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

[sojo]

So true.

I have checked out the accuser and she seems to be quite devout and level-headed with none of the ranting and viciousness of John Corapi.

If you knew nothing of the case and just read her calm remarks about the church (she has NEVER spoken of John Corapi much less called him nasty names and denounced him in public), and then read John Corapi’s rants… who would you believe?

But all of it is so much water under the bridge because John Corapi (I leave off the Fr. title because he ASKED us to, so I respect his wish) has shown disobedience to his superiors and disregard for the priesthood by resigning from SOLT and not attaching himself to any diocese. That is the important thing now.

 

[BirthWorker]

Well appearances are deceiving, as this whole sordid mess proves. She may look and sound straight and narrow, but so did he, throughout the vast majority of his priesthood. I don’t take her apparent composure and his lack thereof right now at face value. So much has been not what it seemed, I don’t know what to think except that I wish he would go back to SOLT for a period of reflection.

 

[franas]

Actually, the point is that the lawsuit is not so much about the non-disclosure contract. The main part of it is defamation and libel, challenging all the allegations of impropriety wilfully spread by the disgruntled ex-employee. She will have to defend the truthfulness of her allegations in court. I don’t think Fr. Corapi is afraid to face the accuser openly when he’s in the proper arena.

 

[Arkadin]

Did they reveal the accuser’s name?

 

[Shoshana]

NO ONE, ESPECIALLY A RELIGIOUS SUPERIOR, IS ALLOWED TO PRATICE DETRACTION AND CALUMNY

I will comment by posting an email/letter I sent to S.O.L.T.
Dear Fr. Sheehan,
It is with great sadness that I feel compelled to write this email letter to you. In all my years as a Catholic (from birth) and studying Catholic history, I have never experienced a religious order or faithful Catholic, especially a priest, demean themselves by getting into what one might call a “piss-fight” wherein they purposely and with cruel intent speak of another person in such a derogatory manner as you have against Fr. John Corapi. You, who call yourself a true shephard, and by your own admission, are trying to look after the flock, commit openly and in writing the sins of detraction and calumny. The very sins that we are so often advised against in our secular lives. Even if what you said be true, you dear father, may not reveal it to anyone. It is clear from your post of July 5, 2011 that the only matter which concerned you was to discredit the person of Fr. John Corapi and ruin his reputation in the eyes of faithful Catholics around the world. How can you possibly attempt to preach to us when you yourself are committing a most grievous sin in the process? Anyone with a half brain could figure out that all the information or “evidence” you purport to have in your possession is at best circumstantial. Therefore you prove nothing except to sow seeds of doubt within the minds of the “sheep” you wish to shephard. We Father, with all due respect, may be sheep in need of a shephard, but we are not blind sheep. Fr. Corapi for years has told and made public his private life, how he lives apart from the major community, how he has had various relationships and contact with “prostitutes” (one of which is now a Carmelite nun whom he brought back to the convent) how he was involved in a major law suit for fraud and won. If he won, then he most likely received a pretty penny and he made no bones about the fact that he possessed money. As for his “contracts” with employees, in today’s world this is nothing new or earth shattering. Anyone dealing with confidential information, even so much as contact names, addresses and information of clients, is bound by their employers not to reveal employment gained information with anyone outside of the particular firm. Contracts in employer-employee relationships are common business practice and therefore assumes no great hidden revelations about anyone’s use of said practice. The mere fact that Fr. Corapi was such a public figure made it virtually impossible for him not to utilize such a business practice in order to protect not only himself, but others as well. I am quite sure that there is no language in those contracts asking employees to keep silent about his private life of promiscuity or affairs, in fact they probably don’t even address any private life matters and pertain only to the employment regulations set forth by the company or corporation itself. All these matters are known by anyone who listened to Fr. Corapi preach and teach for years. And like us, your community was well aware of these facts and approved of his mission with all it entailed.
abyssum.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/no-one-especially-a-religious-superior-is-allowed-to-pratice-detraction-and-calumny/

 

[sojo]

Did they reveal the accuser’s name?

Yes. The lawsuit opened by John Corapi is now public, so we all know her name. And she has a facebook page and a website. Matter of fact, the website work she did for Corapi is on her page of references. She does nice work.

