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

[Crumpy]

I think that the Church and Corapi’s order are in a shaky position. If an accusation has been made against him, why aren’t they (or have they?) begun a criminal investigation? How can they ignore the law and the rights of the accuser?

If the police were to dismiss the allegations, that would be one thing. But, not to get the police involved is opening themselves to a big lawsuit (nothing new, eh?). Aren’t they responsible for harassment in their workplace? If that is what Corapi did, then even that should be litigated to its conclusion.

I don’t see “nothing doing” as a solution or remedy to what is going on here.

For Corapi’s part, I don’t think that he has to obey when the orders are immoral or illegal or improper.

 

[surfinpure]

Yes, of course. However, his letter stating his inability to continue as a member of the community was pretty clear.

They are calling him to come home to live in community, which would mean he has to give up his private residence, and solitary lifestyle. This does not seem to fit with what he believes he is called to do.

I suppose this is my point. Coming from a Protestant background, I’ve known so many who believed they were called one way or another but who hadn’t the gift of authority to confirm that. I believe this is where the vow of obedience comes in, though. If God truly has other plans for him, He will speak (at least permission) through His Church. If those in authority are being disobedient, they will be held accountable.

His spiritual advisors also seemed to confirm that he was bound by both his role as a priest, and by continuing to suffer silence under the suspension he was given. It seemed to imply that he might be a strong political voice, or become involved in election issues.

I’m not sure I’ve seen the notion in writing anywhere that his superiors believed this was an unjust process that ought to cause suffering. Only Fr. Corapi has said this. But what good is a vow if it only binds while it is comfortable? I ask in sincerity, acknowledging that Father certainly has seemed to find it very painful of late.

What is negative about the connotation?

“Unleashed,” in even the best sense, means “set free from restraint.” It seems to imply that the authority of the Church was “holding him back” and that now he is “free.” In more negative definitions, of course, it refers to a dangerous animal (particularly a dog) who has now been set loose to do harm. Given the menacing image he’s chosen as his trademark, I can’t help but be uncomfortable with the association.

 

[surfinpure]

I think that the Church and Corapi’s order are in a shaky position. If an accusation has been made against him, why aren’t they (or have they?) begun a criminal investigation? How can they ignore the law and the rights of the accuser?

If the police were to dismiss the allegations, that would be one thing. But, not to get the police involved is opening themselves to a big lawsuit (nothing new, eh?). Aren’t they responsible for harassment in their workplace? If that is what Corapi did, then even that should be litigated to its conclusion.

I don’t see “nothing doing” as a solution or remedy to what is going on here.

For Corapi’s part, I don’t think that he has to obey when the orders are immoral or illegal or improper.

Fr. Corapi made clear from the beginning that the allegations were of a civil, not a criminal nature. By his own words and the actions of those in authority we can conclude there is nothing that would require the intervention of law enforcement.

The Church has not done nothing (in fact, that’s what all the complaining is about); in fact, they’ve had their hands bound because of pressure on the witnesses.

I’m confused as to which orders you might be referring to as “Immoral, illegal, or improper.” So far all they’ve asked him to do is relieve the pressure on the witnesses so the investigation can continue, and to live in community with his order, as per the 1994 Charter of SOLT (he was grandfathered in and granted special permission, having joined in 1990).

 

[whm]

I think that the Church and Corapi’s order are in a shaky position. If an accusation has been made against him, why aren’t they (or have they?) begun a criminal investigation? How can they ignore the law and the rights of the accuser?

If the police were to dismiss the allegations, that would be one thing. But, not to get the police involved is opening themselves to a big lawsuit (nothing new, eh?). Aren’t they responsible for harassment in their workplace? If that is what Corapi did, then even that should be litigated to its conclusion.

More than one person involved has stated that the accusations do not involve criminal conduct, but on the other hand drug abuse has been mentioned, which usually implies illegal drugs, but I suppose it could be abuse of legal drugs.

Sexual harassment is usually something that is dealt with in civil courts and not criminal courts. If it was criminal activity, it would be sexual battery or some other similar term.

 

[Miriam1947]

This is a great insight on what we can all do:

conversiondiary.com/2011/06/and-the-truth-shall-make-you-free.html

 

[Cinette]

*I think we should all read Posting # 562 as it is very clarifying.

No more speculation. Just read this post and let us wait for the process to unfold.

