Fr John Corapi has Announced in a Video Message that he is Leaving the Priesthood

[Joe_5859]

I think Jimmy Akin has given a fairly objective account of the facts as we know them:

ncregister.com/new-information-on-the-fr.-corapi-situation.html

Here is how Akin lays out the timeline:

…we may surmise the following as an approximate timeline of the events in question (individual elements might need to be rearranged):

1. 
   *]Based on an agreement with the founder of his order, Fr. Corapi established a Montana-based media business under his financial control.
   *]At some point, Fr. Corapi pays several persons who have business dealings with him to sign non-disclosure agreements regarding events during their term of employment.
   *]There is a falling-out with one non-disclosure signer, an employee (presumably 2 occurred before 3, though this is not absolute).
   *]The disgruntled signer from 3 complained to religious or ecclesiastical superiors (specifically: the current bishop of Corpus Christi), alleging sexual and drug-related charges against Fr. Corapi.
   *]The current bishop of Corpus Christi contacted Fr. Corapi’s religious superiors, requesting an investigation.
   *]The investigation was begun.
   *]Fr. Corapi filed a civil suit against the complainer from 3, alleging breach of the non-disclosure contract.
   *]Other witnesses refused to testify in view of the civil lawsuit against the complainer from 3.
   *]Deprived of ready access to these witnesses, Fr. Corapi’s superiors decided to continue the investigation without the key witnesses, using other, less-central witnesses.
   *]Rather than allow the investigation to reach its conclusion, Fr. Corapi decided to abandon the priesthood and religious life, sending a letter to his superiors to this effect.
   *]His superiors sought to reintegrate him into the life of his religious community, but he has not responded to this request as it “would have meant leaving everything he has. It would have been a drastic change for him,” because “The society is moving to a more organized structural phase of its existence, with all the Church discipline that entails.”
   *]Rather than embrace this new situation, Fr. Corapi announced his abandonment of the priesthood and the adoption of the name “The Black Sheep Dog.”
   
   REMINDER: I do not claim to know whether Fr. Corapi is innocent or guilty of some or all of the charges against him.
   
   But the sequence of events described above, even if elements here or there are re-arranged, does not look good (especially since numbers 2, 7, and 10 might be construed as efforts to prevent such an investigation or stop it from reaching a conclusion).
   
   This whole thing is truly painful. I’ve never watched/read/listened to Fr. Corapi before, but my mom loves his show on EWTN.

 

[coco2]

Clearly Fr. Corapi is in spiritual turmoil . I have been worrying about this man since seeing a portion of his talk in Cincinnati last year and actually posted something about it here on CA. I saw him talking on EWTN about his personal trainer and saying how everyone should have one. I thought to myself, “Doesn’t anyone see anything wrong with this conversation?” He is clearly not the same man he was a decade ago. Something has happened and he has changed. His letter mentions his “fans”. We should be only concerned with how many “fans” Jesus has. Perhaps this is what happens to a person when they become an idol of worship, and yes, I know people who practically worshiped the ground he walked on. ( And they still do)

My greatest fear of all of this is that he will lead people away from the Church, the one he just left. I believe his letter,( in which he talks out of both sides of his mouth) plants seeds of anger and mistrust. For him to throw in the towel after only 3 months?! 3 months isn’t even a blink in all of eternity, and he knows that.

Pray for this man and all of his followers. I still believe God can use him to bring others to Himself, but not through Blacksheepdog.

 

[Abba]

I am standing by what his bishop of old said!

I am not. I actually find retired Bishop Rene Henry Gracida of Corpus Christi interference and challenges to the actions of the current Bishop of Corpus Christi Wm. Michael Mulvey, STL, DD - inappropriate. I find it ‘illicit’ for Bishop Gracida to advice Father Corapi contrary to his actual Bishop - Bishop Mulvey. That’s disappointing. I am sure Bishop Gracida would not have approved of his authority being challenged when he was active. It’s disrespectful for a Bishop to publicly challenge and question his predecessor. Strange.

http://www.diocesecc.org/content/images/mulvey3.png
Bishop of Corpus Christi Wm. Michael Mulvey, STL, DD
diocesecc.org/about/?id=43

 

[coco2]

Thanks for reiterating this point. Maybe if people really listened to his second message, they might understand a little more. He also has been guided by a prominent Bishop with his decision. He is only leaving the priesthood publically. He is still a priest. He is still only on suspension. He has the same status today that he did a week ago, or a month ago. He has not been laicised (sp?) at least not yet. He has decided to speak publically on radio and on his website in the status of not representing the priesthood, because it’s the only way he can. Does anyone remember Fr. Malichi Martin? A Jesuit that basically did the same thing. HE IS NOT LEAVING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, nor does he want anyone else that has followed him to do!!!