 

[Shoshana]

A WELL REASONED AND BALANCED APPRAISAL OF THE FATHER JOHN CORAPI CASE

Posted on July 12, 2011 by abyssum
The below are my comments on the situation of Fr. Corapi regarding the charges that have been leveled against him. I may appear uncharitable in places as that is a weakness that I struggle with. I have tried to convey my thoughts as charitably as I am able. Please forgive me if I have failed to do this in any way.
**John Stevens **

I am one who still supports Fr. Corapi. I do not adulate people no matter who they are. I do not place Fr. Corapi on a pedestal. But for God’s grace he is capable of anything. I would like to offer a number of things for consideration. They may not be in order.

1.  The accuser of Fr. Corapi is his god daughter. He has said for a long time that she needs prayer because she and her husband have been struggling with drug addiction for many years. He commented on this during his conference in San Antonio in August, 2010. He may have commented on this even earlier. He said he has tried to help them overcome their problems and that they need help. If you read the lawsuit he has filed against her you will see that the confidentiality statement is quite appropriate for the circumstances. She lists in her LinkedIn profile that she is the owner of Santa Cruz Media and also has tried to take his copyrighted moniker “The Black Sheep Dog” as her own. This is theft. Fr. Corapi has a right to sue her for protection of his property. If she has lied, he also has a right to sue her for damage to his good name. Many have claimed that the $100,000 she has received is hush money to keep her quiet. This is not at all clear. As she is his god daughter, he has tried desperately to help them over the years. I am sure this includes, but is not limited to, financial compensation.

abyssum.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/a-well-reasoned-and-balanced-appraisal-of-the-father-john-corapi-case/

 

[debraran]

Shoshanna,
I agree up to a point, why didn’t he let his employees talk to the investigators about anything but business, he said No and that’s why he took the accuser to court, she broke the agreement.
I don’t think as a priest should have an agreement about anything that doesn’t have to do with sales and profit, etc. She didn’t talk about that. They said he recently “sexted” (God I hate these words) and I can only think it was shown to them, talk is cheap, but they seem to know more than they are saying, even in that revealing letter.
Another priest said all priests have files, like employees, every letter, complaint deemed worthy is kept just in case is amounts to more than hard feelings.

I don’t know what they knew, I’m trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, if the are lying, it would be easy to prove later, you have the evidence or you don’t.

I think everyone agrees he doesn’t seem well and I don’t want a train wreck, I hope he takes a break, the book can wait.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Yes. The lawsuit opened by John Corapi is now public, so we all know her name. And she has a facebook page and a website. Matter of fact, the website work she did for Corapi is on her page of references. She does nice work.

I have only seen the lawsuit with her name redacted. Please don’t post her name on this thread. If people want to look it up I’m sure they can find it.

 

[Shoshana]

Shoshanna,
I agree up to a point, why didn’t he let his employees talk to the investigators about anything but business, he said No and that’s why he took the accuser to court, she broke the agreement.
I don’t think a priest should have an agreement about anything that doesn’t have to do with sales and profit, etc. She didn’t talk about that.

The way I see it is that his superior told him to go civil in court, thus stopping the investigation …remember, this was his Superior’s advice.

 

[sojo]

Oh Shoshana, did you really send that to the Father? Oh my.

As far as non-disclosure agreements go, yeah a lot of jobs have them. Most don’t Only ones with proprietary information, which is a stretch for a Catholic Media biz. And being paid $100,000 to sign one??? Please. That is not at all normal in such a situation. Oh man, what my family could do with $100,000.

Your “dear Father” phrases inserted here and there do not take away from the total lack of respect shown to Fr. Sheehan, and indeed, you are calling him a liar. I’m embarrassed for you dear sister. You have no problem with the slander and accusations spoken by John Corapi, to say nothing of his lack of correcting his “fans” who call the bishops “devils” and “evil” but you slam SOLT which claims to have solid evidence? This is cultish behavior, no two ways about it.

 

[Shoshana]

Oh Shoshana, did you really send that to the Father? Oh my.

As far as non-disclosure agreements go, yeah a lot of jobs have them. Most don’t Only ones with proprietary information, which is a stretch for a Catholic Media biz. And being paid $100,000 to sign one??? Please. That is not at all normal in such a situation. Oh man, what my family could do with $100,000.