God bless
Cinette*

 

[Ella]

I am glad he is not leavng the priesthood. I don’t understand why he would tell people not to call him Father if he was not planning on leaving the priesthood. Even priests not in active ministry are called Father, unless they are laicized.

I also wish he had not said that 90% of his time was not spent doing the sacraments, implying that his being an active priest or not was irrelevant to his public ministry. It seems an irreverent thing to say about the sacramental nature of the priesthood.

 

[Teelynn]

you’re not in his shoes.
i’m not in his shoes.
The posters on caf are not in his shoes.
Etc.

I’m glad that you all think that:
(1) you would be saints in his position
or
(2) fulton j. Sheen would have been a saint in his position
or
(3) the rest of the catholic clergy and laity would be saints in his position.

None of us is in his position. Nor has he really told us everything. (he said he would not release the audiotapes.)

we are called not to judge the spirituality of our neighbor. That is a commandment. No one here has to worry about which commandments, and which vows, john corapi is obeying or not obeying, because he is not promoting dissidence and disaffection. We have to worry about which commandments we are obeying. He’s not asking us to ‘follow him’ or any such nonsense. He’s asking us to continue to pray for all parties involved, just as he states he is doing.

He has been given non-uniform advice by more than one bishop (at least one of whom is supportive of him, apparently), and we do not know all the details of what is going on with the bishop whom he claims on one tape is undermining him. I believe in giving corapi the benefit of the doubt on this. He is not leading a rebellion against the church, encouraging lay people to disobey their bishops. and he has not left the church. He was explicit about this on today’s blog.

As to the money thing, i think some people make much ado about nothing. He stated in at least one of his talks some time ago that he takes no money from his order. So it is not so “odd” that he would need to make money in a different way (such as selling media) in order to eat. If people are horrified about that, what should horrify you is that his order permitted it. He also gives money away to individuals who need it; he has sponsored needy people, if i understand him correctly. I’m troubled by the innuendos on this thread that he has been in the habit of being some avaricious priest – just because his lifestyle is somewhat unconventional for a priest. That has been all approved by his order. If it hadn’t, he wouldn’t have been allowed to remain in good standing with his order all these years. They must have either allowed it under their previous constitution, or decided that in his case an exception could be made because of (1) his potential reach to the faithful (2) the fact that selling media, etc. Would allow him to be financially independent from the order, or (3) some other reason. We do not have details about previous agreements between his order and him.

I also find it very interesting that some of the points i independently made about him and this situation, before today, were later stated by corapi himself, on his blog.

I’ve seen this so often in the church, just as i have seen it in secular politics on occasion. People turn someone into an artificial hero, creating a fantasy image for their own needs; then when that fantasy dissolves, they condemn their former hero for daring not to fit into their image. It is actually not an act of charity to put someone on a pedestal which will inevitably fall because of the person’s human frailty, and then devalue absolutely everything the person has gifted you with because you are disappointed that your fantasy is an illusion.

wow! Amen, amen, amen!!! And amen!!!

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Post-script on all the speculation about his military background. I have heard him specifically say, “It wasn’t the Special Forces,” and also, “It wasn’t the Green Berets,” and in the next breath say, “but in some ways it was a lot like [those].” I took him to mean that he was at least at one point, at one moment in time, in a unit with some specially demanding training and/or possible mission (with training for that potential mission, in anticipation). It could have been short-lived. It could have been merely a back-up unit. It also could have been that he was being considered for GB or SF at one point. But had he gone off to dwell on personal details, his listeners would have lost the message.

I.m.o. he was not trying to be deceptive, but to provide a narrative frame, so that the listeners could relate to the concept of the rigors of training, parallel to spiritual training, which we all must undergo if we want to make progress on a spiritual path. It was intended as a parallel, not offered (as they say in Court) “for the truth of the matter.”

If you’re all his biographers, I guess this is a concern of yours. Personally, I think your “concern” has missed the message.

This situation with his military record seems very disengenuous. It was on various bios of his that he was a GB. If he was not, I would think he would have corrected people at the time. It is easy enough to say, “No I wasn’t an actual GB, I was part of a different team.”

 

[randrada]

I think of two virtues here , obedience and humility.

Obedience ? If I understand it right suspending Fr. Corapi was illicit, how can one be obedient to that ? It is about time that we send messages to our bishops that their actions that are incompatible with the Church’s teachings are no longer tolerated.

I want my Church back.

