One of our priests is a professor of theology at the local Catholic university (Jesuit). He is awesomely orthodox in spite of the.
We get great homilies at the daily 6:30 AM masses. He inspired me to learn more about the facts of our faith. And then came CAF. I have learned more in the past 7 years than 16 years of Catholic schools!This is not personal knowledge, but public. He has talked about it many times, and has even gotten a DWI after he was ordained. Suffering from addiction does not make a person “bad”.
I have learned a great deal about SOLT through this whole scandal. I really did not understand what it was until I started researching over this. I am sure that they are all mortified that they did not rein Corapi in much sooner, possibly avoiding this type of scandal.
I encourage you to read JREducation’s posts and the Rule of St. Benedict he has recommended. The superior of the community “rules”, for better or for worse. There is nothing damaging to Corapi about divesting himself of his luxuries and coming to live with his peers. There is also much benefit in him working on a team.
It seems to me that this whole scandal has made it clear that no one knows Corapi all that well. There are many of us that have listened to his talks, and know his public persona well, but clearly , he is no always acting according to that public persona.
No one here is doing anything blindly, franas. The fact finding team found concerning details. The superior felt compelled to put him on leave, and then later, to state publicly that he iis not fit for ministry. They have good reasons for doing so. I am sure they are not only not blind, but have seen more than they ever wanted to see.
You know, I am a former Evangelical, now a convert (25 years ago) to the Catholic Church. These are very good and valid points that you are making, and should not be dismissed. I have to tell you, Protestants, many of whom are still eager to point out the backwardness of the Catholic Church, will welcome him with open arms. Do not be surprised if this happens. To many Protestants, he will be a hero for what he is doing in standing up to the “immoral” (Fr. Corapi’s own characterization) policies and procedures of the Catholic Church.
Very well said and spot on
As Pilate said, “What I have written, I have written.” That’s not really what he said, but the DR bible translates it that way. It works.
This is awful.
I am not that worried about The Black Sheepdog being embraced by Protestants. They are way more outspoken about possible demonic possession, I was just listening to a Baptist preacher of some reknown here in Texas this morning, and he was talking about demons running someone’s life if they aren’t careful. The website and that graphic will creep them out big-time and they will not idolize someone who portrays himself like that.This is awful.
That’s what I mean, not based on personal knowledge beyond what little evidence which has been presented by SOLT publicly. It will be too presumptuous to make the claim that Fr. Corapi has had a “long history”, insinuating that the history is current. Yes, we all know about his drug and alcohol addiction before his conversion. Yes, there’s validity to point out personal experience with a relapsed alcoholic relative … BUT it’s unfair to generalize and pin it on Fr. Corapi. In fact, I’ve had also known several people who had drug and alcohol addictions but they were miraculously healed after surrendering their lives to Christ… and many are completely free and do not relapse. Yes, Fr. Corapi might have had made a mistake on ONE occasion of DWI almost ten years ago (I think there’s still some uncertainty about the identify of the person) but that does not mean he didn’t learn from the experience and stop the behavior.
I encourage you to read JREducation’s posts and the Rule of St. Benedict he has recommended. The superior of the community “rules” said:
What is that evidence, franas? A blog written by someone who is obviously one of The Black Sheepdog’s supporters? What else, what other evidence do you have at your disposal to suggest that SOLT did not do a thorough investigation? Make it good, because you really have less reason to doubt that order and Bishop Sheehan than you do The Black Sheepdog.
Franas - I am neither presuming nor insinuating anything. Fr. Corapi has gone to great lengths to describe his history with addictions in his PUBLIC talks. This goes beyond what was presented by SOLT to what Fr. has said about himself. When you add up his own personal statements about his addictions to what was revealed by SOLT (and no, it wasn’t “little”), to his DUI as an ordained priest in 1999, it all adds up a long history of addictive behavior/substance abuse.
