I don’t know if anyone can answer this, but why would a priest who runs a teaching ministry need to have his employees sign a NDC? For some businesses, of course, and NDC makes sense, but a priest who discusses the CCC and Catholic theology? These things are not exactly secrets.

 

[JReducation]

Thank you Brother as always for your insights. As a quick question on the issue of obedience, how do the promises of obedience that Father Corapi would have made at his ordination to the priesthood play into this situation in your view?

Thanks!

Jason

If you are a member of a religious community or a society of apostolic life, you do not make promises of obedience or celibacy at your ordination. Those promises are made by secular priests to their bishop. In our case, we have no bishops. Our men make promises of obedience to the superior, the constitution and to the fraternity, not to the bishop. They do not make a vow of celibacy. They make a vow of chastity to the community, not to the bishop.

The bishop ordains them, but he is not their superior. They make their promises (if they’re a society) or their vows (if they are religious) before they are ordained deacons.

There is no impact, because there never was a promise made at ordination.

Thank you Brother. My whole argument here is the continual discussion on this subject when we do not know all the facts. And even if we did, who are we to deliberate on corapi’s sin of disobedience? Have we not all sinned? Of course, this is causing scandal. I try to understand myself the whole situation. I just feel so uncomfortble with it all. i am surprised that this is continuing to the extent it is.

The best example and one I try to follow, is the example of St Francis. He never criticized that priest…it was his humble respect for the priethood that caused the priest to repent. Is this not what we shoudl do? Is this not lacking in these threads?

If anyone could have criticized the priest would have been St Francis…but he didn’t. His holiness caused a priest to return to the holiness of his priesthood.

I am so sad, so sad. I have been on catholic.com for many, many years. This is the saddest I have ever been…

But this too shall pass…

The facts are simple.

1. The was an allegation against Father.
2. Father denies the allegations.
3. Father is suspended pending an investigation.
4. Father chooses to leave, without asking for the Church’s permission. This is serious.
5. Father filed a lawsuit. This cripples the superior, because lawyers will not allow the person to talk to the SOLT.
6. The superior must make a judgment with the information that he has.
7. Father has not been dismissed from the SOLT or from the clerical state.
8. The superior has to allow Father the opportunity to request a trial.
9. Father has not said that he’s going to request an ecclesiastical trial to refute the findings of the SOLT.

Until such time as he files for a trial and he proves that the SOLT was misled, the Church will sustain the decision of the major superior.

One has to understand Father’s feelings, even if one disagrees with his choices. An ecclesiastical trial does not begin the day after you file and it certainly can drag on forever. The way the deck is stacked, it is up to him to prove that the information that the SOLT has is unreliable. It’s not Fr. Corapi vs SOLT. The Church would never allow that. It’s Fr. Corapi’s self-defense. That’s what he is allowed. He’s allowed to examine the evidence that the SOLT has and to refute it by proving that it’s not reliable or that whatever information was given to the SOLT is totally false. If he believes that the superior fabricated the information, he has a right to file a case as well. Either way, he has rights. Will he make use of them?

I would never accuse a major superior of fabricating false information. That’s a very serious allegation and one had better be ready to prove it to no one less than the pope. The pope is always going to go with the major superior, until proven wrong. He has to. The superior has to protect the community. The pope has to protect the superiors.

Throughout history, there have been many horrible superiors. We know this to be true. One must never follow them in their sin. However, they have a very essential role in the Church. Most of them, at least 99% have always been honest men and women. They make mistakes and arrive a wrong conclusions. What honest person has never done that? That’st why the Church stand behind them. Until it is proven that the superior is acting maliciously, it is assumed that he is working with the information that he has. The information can be faulty. The superior never said that he got the information from God while on vacation on Mt. Sinai.

He just said, “This is what I have and based on what I have, my conclusion is . . . .” As I said, we’ll have to wait and see if Father chooses to take this to an ecclesiastical tribunal. I don’t know that he will or will not. Does anyone know?

