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

[guanophore]

I am not surprised or disappointed that you are unaware of Fr. Corapi. I am replying to your post because I think it makes a good point here about the amount of impact this story might or might not have to many Catholics. Not to underplay the whole thing, even one incident of a priest who has some celebrity status having all this negative publicity is never good for the Church and even if only a few souls are affected that is a few too many. But to get back to what Im getting at is really, even with all the people, say just here on this forum how many are commenting on it? Probably a small percentage of all the members Obviously the people on this thread do and he has many supporters. And many members are probably aware but havent posted about it. Even among American Catholics, I would have to say there are way more who are unaware of him than there are who are aware of him. And Im not just referring to Catholics who pretty much dont live their faith. I think it`s pretty much EWTN viewers and Catholics who spend time on the internet who are awareof this situation.

This is a very good point, and I wonder if it is not part of what he is referring to with his “unleashed” idea. He has always noted the fact that those who come to his talks are the ones that need them the least. They are the faithful in the Church, the catechists, and those he calls “gray hairs” that have been working out their salvation for 50+ years already. The ones that really need the wake up call are those that are lapsed, and have been led astray into various ecclesial communities lacking in part of the Truth. He came from that background himself, having fallen from the faith, and I think his heart longs to reach out to souls like his own, who have abandoned their birthright.

 

[guanophore]

It is a pefectly valid understanding…
From his website:

Given that he has dropped ‘Father’ from his title and will not accept its usage anymore…and that he will not function as a priest…and that he cannot offer advice, counsel, or teaching as a priest…
He has very effectively left the rights and responsibilities of the priesthood.

Yes, I can see why the confusion. But he did not “drop Father from his title”!

He is forbidden to use it, as well as to put himself forth to the public as a priest. This was not his choice, but was forced upon him. He did not leave his rights and responsiblities, they were removed from him. What he has done is accepted this state, imposed upon him by his bishop and by SOLT. He does not want to have an adversarial relationship with the Church, and cannot see any way to proceed with the investigative process without being adversarial. He stated clearly that, even if he did move forward with the process, it is so inherintly flawed that he did not believe he would be cleared.

It took some months and consult with his attorneys to reach this point, because when he was initially suspended, his message communicated confidence that he would be cleared and he thought he would be restored to ministry. Over the course of Lent, things developed to the point where he came to the opposite conclusion, and realized that restoration was not going to happen, and that he needed to “move on”.

He has accepted the status of suspension that has been imposed upon him. It was not his own “decision to leave the priesthood”. He is very hurt by it, also, as is clear by his messages, and his sense of being “thrown out like yesterday’s garbage”.

 

[vz71]

Yes, I can see why the confusion. But he did not “drop Father from his title”!

He is forbidden to use it, as well as to put himself forth to the public as a priest. This was not his choice, but was forced upon him. He did not leave his rights and responsiblities, they were removed from him. What he has done is accepted this state, imposed upon him by his bishop and by SOLT. He does not want to have an adversarial relationship with the Church, and cannot see any way to proceed with the investigative process without being adversarial. He stated clearly that, even if he did move forward with the process, it is so inherintly flawed that he did not believe he would be cleared.

He was suspended for the duration of the investigation.
But that does not change the fact that he resigned.
He chose to do this.

Given the opportunity to wait out the investigation and reclaim his title as ‘Father’ he chose to halt the investigation and leave the title and responsibilities behind.

 

[vz71]

It took some months and consult with his attorneys to reach this point, because when he was initially suspended, his message communicated confidence that he would be cleared and he thought he would be restored to ministry. Over the course of Lent, things developed to the point where he came to the opposite conclusion, and realized that restoration was not going to happen, and that he needed to “move on”.

We can contrast the 3 months (roughly) that Corapi endured to the years Padre Pio spent in a similar situation.

I cannot shake the feeling that in spite of what he personally felt he should have accepted church authority over him and waited for God’s will to prevail.

When he took on his vows as a priest, he is effectively a tool for God. An instrument that God can use to help others.
If God should decide to put a tool back in the tool box for a period of time, what right does the tool have to jump out of the box and try to act on its own?

How well can a hammer (an apt description) work without the hand guiding it?

 

[guanophore]

He was suspended for the duration of the investigation.
But that does not change the fact that he resigned.
He chose to do this.

Given the opportunity to wait out the investigation and reclaim his title as ‘Father’ he chose to halt the investigation and leave the title and responsibilities behind.