Franas, it appears that you just want an argument for argument’s sake at this point, as others have also noted. With this posting, I have reported you to the moderators. I enjoy and welcome lively discussion on this or any topic, but I will not be attacked or have my words twisted like this. Please, study and argue THE FACTS.
I thought we were team Jesus Christ, the Pope Benedict XVI League…I sincerely hope that you are correct.
It has been noted that you have not listened to his talks, and maybe this is true. His long history of substance abuse is not “personal knowledge” nor is it “little eveidence presented by SOLT”. It comes out of HIS OWN stories through many of his talks. It is public knowlege because it has been on the radio, TV, and his DVD’s.
Yes. I know this does happen. But it also happens, and many of us have witnessed this personally in loved ones, that years of prior addiction can cause early dementia, emotional dysregulation in seniors, and erratic behavior, even if the person is still abstitnent.
I agree. But I also believe that SOLT has no reason to post falsehoods. They apparently received credible reports about more current substance abuse.
He gave promises to SOLT that he would support himself modestly.
Yes, I recognize the question. It is not just addicts that suffer from denial. De Nile. It ain’t just a river in Egypt…
SOLT chose a team, according to the Bishop’s direction, that did not have ties to the Bishopric or the SOLT. They chose persons who have a history of doing these types of services for the Church. To an extent, though it does boil down to Trust. Can the faithful trust God to work through those He has appointed as Shepherds, and Superiors? Clearly Corapi does not have this trust.
You are the only one here using the term “blindly” and “without question”. As has been noted, this type of obedience is anything but blind. The Superior of SOLT and the Bishop of Corpus Cristi have been installed in their authoritative roles through approved channels in the Church. Refusing to obey them, is refusing to obey Christ. Corapi is not being asked to do anyting immoral. He is being ordered to return to basically turn him self in to his community so that they can help him save his soul. He could have reported to the headquarters/'motherhouse on or shortly after Ash Wed. ,and spent his Lent in prayer, reflection and spiritual direction. It is true, he still might have ended up in the same state his is today, but what did he have to lose by investing 40 days in compliance to superiors?
I am quite certain this is true. Corapi did a fine job of blocking their efforts, first by filing a lawsuit against his accuser and refusing to withdraw it when ordered, and by then resigning, thereby effectively stalling any further progress in the investigation. What is concerning is that so much was uncovered using the little latitude available to them, that they found it necessary to make a public statement of their findings that he is not fit for ministry.
We are made members of one another in baptism, and there are literally thousands of us that are willing to help him bear the burden of his struggle. He has not been willing to accept help from anyone. The only help he appears to want right now are “fans”, and what financial gain he can still glean from the recordings that he will no longer be allowed to sell.
You are the only one here using the term “blindly” and “without question”. As has been noted, this type of obedience is anything but blind. The Superior of SOLT and the Bishop of Corpus Cristi have been installed in their authoritative roles through approved channels in the Church. Refusing to obey them, is refusing to obey Christ. Corapi is not being asked to do anyting immoral. He is being ordered to return to basically turn him self in to his community so that they can help him save his soul. He could have reported to the headquarters/'motherhouse on or shortly after Ash Wed. ,and spent his Lent in prayer, reflection and spiritual direction. It is true, he still might have ended up in the same state his is today, but what did he have to lose by investing 40 days in compliance to superiors?
I am quite certain this is true. Corapi did a fine job of blocking their efforts, first by filing a lawsuit against his accuser and refusing to withdraw it when ordered, and by then resigning, thereby effectively stalling any further progress in the investigation. What is concerning is that so much was uncovered using the little latitude available to them, that they found it necessary to make a public statement of their findings that he is not fit for ministry.
I can certainly appreciate that the Truths which have come out are very difficult to bear.
His new manager is a young man named Justin Meccia, who is a member of Skull Church, a nondenominational evangelical Christian outreach to young skaters, bikers, and rock music fans, in Kalispell, MT, where John Corapi lives. Skull Church uses the “dark” imagery adopted by many young people in this demographic, but attempts to transform it with a Christian message.