Rey

 

[valient_Lucy]

It is about time that we send messages to our bishops that their actions that are incompatible with the Church’s teachings are no longer tolerated.

Rey

Judge not lest ye be judged.

 

[Teelynn]

This situation with his military record seems very disengenuous. It was on various bios of his that he was a GB. If he was not, I would think he would have corrected people at the time. It is easy enough to say, “No I wasn’t an actual GB, I was part of a different team.”

Why are we picking this poor man apart? For what reason? What real difference does all this make? I don’t recall ever hearing from any of his preaching one single misinterpretation of our Catholic faith. He proclaims truth of the Catholic Church. This is beyond doubt of anyone who knows the truth of the Catholic Church, and anyone who has compared the truth to what he proclaims. It seems odd to me and really not logical, that he would proclaim nothing but TRUTH and then lie intentionally about his personal life. Notice the adjective “**intentionally.” **

 

[Sheeniac]

Obedience ? If I understand it right suspending Fr. Corapi was illicit, how can one be obedient to that ? It is about time that we send messages to our bishops that their actions that are incompatible with the Church’s teachings are no longer tolerated.

I want my Church back.

Rey

You might try reading all of the thread. While long and painful, you will gain much. Once a priest is accused, they are suspended from ‘active duty’. This is no different from any other profession - teachers, lawyers, etc. The matter is then investigated. However, his civil lawsuit and Non-Disclosure agreements prevented (in the mind of the Church) the free and unpressured testimony of the witnesses. The investigation was stalled by his actions.

Nothing illicit about it.

 

[Ceil-1]

QUOTE=Mrs Sally;8029268]This situation with his military record seems very disengenuous. It was on various bios of his that he was a GB. If he was not, I would think he would have corrected people at the time. It is easy enough to say, “No I wasn’t an actual GB, I was part of a different team.”

In all the talks I’ve heard him give, and they are many, I have never heard him make this claim. I do not think people should jump so quickly onto the smear bandwagon.

People used to have the wisdom to withhold thier opinions and judgements unless they knew the source to be adequate. There is almost no way the masses can get accurate information due to the distance from primary sources. We are in a dangerous situation for ourselves, and for those potentially harmed by our getting inaccurate information.

I propose that legistlation be crafted to compensate people who can prove that they have been unjustly smeared. Whatever happenened to libel?

 

[Joe_5859]

I also wish he had not said that 90% of his time was not spent doing the sacraments, implying that his being an active priest or not was irrelevant to his public ministry. It seems an irreverent thing to say about the sacramental nature of the priesthood.

It doesn’t bother me that he spent only 10% of the time doing things that require one to be ordained. He’s not a diocesan priest. He has no parish. Preaching was his ministry. That’s the way it is for some priests. We are many parts, but one body.

That said, I’m not sure he necessarily said it in the best of ways. It left many with the impression that leaving active ministry is “no big deal” and will not greatly impact him doing what he normally does. I doubt that’s the impression Corapi intended to convey, but many apparently took it that way.

 

[qui_est_ce]

Mr. Voris,

How much money do you make by attacking our Bishops?

People have the right to defend Holy Mother Church.

You have the freedom to attack her. Please do not worry about our Bishops bringing down our Church from within.

Matthew 16:18

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

 

[irishpatrick]

Cults of personality create chaos and can lead Catholics away from focusing on Jesus.

That is, after all, why there are so many replies to this thread, we are witnessing a true “cult of personality here.”

 

[valient_Lucy]

Even though I wasn’t a “fan” of Fr. Corapi, I did enjoy listening to him on the radio and was very upset and angry at his decision to leave his order and priestly minsitry. (Why take vows if they don’t mean anything?)

But I’ve decided we have to think the best about everyone involved.

I am willing to assume the best about Fr. Corapi, and I am firmly commited to thinking the best about the Bishop of Corpus Christi. (It greatly distresses me when Catholics attack them.) I am also willing to think the best about SOLT.

I’m also willing to think the best about his accuser.

Ultimately, I think we’re just going to have to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

 

[valient_Lucy]

Mr. Voris,

How much money do you make by attacking our Bishops?

People have the right to defend Holy Mother Church.

You have the freedom to attack her. Please do not worry about our Bishops bringing down our Church from within.

Matthew 16:18

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Amen!

 

[CatholicFireman]

Judge not lest ye be judged.

That’s good advice all around.