Your “dear Father” phrases inserted here and there do not take away from the total lack of respect shown to Fr. Sheehan, and indeed, you are calling him a liar. I’m embarrassed for you dear sister. You have no problem with the slander and accusations spoken by John Corapi, to say nothing of his lack of correcting his “fans” who call the bishops “devils” and “evil” but you slam SOLT which claims to have solid evidence? This is cultish behavior, no two ways about it.

This letter was not wrtten by me… I would never do that. I have no authority whatsoever to even deliberate on this case. It was the Bishop if I understand well…

 

[jwinch2]

NO ONE, ESPECIALLY A RELIGIOUS SUPERIOR, IS ALLOWED TO PRATICE DETRACTION AND CALUMNY

I will comment by posting an email/letter I sent to S.O.L.T.
Dear Fr. Sheehan,
It is with great sadness that I feel compelled to write this email letter to you. In all my years as a Catholic (from birth) and studying Catholic history, I have never experienced a religious order or faithful Catholic, especially a priest, demean themselves by getting into what one might call a “piss-fight” wherein they purposely and with cruel intent speak of another person in such a derogatory manner as you have against Fr. John Corapi. You, who call yourself a true shephard, and by your own admission, are trying to look after the flock, commit openly and in writing the sins of detraction and calumny. The very sins that we are so often advised against in our secular lives. Even if what you said be true, you dear father, may not reveal it to anyone. It is clear from your post of July 5, 2011 that the only matter which concerned you was to discredit the person of Fr. John Corapi and ruin his reputation in the eyes of faithful Catholics around the world. How can you possibly attempt to preach to us when you yourself are committing a most grievous sin in the process? Anyone with a half brain could figure out that all the information or “evidence” you purport to have in your possession is at best circumstantial. Therefore you prove nothing except to sow seeds of doubt within the minds of the “sheep” you wish to shephard. We Father, with all due respect, may be sheep in need of a shephard, but we are not blind sheep. Fr. Corapi for years has told and made public his private life, how he lives apart from the major community, how he has had various relationships and contact with “prostitutes” (one of which is now a Carmelite nun whom he brought back to the convent) how he was involved in a major law suit for fraud and won. If he won, then he most likely received a pretty penny and he made no bones about the fact that he possessed money. As for his “contracts” with employees, in today’s world this is nothing new or earth shattering. Anyone dealing with confidential information, even so much as contact names, addresses and information of clients, is bound by their employers not to reveal employment gained information with anyone outside of the particular firm. Contracts in employer-employee relationships are common business practice and therefore assumes no great hidden revelations about anyone’s use of said practice. The mere fact that Fr. Corapi was such a public figure made it virtually impossible for him not to utilize such a business practice in order to protect not only himself, but others as well. I am quite sure that there is no language in those contracts asking employees to keep silent about his private life of promiscuity or affairs, in fact they probably don’t even address any private life matters and pertain only to the employment regulations set forth by the company or corporation itself. All these matters are known by anyone who listened to Fr. Corapi preach and teach for years. And like us, your community was well aware of these facts and approved of his mission with all it entailed.
abyssum.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/no-one-especially-a-religious-superior-is-allowed-to-pratice-detraction-and-calumny/

The EX Bishop of Corpus Christi really ought to get his fingers out of the CURRENT Bishop and the Superior of SOLT’s business. If they are out of line, Rome will handle it, not him. Quite frankly, his involvement in this mess has only made things worse rather than better. When he was Bishop, he would have resented the heck out of someone poaching in his patch. He ought to have some respect for that and keep his mouth shut. If he wants to contact either the current Bishop or the superior of SOLT privately that is his business, but by putting things out in public, he is just as guilty of making this mess as Fr. C or SOLT is.

 

[sojo]

The way I see it is that his superior told him to go civil in court, thus stopping the investigation …remember, this was his Superior’s advice.

Incorrect. He took the advice of a retired superior. His allegiance, according to Canon Law was to the **current **superior of his order who was trying to rein him in and follow the new constitution. As Br. JR and others have shown, the vows taken to join an order or society are to follow your current superior, not the one you had when you joined. Both Flaherty and the retired Bishop shoulda/coulda stayed out of all of this according to Canon Law. Apparently retired Bishop Graciela is now back-pedaling and we haven’t heard from Flaherty recently. This is all between the current bishop and the current society’s superior. There is no “grandfather” clauses in religious orders or societies.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

The way I see it is that his superior told him to go civil in court, thus stopping the investigation …remember, this was his Superior’s advice.