That being said, he believes he has been given a raw deal. Yep, he is angry, very, very angry about this turn of events. And no, this is probably not how a saint would handle the situation. He has not by any means been canonized yet. But God is not probably by any stretch of the imagination, through with him yet either!

So many of you have also aluded to the fact that this is all about the money. Well, maybe it is! Just maybe he knows that people he employed or possibly others are dependant on an income from his sales. None of us know the whole of the situation.
ONLY GOD KNOWS THE WHOLE OF HIS INTENTIONS OR WHERE HIS HEART IS!
And maybe he is trying to control the collateral damage all by himself, but how many times did any one of us do the same…not TRUSTING ENOUGH.

I for one have a great deal of compassion for him. He is very obviously walking the fires of hell at the moment. This terrible situation has probably also taken a toll on his physical well being which was not great to begin with as he had some health problems. Maybe he has made mistakes, maybe not taken the right path…let any one of us that has been perfect and always followed the correct path CAST THE FIRST STONE.

HE NEEDS DESPERATELY OUR PRAYERS! PLEASE PRAY FOR HIM AND OTHER PRIESTS IN THIS SITUATION OF WHICH THERE ARE MANY.

I read a statement from his Order that said he is indeed leaving the priesthood.

 

[Teelynn]

From a bishop:

I believe that he is justified in not seeking to clear his name through a canonical process; at the present time such processes are very flawed in most dioceses. Rather I would like to believe that he intends to try to clear his name through the civil courts. Since I believe that his accuser is a former manager of his media company who he terminated with some kind termination agreement, and since she has evidently sought revenge for her termination by writing to the Bishop of Corpus Christi denouncing Father John, I believe that it is possible for him to do so and I wish him every success in such an endeavor. The basis for his lawsuit would probably be defamation of character, libel, extortion, breech of contract, or whatever

abyssum.wordpress.com/2011/06/18/a-few-thoughts-on-father-corapis-announcement-yesterday/

Seems as though people are not open minded about this. Corapi stated in his second recent message that he had been advised and guided by a Bishop about his decision. As for me, I will wait and continue to pray.

 

[tm30]

You are going a bit far here. There is certainly no evidence that John Corapi has broken the seal of the confessional.

He may have made some bad decisions but to suggest that he has done such an evil act is not called for.

I did not intend to suggest that such a thing was a fete accompli. I merely suggested that IF it was revealed to him in the confessional, it would be breaking the seal. Moreover, I would submit that it’s evil enough for a priest to publicly announce the scandalous addiction of another person and excoriate them in a one-way forum. In an ecclesial court, he has every right to defend himself and accuse his accuser. But not in public, and without means of rebuttal. So it doesn’t seem to me that he’s defending himself so much as he is enticing the accuser to "out’ herself and justify the accusation publicly, as well. This would be a very VERY bad precedent - especially in cases where there is a legitimate predator who doesn’t care about the outcome and simply wants to publicly humiliate his accuser.

Granted, I see the irony, in that Father Corapi could not defend himself openly against the accusations, and now the accuser is in the same position – but without seeing the process thrrough - without having BOTH sides on the record, there is no way to conclude whether the accusations were true or false. All we, as lay people, can go on, is his actions. And his actions make it more difficult to give the benefit of the doubt. I don’t believe one way or another at this point because the process has been derailed and it’s going to be left in limbo. It wouldn’t surprise me if he is completely innocent, but the public grandstanding has made the issue his priesthood, instead of whatever the truth is behind the original accusations. And that, I believe, is causing more consternation than the charges he is denying in the first place.

 

[Shoshana]

Good point. St. Paul even bragged about not bragging…

However, I would also suggest that St. Paul went out of his way to not take money for his ministry either. Heck, he bragged about that too. So comparisons between St. Paul and Father Corapi may not be entirely appropriate given the situation.

Well, there were no cds or dvds in those days!..just saying…

 

[Joe_5859]

I am not. I actually find his interference with the actions of the current Bishop of Corpus Christi Wm. Michael Mulvey, STL, DD, inappropriate.

In fairness to the bishop emeritus, his post hit before some of the facts were out. Mark Shea’s take on it is quite gracious towards the bishop (but not so nice to Corapi):

One final point: a number of people ask me what I make of Bp. Gracida’s gracious remarks in response to Dog’s abandonment of his vocation as priest and his transmogrification of his flock into “fans”. Briefly, I think it is a gracious, pastoral and merciful attempt to strengthen what remains of the ruins of Dog’s priesthood while passing over in silence the matters discussed above. I also think it makes clear that Bp. Gracida intuits pretty clearly the same message I thought Dog was sending–that he is abandoning the priesthood so that he can pursue a career as a member of the Right Wing Noise Machine and get more political in his new (and exceedingly strange and creepy) persona as The Black Sheepdog:

Now, until his suspension is lifted, he is free from the Church’s prohibition on clerics participating in the political life of the nation. Given his past outspoken criticism of the current slide of our government to become more and more like the socialist governments of Europe, I think that we can expect to hear The Black Sheep Dog speak out more openly on the burning issues we will face in the election year of 2012.