Yes, but that was because he is convinced that he will never be able to reclaim his title as “Father”. I am not sure why he came to this conclusion, but if he believed the process would vindicate him, he would not have accepted this status of suspension indefinitely. It was imposed upon him, and thought he claims he is innocent, he believes the process is so flawed that he will not suceed in being restored.

I don’t know that much about the process, but it may be that the persons in charge of the findings are the very ones that what to silence him because they find his preaching offensive. Apparently they can find him guilty based upon the accusations, without any burden of proof. Those who wish to silence him may have been waiting for just such an opportunity so that there would be a convenient avenue to snuff out his voice. He has offended a great many powerful people for many years. He is blunt, and does not pull any punches. Powerful people in positions of power really are disturbed by people like this.

He did not choose to leave the title and responsibilities behind. They were removed from him against his will, and by his report, also against the will of SOLT.

 

[guanophore]

We can contrast the 3 months (roughly) that Corapi endured to the years Padre Pio spent in a similar situation.

I cannot shake the feeling that in spite of what he personally felt he should have accepted church authority over him and waited for God’s will to prevail.

When he took on his vows as a priest, he is effectively a tool for God. An instrument that God can use to help others.
If God should decide to put a tool back in the tool box for a period of time, what right does the tool have to jump out of the box and try to act on its own?

How well can a hammer (an apt description) work without the hand guiding it?

Yes, I see your point.

But if those in authority over him decide that the tool is ready to be retired, is he to “lie down and die” as he puts it, even if his conscience tells him he is not done?

Athanasius did not stop preaching and writing about the Truth when he was excommunicated. If he had, we would all be Arians today!

From his point of view, this is not a “period of time”. He does not expect that his faculties will ever be restored.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Yes, I see your point.

But if those in authority over him decide that the tool is ready to be retired, is he to “lie down and die” as he puts it, even if his conscience tells him he is not done?

Athanasius did not stop preaching and writing about the Truth when he was excommunicated. If he had, we would all be Arians today!

From his point of view, this is not a “period of time”. He does not expect that his faculties will ever be restored.

However, Fr Corapi is not fighting against a heresy. He is fighting against a legal procedure. The process may be flawed, but no legal proceeding is perfect (even the civil suit he brought will be tried in an imperfect court.)

My issue again comes down to the fact that he is the one stirring up the controversy. He made the accusations public, we only have his views on many things. There are many examples and teachings about suffering in silence and being obedient to legitimate authority. We don’t have to reach out to Saints to find examples.

His previous teachings (especially the early ones which were more focused) are very orthodox. I don’t think that is under dispute. The concern that continues to be raised is how his new teaching will lead people to the Church. Only time will tell.

 

[ritaveronica]

I have been reading peoples opinions about the Accusations and subsequent events regarding Fr. Corapi.

Please, brothers and sisters in Christ… this is one of our beloved priests.

Having inside knowledge of clerical politics, Fr. Corapi did NOT leave the priesthood!!!
He was sanctioned ONLY because of an accusation. Sanctioned or suspended means he was told to not say Mass publicly, hear confessions, nor “preach” publicly. That does not mean he can not “talk” and say what happened. He has a civil, personal right to say he is not guilty.

Once a priest always a priest. He is suffering a white martyrdom…The Bishops have paid off accusations without trails since the 2002 scandal… there is no point to a canonical trail… as usually once sanctioned in the US … your almost never get reinstated and folks this is barbaric but true… Fr. Corapi explained…evn if the accuser recants years later. These priests are thrown out, abandoned, treated like lepers…threatened if they asked for the tribunal or civil trail to prove their innocence.
God have mercy on Us and our Church Hierarchy.

He is representing all our other falsely accused priests who could not have a voice , like the public voice of Fr Corapi.

This has been exposed and I hope and pray that this lack of due process etc which Father told us about may some day be rectified.

We live in very dark times with our Church being attacked from the outside and within.

Father Corapi has boldly spoken the truth about all this at an even greater cost to others criticism, ignorant judgement and ridicule… as unfortunately spoken about on this blog.

Do you know there are innumerable priests who have been falsely accused and the new wave is adult women?

Finally, Fr.Corapi has been an itinerant Preacher living such and alone as per his order. The SOLT priests do not mostly live in community.

God Bless Fr. Corapi and May Our Lady comfort and console her son priest for his bravery.