I think you may misunderstand. Bishop Gracida is Emeritus and should not have become involved in this situation. One of his recent press releases says that he has not spoken with John Corapi in several years (?) so I am not even sure how relevant he is in the first place.

Bishop Gracida is NOT Corapi’s superior.

 

[sojo]

This letter was not wrtten by me… I would never do that. I have no authority whatsoever to even deliberate on this case. It was the Bishop if I understand well…

Oh, thank goodness!!! It didn’t seem like something you would do. What a relief.

 

[coco2]

Okay … they closed the “other” thread and redirected us here. So I repeat here …

Fr. Corapi’s accuser apparently just celebrated her 6th wedding anniversary. She is with her hubby and has five children, etc. I wonder how Fr. Corapi fit into her schedule like cohabiting and other outlandish sexting accusations (with her mother and sisters). I’m surprise that she did not mention her dog too …

I’m also not sure about SOLT’s salty press release too. The other day, a well known (?) SOLT priest in UK made the blank assertion that Fr. Corapi never gave any money to support SOLT. This is contrary to Fr. Corapi’s statement. If nothing else, I will put my bet on Fr. Corapi’s truthfulness on this matter. It really makes me wonder what this UK SOLT priest’s agenda is, and if this is a reflection of SOLT’s whole credibility.

Not much facts are known yet but this we know … that Fr. Corapi has a civil lawsuit which the accuser will have to respond to about allegations of defamation and libel. I think that we should not take Fr. Corapi’s current inability to talk openly due to the pending case in court as a sign of guilt. We have also been told that there’s a “tape” in Fr. Corapi’s possession which he had debated to release it publicly earlier. I think that SOLT is wrong to demand that Fr. Corapi drop his lawsuit and also his action to foreclose on a property (I speculate that it’s a house sold with a mortgage to the accuser who has stopped payments on it). And please, there’s some hypocrisy in thrashing someone’s reputation in public and then issuing an “invitation” to return (“crawl back”) to the Community House. I think there’s a better way of dealing with the situation (even if all the charges are true) and there’s been a serious lapse of Christian charity on the part of SOLT.

I’m not in Fr Corapi’s “fan club” by any measure but it disturbs me greatly how many people here will sanctimonize the ministerial priesthood but then just as quickly gave up on the priest, Fr. Corapi. I think that if Fr. Corapi resigns and then seeks laicization through channel, he’s no longer bound by any obedience to SOLT. Contrary to what’s believed by a lot of people, Fr. Corapi never stated that he would leave the church over this scandal. Am I the only one who has noted that Fr. Corapi is steadfast in his denial of the charges? Unless he is a chronic liar, I think that we should give our priest a chance to prove his innocence.

All this is to say that I’m not yet convince of Fr. Corapi’s culpability. On the latest video, I saw a man who’s obviously sad and who’s lost a lot of weight. I wonder if anyone from the church hierarchy visited him during these dark hours? I hope that he has friends in Montana who will continue to offer their Christian brotherly love and concern … Let’s pray for healing for all the parties involved.

How do you know these things about this woman?

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Just as a comparison, here is a Catholic monk who has never scandalized, always used his considerable talents for the Church’s glorification.

johnmichaeltalbot.com/

Ain’t no black sheep dogs on his website!



God bless our faithful priests, monks, brothers, etc.!!!

 

[Shoshana]

I think you may misunderstand. Bishop Gracida is Emeritus and should not have become involved in this situation. One of his recent press releases says that he has not spoken with John Corapi in several years (?) so I am not even sure how relevant he is in the first place.

Bishop Gracida is NOT Corapi’s superior.

It just gives another perspective to think about. Calumny is also rampant here…

 

[Shoshana]

Just as a comparison, here is a Catholic monk who has never scandalized, always used his considerable talents for the Church’s glorification.

johnmichaeltalbot.com/

Ain’t no black sheep dogs on his website!



God bless our faithful priests, monks, brothers, etc.!!!

And maybe this thread should be closed on this note…