I’m not going to say guilty or not guilty. That is not my job. St. Francis made it very clear that we are to avoid all kinds of conflicts, arguments, court trials, and making judgments. According to St. Francis, the only thing that the faithful have a right to do is to take what is given to them in good faith and accept it in good faith, while remembering that the man is a priest, whether he wants to be called Father or German sheep dog or whatever that was.

Fraternally,

Br JR, OSF

 

[catharina]

OK, guam. My stand is my response to Brother. I ama loving child of the Church seeking admission into the carmelite order. I am not a fanatic at all…just trying to follow in st francis’s footsteps. I do not want to be guilty before the Lord on deliberating on a priest who may or may not be guilty. It doesn’t really matter, as I believe one way or another, we have no right to deliberate at all when it comes to a priest. I have enough sins to confess without having to confess this one…

Likewise, there is no reason to doubt the good names and reputations of those who have actual authority over Fr. C. His current superiors have actual here-and-now authority. His
previous superiors are those he said gave him the advice to go to civil court.

These former “superiors” are without authority over him.

I hope that Brother JR’s words have helped you move into peace.

 

[Jim_Dandy]

He seems a rather pathetic figure in his black Harley jacket and dyed black beard. I plan to see nothing further of him and read nothing further that he writes. It’s too sad. He defrauded the Church and his Order as well as conning millions of individual Catholics. Black Sheep Dog is a strange moniker. Perhaps he has mental problems.

I’ll pray for him – I was converted through the writings of an apostate priest.

 

[catharina]

If you are a member of a religious community or a society of apostolic life, you do not make promises of obedience or celibacy at your ordination. Those promises are made by secular priests to their bishop. In our case, we have no bishops. Our men make promises of obedience to the superior, the constitution and to the fraternity, not to the bishop. They do not make a vow of celibacy. They make a vow of chastity to the community, not to the bishop.

The bishop ordains them, but he is not their superior. They make their promises (if they’re a society) or their vows (if they are religious) before they are ordained deacons.

There is no impact, because there never was a promise made at ordination.

The facts are simple.

1. The was an allegation against Father.
2. Father denies the allegations.
3. Father is suspended pending an investigation.
4. Father chooses to leave, without asking for the Church’s permission. This is serious.
5. Father filed a lawsuit. This cripples the superior, because lawyers will not allow the person to talk to the SOLT.
6. The superior must make a judgment with the information that he has.
7. Father has not been dismissed from the SOLT or from the clerical state.
8. The superior has to allow Father the opportunity to request a trial.
9. Father has not said that he’s going to request an ecclesiastical trial to refute the findings of the SOLT.

Until such time as he files for a trial and he proves that the SOLT was misled, the Church will sustain the decision of the major superior.

One has to understand Father’s feelings, even if one disagrees with his choices. An ecclesiastical trial does not begin the day after you file and it certainly can drag on forever. The way the deck is stacked, it is up to him to prove that the information that the SOLT has is unreliable. It’s not Fr. Corapi vs SOLT. The Church would never allow that. It’s Fr. Corapi’s self-defense. That’s what he is allowed. He’s allowed to examine the evidence that the SOLT has and to refute it by proving that it’s not reliable or that whatever information was given to the SOLT is totally false. If he believes that the superior fabricated the information, he has a right to file a case as well. Either way, he has rights. Will he make use of them?

I would never accuse a major superior of fabricating false information. That’s a very serious allegation and one had better be ready to prove it to no one less than the pope. The pope is always going to go with the major superior, until proven wrong. He has to. The superior has to protect the community. The pope has to protect the superiors.

Throughout history, there have been many horrible superiors. We know this to be true. One must never follow them in their sin. However, they have a very essential role in the Church. Most of them, at least 99% have always been honest men and women. They make mistakes and arrive a wrong conclusions. What honest person has never done that? That’st why the Church stand behind them. Until it is proven that the superior is acting maliciously, it is assumed that he is working with the information that he has. The information can be faulty. The superior never said that he got the information from God while on vacation on Mt. Sinai.