Bp. Gracida is entitled to his opinion and I can’t fault his desire to keep holding out the hand of mercy to a teller of proven falsehood, a traitor to his vocation and his flock, an unsubstantiated accuser of his bishop, and a fomenter of rebellion against Holy Church. That’s what the Father of the Prodigal Son does and Bp. Gracida is a father. In addition, he wrote before we knew many of the facts mentioned above. So I, for one, commend him on his gracious and irenic attempt to bring back this straying sheepdog.​

 

[guanophore]

Well as they say the plot thickens. Of all the outcomes of this tragic mess I would never have thought of this one. Leaving off entirley the matter of Fathers guilt or innocence the two things that strike me most with this latest development are now the investigation will be ended and I think given the popularity of Fathers ministry those results were important to be made public. Now there won`t ever really be any closure to those accusations. The other thing is Father leaving the priesthood, now this is the most upsetting to me. I think of two virtues here , obedience and humility.
He made some good points about the whole process of these accusations being stacked entirly against the priests and I agree with these points but to leave the priesthood?This is a sacred vow, that is really upsetting. And I might not be understanding of everything here but would all the points in the Dallas chartedr apply here since the situation did not involve a minor?
Just too bad it all turned out like this, prayers for Fr. Corapi.

I have read all these links and news stories, and I cannot see where Corapi is “leaving the priesthood”. His privileges have been suspended indefinitely, so he cannot practice as a priest. He seems to feel called to preach the Gospel, and is looking for a way to fulfill his calling under the limitations that have been imposed upon him. I don’t understand how people expect him to “remain in the priesthood” when his superiors have forbidden him to do so. To me, this does not mean that he is unfaithful to his vows, only that he cannot fulfill them the way he has for the pats 20 years. It would be more disobedient for him to attempt to continue in a priestly role, after he has been forbidden to do so.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

Yes, we are getting gas and not water thrown on the fire.

The only person who can stop that is Fr. Corapi. He is a public person who is making public comments. C’est la vie.

This whole thing is just very disquieting.

Indeed.

Personally it would be better for me not to pay any attention to it, however I have a fair number of people who listened to Fr. Corapi, and were on their way back to the Church, and I need to be able to answer their questions. I don’t have any good ones yet. I just hope they don’t stubble into any of these types of threads… could do a lot of damage.

Unfortunately, there’s not much we can do about that. If they did a simple google search they’d find comments all over the internet so let’s not single out CAF. Secondly, CAF does a wonderful job of making sure people stick to what’s actually out in the public and not spin off into tangents. They do pop up here and there, that’s unavoidable, but CAF does an excellent job of trying to keep things on track.

 

[markomalley]

The only person who can stop that is Fr. Corapi. He is a public person who is making public comments. C’est la vie.

Indeed.

Unfortunately, there’s not much we can do about that. If they did a simple google search they’d find comments all over the internet so let’s not single out CAF. Secondly, CAF does a wonderful job of making sure people stick to what’s actually out in the public and not spin off into tangents. They do pop up here and there, that’s unavoidable, but CAF does an excellent job of trying to keep things on track.

Have you read Fr Tim Finigan’s excellent reflection on this situation? If not, here it is.

As a teaser, let me quote the first and last paragraphs:

Fr Corapi has published another defence of himself, including a further attack on his accuser, the process by which he was being investigated, and the people conducting it. I think most priest bloggers will be profoundly disturbed by all of this, and, if sensible, will make a serious examination of conscience.

(snip)

I have mentioned another important lesson for priests, especially priests who are bloggers or otherwise well-known. We need to examine our conscience seriously and regularly, and put St Charles Borromeo’s motto Humilitas somewhere prominent so that we can reflect on it often. In our situation, humility is not just a pious aspiration, it is a matter of spiritual life or death.

 

[Teelynn]

I read a statement from his Order that said he is indeed leaving the priesthood.

Did they mean that he was leaving public ministry as a Priest? He states he is not leaving the priesthood, he must step down from public ministry as a Priest, but is still a Priest. Two different things. People just can’t seem to grasp that.

 

[tm30]

I am standing by what his bishop of old said!