Time will time what Father does with His new website…

 

[leonie]

My concerns about Fr. Corapi:

1. His lifestyle seems very worldly–materialist. I know he has a conference in the last couple of years in which he boasted about his properties. I think this is esp. dangerous for someone who struggled with materialism before his conversion.
2. He seems paranoid. I know he has said that he has a gun he has branished. He is very angry and not very forgiving.
3. His reaction to the Bishop seems to lack humility. The Bishop has not only Fr. Corapi to worry about, but a larger Catholic community to protect from scandal.
4. When I compare him to saints who faced similar situations–St. Pio, Fr. Don Bosco (who had several attempts on his freedom and life), St. Gerald (who was falsely accused of an affair)–his response lacks the charity and humility and obedience of these saints. I know that God loves obedience in his faithful.
5. I can’t imagine any devout priest giving up his priesthood voluntarily.
6. I don’t understand his order, exactly, but I think priests in orders should live in their orders when not in active ministry.
7. I know that preaching the truth is not necessarily in line with living morally from priests like Fr. Maciel.

I think that it’s easy to equate a charismatic preacher who preaches the truth with the actual truth. But, Fr (?) Corapi is just a man. I hope he is innocent, but I don’t think his recent lifestyle and reaction to this scandal is a sign of holiness. It seems to me that he’s lost his way. I was thinking this before this scandal even broke the news. Something is not right in his life.

God help him.

 

[Robertanthony]

My concerns about Fr. Corapi:

1. His lifestyle seems very worldly–materialist. I know he has a conference in the last couple of years in which he boasted about his properties. I think this is esp. dangerous for someone who struggled with materialism before his conversion.
2. He seems paranoid. I know he has said that he has a gun he has branished. He is very angry and not very forgiving.
3. His reaction to the Bishop seems to lack humility. The Bishop has not only Fr. Corapi to worry about, but a larger Catholic community to protect from scandal.
4. When I compare him to saints who faced similar situations–St. Pio, Fr. Don Bosco (who had several attempts on his freedom and life), St. Gerald (who was falsely accused of an affair)–his response lacks the charity and humility and obedience of these saints. I know that God loves obedience in his faithful.
5. I can’t imagine any devout priest giving up his priesthood voluntarily.
6. I don’t understand his order, exactly, but I think priests in orders should live in their orders when not in active ministry.
7. I know that preaching the truth is not necessarily in line with living morally from priests like Fr. Maciel.

I think that it’s easy to equate a charismatic preacher who preaches the truth with the actual truth. But, Fr (?) Corapi is just a man. I hope he is innocent, but I don’t think his recent lifestyle and reaction to this scandal is a sign of holiness. It seems to me that he’s lost his way. I was thinking this before this scandal even broke the news. Something is not right in his life.

God help him.

From my perspective, you pretty much hit the nail on the head, and in the process you remained charitable.

 

[Miserissima]

I found this link that may explain a bit and helped me to make moreaense of this mess: te-deum.blogspot.com/2011/06/corapi-controversy-two-interviews-worth.html

I am posting from my phone so please forgive the brevity off this post. Although I have been following this thread, please forgive me if this has already been posted.

 

[rap1962]

From the NCR article:

“If you are discouraged it is a sign of pride because it shows you trust in your own power. Your self-sufficiency, your selfishness and your intellectual pride will inhibit His coming to live in your heart because God cannot fill what is already full. It is as simple as that.” -Blessed Mother Teresa

Thanks to whoever posted the above quote. This is an example of extraordinary wisdom, the kind that only comes from God. I will try to keep this quote close to my heart to be a constant reminder that I should not become discouraged when I fail to serve God effectively according to my own expectations, as often happens. We must learn humility, because without it we can not possiblity put our complete trust in Him. I think this is the lesson God trys to teach us when he allows us to stumble. He may be trying to remind us to remain humble. The next time I stumble, rather than getting down on myself I will now recognize it is God talking to me, reminding me to be humble.

 

[twf]

Maybe this has already been addressed, but I’ve seen many references to Fr. Corapi’s “religious vows” and living a lifestyle not in accordance with the “religious life”. It was my understanding that SOLT is a society of apostolic life, like the FSSP, and NOT an instituted of consecrated life (order or congregation of religious). Members of SOLT do not take vows and are secular priests, just like diocesan priests. Is this incorrect? It makes a huge difference, and would also mean that leaving SOLT would be much easier than, say, being dispensed from the solemn vows one takes to join a religious order.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

Actually, the way Fr. Corapi is handling this situation is not orthodox at all, and is really hurting the cause for orthodoxy in the church. It is a huge witness against the truth. Fr preached all of these years, but when the time comes to humbly bear this, Fr. goes bezerk, doing all of these weird things. It does not take away the orthodoxy of Fr Corapi’s teaching all of these years, but it does hurt the overall message of the church and sets a bad example.

