I’m responding to some consistent messages of anxiety and rejection I seem to be reading over the last several pages:
Why does he have to be a saint to be effective? Do you not think that priests who do not have the (a) opportunity to be, or (b) interest in being, or (c) magnetism to be – a public figure-- are not as guilty of different variants of the Capital Sin of Pride as he is?
I have known lots of priests because of my training and have had very close friendships with a number of them, over a long period of time. None of the priests, not one – regardless of how holy he
seems to be – does not have at least one major struggle with one of the Capital Sins (pride, lust, anger, and envy are probably the 4 most frequently apparent). Now, if these priests were itinerant preachers on radio and TV, people would be gossiping about how “prideful” they are, because at some point their human flaws would become on display. But that is so unfair to demand higher standards of sanctity for a “public” priest than for a “private” priest. Corapi isn’t any more “prideful” than your average Catholic priest, i.m.o – having known many of them, diocesan and religious. But the way they choose to “show-off” just varies with their particular opportunities to show off: for some, they want to ‘show off’ with the publicity about their local parish school (they want to take credit for that); for others, it’s through fundraising (Catholic causes, etc.); for others, it’s publicity about their books, if they author any, or their public speaking engagements, or their network of associates.
Because Corapi is not a saint does not mean (1) that he is the devil or being unduly controlled by the devil; (2) that he is not worthy to be a priest, or less worthy than his sinful brother priests, (3) that he has “failed” lay Catholics who have idolized him rather than responding to his call to idolize God alone, (4) that he should be persecuted by his superiors, or that his accuser should be allowed to exploit Church vulnerability on abuse issues, or that listeners who have benefited from his ministry should now doubt everything of value he has ever introduced them to.
You and I are as much called to sainthood as John Corapi is. He is not “more” called to sainthood, nor does he deserve to be condemned – and the state of his soul speculated about – if/when he appears to be less than saintly. He merely has a different role and different opportunities for sanctity. But every priest has at least as many challenges to sainthood as any lay Catholic has.
I understand the argument that some are making: that staying would show “humility and obedience,” and leaving is evidence of “pride.” I disagree. For this priest, with his personality, (the uniqueness that each priest brings to priesthood), leaving is evidence of principle, not pride. God uses our own temperaments, personalities, and weaknesses to deliver his message. Corapi is not a docile monk, but he is also not a rebel for the sake of rebellion (i.e., pride). He is a very different man, and his expression of his ministerial role is legitimate for him. I notice that I don’t see his detractors complaining about other religious figures who have evangelized in unorthodox ways, in unusual setttings, and with controversial, equally flawed personalities.
Finally, I maintain that those who believe that he has suddenly “changed,” or that he supposedly should “become humble” have not listened carefully to his talks. The ‘bravado’ that is a tone of some of his talks is mostly just a storytelling technique
and an evangelization technique. Along with stories about his past is a lot of acknowledgment of weaknesses that remain, temptations that remain, sins that remain, faults & deficiencies that persist. In other words, he demonstrates the virtue of humility (acknowledgment of the truth, as he and others have defined humility), but not a false humility that pretends not to have an ego. Rather, he has tried to use his expansive ego in imaginative ways to spread the need for our constant conversion (his as well).
As to his reaction to this whole episode, I won’t repeat myself but refer to my earlier posts. His reaction is logical and Trademark Corapi. I’m just surprised that so many of you are surprised. Perhaps you were listening to a different John Corapi than I was listening to.
) but as some have said, maybe saying one thing and doing another gets some angry. There have been Christian preachers, very effective, but some knew they were saying one thing and doing another…we all sin, but it irks some to see someone have a certain reputation and know they live their private life differently.