He just said, “This is what I have and based on what I have, my conclusion is . . . .” As I said, we’ll have to wait and see if Father chooses to take this to an ecclesiastical tribunal. I don’t know that he will or will not. Does anyone know?

I’m not going to say guilty or not guilty. That is not my job. St. Francis made it very clear that we are to avoid all kinds of conflicts, arguments, court trials, and making judgments. According to St. Francis, the only thing that the faithful have a right to do is to take what is given to them in good faith and accept it in good faith, while remembering that the man is a priest, whether he wants to be called Father or German sheep dog or whatever that was.

Fraternally,

Br JR, OSF

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Again, many thanks to you, Brother.

 

[jwinch2]

If you are a member of a religious community or a society of apostolic life, you do not make promises of obedience or celibacy at your ordination. Those promises are made by secular priests to their bishop. In our case, we have no bishops. Our men make promises of obedience to the superior, the constitution and to the fraternity, not to the bishop. They do not make a vow of celibacy. They make a vow of chastity to the community, not to the bishop.

The bishop ordains them, but he is not their superior. They make their promises (if they’re a society) or their vows (if they are religious) before they are ordained deacons.

There is no impact, because there never was a promise made at ordination.

Even though Father Corapi was ordained directly by Pope John Paul II? Interesting.

Thanks for the quick response!

Jason

 

[JReducation]

Even though Father Corapi was ordained directly by Pope John Paul II? Interesting.

Thanks for the quick response!

Jason

Even though he was ordained by the pope. You see, when the pope ordains, his right and power to ordain come from the fact that he’s a bishop. When he ordains, he has the right to request that the men being ordained for the Diocese of Rome promise him to remain celibate and to obey him and his successors. Those men who are being ordained for another diocese are asked the question slightly differently,

“Do you promise to obey your bishop and his successors?”

Those men who belong to institutes of consecrated life or to societies of apostolic life are not asked the question at all.

When you reach that part of the ceremony, if you belong to the SOLT, you remain silent. You don’t answer. Only diocesan have to answer the question.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[franas]

I don’t know if anyone can answer this, but why would a priest who runs a teaching ministry need to have his employees sign a NDC? For some businesses, of course, and NDC makes sense, but a priest who discusses the CCC and Catholic theology? These things are not exactly secrets.

The following is pure speculation although some statements coming out of Santa Cruz Media seems to support the theory. I’m guessing that there’s maybe some truth to the accuser being mentally unstable and Fr. Corapi gave her a generous offer as severence pay as well as to keep her from “ranting” about imagined things. Maybe there is a clause in it to use some of the money to seek mental health evaluation and treatment. After all, he is her god father and is always looking out for her welfare … just no longer at his work place. NDC is a common vehicle to keep a disgruntled ex-employee at bay. According to Fr. Corapi, there’s just one other NDC … for accuser’s husband?

 

[RevDrNorth]

Even though he was ordained by the pope. You see, when the pope ordains, his right and power to ordain come from the fact that he’s a bishop. When he ordains, he has the right to request that the men being ordained for the Diocese of Rome promise him to remain celibate and to obey him and his successors. Those men who are being ordained for another diocese are asked the question slightly differently,

“Do you promise to obey your bishop and his successors?”

Those men who belong to institutes of consecrated life or to societies of apostolic life are not asked the question at all.

When you reach that part of the ceremony, if you belong to the SOLT, you remain silent. You don’t answer. Only diocesan have to answer the question.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

You my friend, are a wealth of knowledge along with your Carmelite brother in Christ.