Calumny and speculation.

May you be judged with more charity and discretion than you are showing here.

 

[Joe_5859]

Maybe this has already been addressed, but I’ve seen many references to Fr. Corapi’s “religious vows” and living a lifestyle not in accordance with the “religious life”. It was my understanding that SOLT is a society of apostolic life, like the FSSP, and NOT an instituted of consecrated life (order or congregation of religious). Members of SOLT do not take vows and are secular priests, just like diocesan priests. Is this incorrect? It makes a huge difference, and would also mean that leaving SOLT would be much easier than, say, being dispensed from the solemn vows one takes to join a religious order.

I believe you are correct. Secular priests don’t take vows, they make promises. I know diocesan priests make the promise of chastity and obedience to their bishop and his successors. I’m not familiar enough with society’s of apostolic life to know whether or not they do exactly the same or something slightly different.

 

[OneAugustKnight]

If he isn’t supposed to be representing himself as a priest in public, doesn’t that mean he shut down his website and facebook page that represent him as a priest and stop selling his dvds? And edit the biography on his BSD website that refers to him as Fr Corapi?

I don’t understand how he can say he is still a priest, but can’t speak as a priest, so he is speaking as the BSD instead. If Fr Corapi isn’t allowed to represent himself as a priest, why is he releasing messages telling everyone he is still a priest? Why is the Fr Corapi facebook page and website still active?

Church politics seems crazy, I am glad this isn’t my mess to sort out.

 

[ringil]

John Corapi a.k.a. The BlackSheepDog should not be referred to as “Father” as he no longer ministers publicly as a Catholic priest.

 

[CreedalCatholic]

First, someone had quoted Mother Theresa of Calcutta with a rebuke of judgement. Mother Theresa also said - thus taking another quote - to a priest, who when asked if he prays had responded he didn’t because he was too busy, “Then father, you’re too busy.” I would imagine the most effective and proper context of her statement is that of a mother (hence why she bears this title.) Also, Mother Theresa was an Augstinian Nun before she founded an order exhbiting the full expression of St. Augustine who said, “The essentials: Unity; the non-essentials: liberty; and in all things: charity (hence the name of Mother Theresa of Calcutta’s order: The Sisters of Charity.)” In Father’s case, he has put a lot of effort and concern for his Apostolate (for which he is concered for the people.) And in many respects, the priest for whom Mother Theresa (in a Franciscian spirit of charity) was firm and gentle (like a good mother) in telling the priest he is too busy, was spending a lot of time with his missionary work (so did Mother Theresa of Calcutta.) So, with that, people need to hold to and exhibit charity in all things (especially with father.)

Father has a scandal and faces much of which happened to Job. Job’s family was scandalized and so was he. He had been constantly suffering the devil and pushed him to lose faith. However, God took up a dialogue with him and didn’t take all of Job’s grumbling with a hard-headed rebuking. Rather, Job’s friends had made the hard-headed rebuking added to the suffering of which fell on Job. Whereas God cared for Job and did not mute him nor further scandalized him upon which he had already been scandalized by the devil. In many respects, I have seen too many people taking this rebuking of father who is already under scrutiny. Though admonishment and correction are not without due, he isn’t going around scandalizing without having been admonished and approached by his superiors. If people continue to do so by themselvews and try to act like lone-rangers of religious correction, there is only columny and other vices and sins to be accountable for. That is, people are simply adding and making more of scandal out of a scandal; a double jeopardy to father and the Church. So, why don’t people get off their comfy soap-boxes and pray for him rather than following some self-serving quasy-religious-authority?

 

[CatholicFireman]

Unfortunately, it’s because they like to hear themselves talk, or in this case, read what they write.

I sometimes wonder how people fit their heads through the door.

 

[Marie5890]

I am sorry if I have offended. I am rather passionate about justice and I detected the odor of animosity toward Father Corapi. But he is still a Priest and presumed innocent. If he’s found guilty then stack him up with the other disgraced Bishops/Priests. But from the comments made here, there maybe another motive, maybe some here work for a Diocese that may have a vested interest in seeing Father fall? Once again, forgive me if I offended.

Completely understand, Gary,

Passionate feelings have been raging on all sides of this issue for many people. It’s pushed a lot of buttons on a variety of levels.

It’s moments like this that practicing authentic and credible Christian charity can be a challenge for sure. As human creatures, passions tend to run deep, no doubt.

Nothing simple or easy about authentic and credible discipleship to Our Lord, is there?
If anything, it’s times like this He shows us all where we are weak in comparison to where He wants us to be.

God Bless.