According to the “bishop of old”

I believe that he is justified in not seeking to clear his name through a canonical process; at the present time such processes are very flawed in most dioceses.

(my emphasis)

This is quite a statement. How does he know it’s flawed in most dioceses? And if it’s not ***all ***dioceses per se does that justify short-circuiting the established process?

Here’s what is so frustrating. These are the same defenses Fr. Corapi would make if he saw the process through and the charges were found credible. At that point, the process can be attacked from top-to-bottom and it would be certainly understandable and appropriate to try and restore his good name in a public way. The flock is not stupid. The flock knows when a shepherd gets railroaded. However, by ditching the ecclesial trial and going after his accuser in a public, uncharitable way, we’re left to take one side or the other without having the facts sifted through by the Church body.

Again, the maxim holds true: the cover-up is worse than the crime. If a priest had a dalliance with a few women, I would be disappointed, but that’s the somewhat acceptable reality of every one of us being flawed. Peter fell. So could our favorite priests, so could the Pope (on a personal level) Even so, a person could rehabillitate their public reputation through public penance. And heaven rejoices over one repentant sinner. But the abandonment of his priestly ministry, and the sloughing off of his faculties as “not really sacramental anyway”, in my opinion, is much more difficult to abide, and therein lies the dismay of so many people with these unfolding events.

 

[CatholicFireman]

I’m tired of the old biddies on this thread. Time to move on. I hope it gets closed soon. You folks need to seriously reflect on what you are typing before you post. Good luck andf God Bless.

 

[TMC]

Did they mean that he was leaving public ministry as a Priest? He states he is not leaving the priesthood, he must step down from public ministry as a Priest, but is still a Priest. Two different things. People just can’t seem to grasp that.

There was no “must” about it. His order did not ask him to leave, he decided on his own to do so. He is still a priest because ordination is permanent - he can’t just stop being a priest. But he has made his own decision to stop acting as a priest. In common parlance that is referred to as leaving the priesthood, even though technically he may still be considered a priest by the Church. It is no different than when any other priest walks away from their vows, they are technically still considered priests that are no longer in ministry.

 

[kitkatty]

There was no “must” about it. His order did not ask him to leave, he decided on his own to do so. He is still a priest because ordination is permanent - he can’t just stop being a priest. But he has made his own decision to stop acting as a priest. In common parlance that is referred to as leaving the priesthood, even though technically he may still be considered a priest by the Church. It is no different than when any other priest walks away from their vows, they are technically still considered priests that are no longer in ministry.

Teelyn, am quoting this post above because he puts well into words my understanding of the situation of Father leaving the priesthood.

 

[Shoshana]

I’m tired of the old biddies on this thread. Time to move on. I hope it gets closed soon. You folks need to seriously reflect on what you are typing before you post. Good luck andf God Bless.

I concur. Prayer right now is the answer. There is not much else to say. Still quite sad though……but I will offer it up for his intentions as I believe his sadness is so much more intense.

Maybe Robert will close this…I pray that he does…

 

[kitkatty]

I’m tired of the old biddies on this thread. Time to move on. I hope it gets closed soon. You folks need to seriously reflect on what you are typing before you post. Good luck andf God Bless.

This old biddy thinks maybe you could have taken your own advice before posting.

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

theblacksheepdog.us/

Just posted at his blog

Many have asked, or criticized, me concerning the reason I filed a civil defamation suit against the accuser in this case. It is because the two men I respect most in the Catholic Church advised me to do so. Fr. James Flanagan, Founder and most respected member of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, and Bishop Rene Gracida, the former Bishop of Corpus Christi, had a meeting on this matter. The result was that they advised me strongly to file a civil defamation suit. Why would they do this? Because they felt it was the only way I could receive a fair and just hearing. This advice was conveyed to me through Fr. Tony Anderson of the Society of Our Lady.

Concerning money, most people know me through radio and television. My broadcasts for 17 years on both radio and television were absolutely free to the public. I was never paid for them by EWTN or any radio station, nor did EWTN or any radio station ever charge anyone to view them. The past several years I never charged a fee to speak at events either. Furthermore, I have given hundreds of thousands of dollars to various Catholic organizations, and directed millions more from benefactors that wanted to give it to me. I did not accept charitable contributions, although I could have received millions.

The Bishop’s star witness against me is an alcoholic and troubled person that I tried to help for years. I provided the Church with evidence as to this accuser’s credibility very early on. There are two hours of audio telephone messages that clearly demonstrate this person’s serious lack of credibility. We shall be posting some of these audio clips in the future. You can decide if this person sounds sober and/or sane.

Why do that?

 

[nickybr38]

theblacksheepdog.us/

Just posted at his blog

Why do that?

It’s really unfortunate that he’s choosing this route.