 

[guanophore]

OK, guam. My stand is my response to Brother. I ama loving child of the Church seeking admission into the carmelite order. I am not a fanatic at all…just trying to follow in st francis’s footsteps. I do not want to be guilty before the Lord on deliberating on a priest who may or may not be guilty. It doesn’t really matter, as I believe one way or another, we have no right to deliberate at all when it comes to a priest. I have enough sins to confess without having to confess this one…

I agree, I don’t need to deliberate either. That is the duty of the canonical and civil courts. What I need, and all those who have listened to Corapi for years and been helped need, is to exercise discernment. We must look at the evidence, and make a decision for ourselves. Clearly there are some fanatical persons who are overlooking the evidence, criticizing the Shepherds and Superiors who are trying to protect the flock, and blindly ignoring schismatic behavior.

If you look back at my early posts when this came out, I championed every and any explanation I could think of to justify his actions. After SOLT published, I just had to accept that it is exactly how it looks. Disobedience.

 

[Gabriel_Serafin]

The problem is spiritual. It appears that Father Corapi has become possessed by diabolical forces who are speaking through him.

Beelzebub and the host of dark spirits are highly intelligent beings and are very tricky. They seek to destroy human beings out pure hatred for God, because human beings are made in the image and likeness of God. They hate priests with a special malice–especially influential priests–because ordained priests have the power to confect the Eucharist and bring us Christ for us all at the altar in order that we may live. Thus the spirits of darkness prowl about the world, and seek in any way they can manage to scratch and tear the souls of priests apart, through the very natural weaknesses of each individual priest.

Thus we should not offer cheap prayers for priests but actually unite our prayers to fasting and sacrifices for them. They all need the laity to pray for them. Some priest who fall are then driven to despair by these spirits of hate. As we now often read in the news, fallen priests are often driven to commit suicide.

The marks of Satan in the case Fr.C. are evident in the the dark imagery “he” has chosen for his new endeavor to guide all the sheep as well as the revelation of his double life, false statements, and his overall transformed new persona. Satanic possession is in the will, and evil spirits can take control of a human soul who has opened itself to Satan’s cruel slavery.

The devil is like a ferocious dog that is chained and unable reach a soul in the state of grace. A soul puts himself within reach of these dark forces through sin, especially habitual mortal sin, the dabbling with the occult, hard drugs (which inhibit the will) and the sins of sacrilege. A consecrated soul who falls into the hands of Satan is a special capture as these souls can be used as false shepherds.

The aim of possession is to overtake the free will of a human soul. Evil spirits are pure intellect and will, and their possession is expressed in various manners, depending on the temperament of the individual that has been overtaken. When confronted by the power of Christ these demons suffer in the presence of God, thus during the course of an exorcism their hidden presence is made known through the shrieks and contortions they express through the body of the human being that is possessed.

In the case of Fr.C., they will try to mislead people (the flock) through the persona we think we see. In a classic possession the person’s will is overpowered by the demonic being who hides behind the “normal” appearance of the one possessed.

The spiritual war between good spirits and evil spirits is echoed in today’s society, namely through the continual assault on the human family. This is especially happening today through false rationalization, achieving the deception of the human intellect in order to make evil sound acceptable and good, and to make goodness and truth sound rotten and wrong. The world of Satan is division, chaos and confusion, and he is a cruel master to those he captures and enslaves. The word that Christ used for sin was slavery, and sometimes the only way to escape the slavery of the devil is through exorcism, as was the case with Mary Magdalen of the gospels.

There’s a reason why the pope has ordered a huge increase in exorcists, as our society becomes more paganized the devil’s deceits will become more influential.

Fr.C. once claimed that evil people would send him cocaine in the mail to try to make him fall into old ways of sex drugs and rock 'n roll which had led to his life as a homeless man living on the streets for 3 years. He also said that he would never abandon a fallen comrade. Let us not abandon him, who seems to have been captured by the master of deceit and darkness…

img34.imageshack.us/img34/7963/frcorapi.jpg

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

[Fink]

The problem is spiritual. It appears that Father Corapi has become possessed by diabolical forces who are speaking through him.

As we now often read in the news, fallen priests are often driven to commit suicide.

In the case of Fr.C., they will try to mislead people (the flock) through the persona we think we see. In a classic possession the person’s will is overpowered by the demonic being who hides behind the “normal” appearance of the one possessed.

Speaking of suicide: your harsh judgement of Fr. Corapi suggests that you may have suicidal tendencies regarding membership of CAF.

Be careful! The state of Fr. Corapis soul is between himself and God; and its not for any of us to judge him.

 

[franas]

[If you look back at my early posts when this came out, I championed every and any explanation I could think of to justify his actions. After SOLT published, I just had to accept that it is exactly how it looks. Disobedience.
[/QUOTE]

Sorry, I don’t see your point. I think that if someone resigns, one is no longer compelled to be obedient to his former superior. It’s a parting of ways. I’m quite sure that Fr. Corapi will seek lacization through proper channel so he’s right with the church too. Like everything else, we should not treat the ministerial priesthood as an end in itself to the point of polluting the office by the stain of idolatry. Fr. Corapi has not acted in defiance by continuing to represent himself as an official spokesperson for the church or SOLT. He’s not been preaching on church properties nor holding himself out to be a priest externally by wearing his habit or the Roman in public. Ultimately, Fr. Corapi has to follow his conscience … one may argue that he’s not properly formed but who are we to judge him? It’s not like that he is behaving like that “other priest” Cutie who jumped ship, got married and joined another church. Although I also want Fr. Corapi to be reconciled to the church so he can continue his ministerial priesthood, I also understand that all Christians also shared this common “holy priesthood” through baptism so John Corapi, in my humble view, can certainly “be fit for ministry” as a lay Catholic to do God’s work.

 

[NeedImprovement]

OK, guam. My stand is my response to Brother. I ama loving child of the Church seeking admission into the carmelite order. I am not a fanatic at all…just trying to follow in st francis’s footsteps. I do not want to be guilty before the Lord on deliberating on a priest who may or may not be guilty. It doesn’t really matter, as I believe one way or another, we have no right to deliberate at all when it comes to a priest. I have enough sins to confess without having to confess this one…

You echo the sentiments of the Curé of Ars .Speaking against any priest was not something found on his “things to recommend” list . It was something he discouraged vigorously . He also used to say (about anyone) : “If something uncharitable is said in your presence , either speak in favour of the absent, or withdraw, or if possible , stop the conversation.”

(Could you imagine this dear Saint John Vianney ever trying to moderate an internet forum today …?..uch: ).

One of the problems related to deliberating on a priest , is it can turn into other things. As I was endeavoring to point out earlier, internet forum settings are environments which can tend to amplify these problems.

• A few definitions in that domain from Father John Hardon , SJ’s Modern Catholic Dictionary :

DETRACTION.
Revealing something about another that is true but harmful to that person’s reputation. It is forbidden to reveal another person’s secret faults or defects, unless there is proportionate good involved. The fact that something is true does not, of itself, justify its disclosure. Detraction is a sin against justice. It robs one of what most people consider more important than riches, since a person has a strict right to his or her reputation whether it is deserved or not. (Etym. Latin detractio, a withdrawal.)

GOSSIP.
Idle talk, especially about others. The morality of gossip is determined by the degree to which time is wasted in useless conversation, by the failure in justice or charity committed against others, and by the damage done to people’s reputation by those who gossip.

**SLANDER. **
Detraction. Essentially slander is verbal defamation of a person’s character, although it may be either spoken or written. It also implies suffering or positive harm done to the victim of slander. In popular language calumny is a form of slander. (Etym. Latin scandalum, stumbling block, offense.)

CALUMNY.
Injuring another person’s good name by lying. It is doubly sinful, in unjustly depriving another of his good name and in telling an untruth. Since calumny violates justice, it involves the duty of making reparation for the foreseen injury inflicted. Hence the calumniator must try, not only to repair the harm done to another’s good name, but also to make up for any foreseen temporal loss that resulted from the calumny, for example, loss of employment or customers. (Etym. Latin calumnia, a false accusation, malicious charge; from calvi, to deceive.)

Donoso Cortés , after his conversion, stated:

“Those who pray do more for the world than those who fight, and if the world is going from bad to worse, it’s because there are more battles than prayers.”

As we continue to pray for Fr. Corapi , particularly lifting him up at Mass, we’ll eventually see where God is leading us.

 

[debraran]

It seems with this case, people see what they want to see. I never believed fully the woman in this case was that crazy, it all came from him and his workers which I’m sure are loyal to him. No one thinks its wrong to make her a raging alcoholic or “disturbed”. You would think she’d be committed by now. Don’t defame Father but don’t defame her. I think it’s wrong to say detraction or to say not to lie, when no one knows her either.
I also feel, with the definitioinof detracton, his superiors most have thought that they needed to do what they did to curtail a bad thing down the line, his supporters were so fervent.

Not once, did the 3 investigators say anything she said wasn’t true, that she was crazy, they talked about recent things, not 5 years ago. Most witness’s aren’t perfect and although it’s distracting, I can’t believe as posted earlier by someone, everyone but him is lying.

The bottom line is that he told SOLT for years he was unhappy, told us that also, he wants to leave, he didn’t want to answer questions or have his staff answer questions, the investigators said he wasn’t acting in a manner becoming to a priest. He had obvious physical changes along with the rest and to me, is a train running down a track without breaks.
No one really wants to see it crash or go "wild’ without direction. He has a lot of prayers going his way, if he lets the grace in, he will be okay.

 

[brb3]

I saw the video

I just want to cry!

Which video ? A search of Father Corapi and Scandal … brings up multiple videos. Some of which don’t seem legit, are spoofs of him, and have him talking very foolishly.

Don’t know if these are him or a parody of him, …making him sound as if he has gone over the cliff.

Who would resign a position w/o defending himself. He has 20 years with Catholic church, since his wild & crazy California drug/sex/materialistic days. Would he give all this up to return to his former ways of sinning … or has he been a fraud in priest’s cloth for all this time ?

 

[brb3]

Very sad indeed. What kind of example can he be to Catholics anyway? The Church is having such a hard time. This is umbelievable.

I agree … this is the last scandal one could imagine occurring. Every week some outrageous news hits the Church, and the world. Major tragedies are occurring to this world, on a frequency much greater than in the past. Tsunamis, floods, earthquakes, fires, world currency issues, etc, etc.

A read of Revelation … and the bowls of wrath poored out … seems to be upon us. Even our priestly elect are being pulled down into perdition.

Nevertheless, JP2 has been beatified, and soon God will work many miracles via his intercession … and many will see power of Church and our Saints, and return/enter the Faith before the appearing of Christ in the skies above [as Jesus & St. Paul prophesied would happen] … and as St. John wrote of in his Apocalypse.

 

[MtnDwellar]

The problem is spiritual. It appears that Father Corapi has become possessed by diabolical forces who are speaking through him.

I agree with almost everything written in the OP. Our priests are surely under attack. They definitely need our best prayer efforts.

I see that you tempered your initial statement by saying that it “appears” that Father Corapi has become possessed. You are not judging Fr. C. We cannot determine from press releases if a person has become possessed. You are merely raising the possibility.

 

[DCNBILL]

If you are a member of a religious community or a society of apostolic life, you do not make promises of obedience or celibacy at your ordination. Those promises are made by secular priests to their bishop. In our case, we have no bishops. Our men make promises of obedience to the superior, the constitution and to the fraternity, not to the bishop. They do not make a vow of celibacy. They make a vow of chastity to the community, not to the bishop.

The bishop ordains them, but he is not their superior. They make their promises (if they’re a society) or their vows (if they are religious) before they are ordained deacons.

There is no impact, because there never was a promise made at ordination.

Fraternally,

Br JR, OSF

Brother JR,

Do you happen to have a source or sample of the ordination rite for a religious I would really like to see an example of it.

Thanks