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

[Veridical16]

To Fink:

I have seen no one on CAF bashing The Black Sheepdog in any way. People are very troubled by what has happened, and as far as I know, everyone is praying like crazy right now, both for him and for his followers, and his order. I know I am. His appearance, his voice, his writing, and his attitude are more than concerning, they add up to a frightening picture of a priest who is, as his order states, “unfit for ministry.” Yet he still has supporters, even “fans.” Even though Catholics in good standing ought to turn away from any priest, Bishop, etc. who is in disobedience to the Church, some are not, but are choosing instead to ignore the fact that this Black Sheepdog person has ignored a direct command from his order, the SOLT, to stop what he is now doing and return to community. It really doesn’t even matter why they are recalling him. He swore to obey, and he is now breaking that vow in a most public and scandalous manner. If he was speaking against the Pope himself, would his supporters then recognize his rebellious stance? One wonders.

I think it is beyond tragic what is happening to people, to Catholics, who should not be following any priest and especially one in direct rebellion to orders from his own religious community, which has right authority over him.

Amen, Juliane.

Also if people kept their mouth shut and the discuss things above, they won’t be able to discern or be knowledgeable enough to engage with someone who may see no problem with continuing to buy this man’s future material etc.
Last week for instance, everyone was behind Corapi and praying for those involved, nobody presumed he was guilty of wrong doing or unfitness for his ministry.
Because of the discussion, people like Guan, and others came around, to realize that SOLT made a wise decision. Therefore people reading, who are confused or not up to speed, will be able to make judgments if they ever encounter people who wrongfully accuse Corapi’s superiors of being wrong, as well as be better equipped to be on guard from being deceived by Fr. Corapi’s current behavior…

FATHER JOE: Those who collaborate, defend and buy his products will be offering material support to a suspended priest. In other words, he will be making his sin, their own.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Please, moderators, do not close this thread too! We are doing our level best to keep charitable in a difficult situation.

 

[Veridical16]

Amen. What concerns me the most is not the past but now and the future. This black sheep dog stuff looks like it might well be the product of Satan…

Agree, ElToro. He’s confused and torn. He probably influenced by spiritual warfare. The disturbing imagery, surely he is blind to know that the BS-dog image is not loving imagery.

Fulton Sheen - The Devil
youtube.com/watch?v=7z3-F71abro

Too much divided rhetoric in his Blog posts, wants it both ways to keep stringing along those he hopes to keep following him. Motivated to keep the veneer of “respect for the Church” while his intentions are pure defiance & worldly ambitions at the expense of the Church. I’m not excusing his decision making by saying Spiritual Warfare is on display here. But he seems very much IN the MIRE of worldliness with the leather jacket; and eagerness to have his foot out the door of the Church/his vocation.

Turtle mentioned this in the other locked thread.

Same holds true for Mel Gibson-how many people were brought to Christ through the film Mel Gibson made? But now we are all going to give up on him and throw him out because of his sins?

We need to pray for these people. Their souls are just as valuable to God as yours and mine are.

That reminds me of this recent picture of Mel this year wearing the scapular.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

Christ knows if there is true piety behind it, but it is nice to know he still has a reminder of Mary on him.
eponymousflower.blogspot.com/2011/05/mel-gibson-still-wears-his-scapular.html

Right now Corapi & his followers are approaching a precipice. he might even potentially do more damage. I wish he was under House Arrest, truly.

 

[Veridical16]

Please, moderators, do not close this thread too! We are doing our level best to keep charitable in a difficult situation.

When in doubt, Juliane, quote the Saints, and quote Scripture.

Some of what the saints say in truth and tone might be perceived as “uncharitable” by some Catholics.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I have a couple of questions about his latest video message. Asking here because the other thread is locked and I hope my questions are in line with helping to discern for those who also have questions.

I am not familiar enough with his speaking style to determine, but two things struck me. One the way he moved his head and mouth appeared a bit jerky and unnatural to me–as if he was trying hard to articulate clearly, Is that just his normal style? (everyone has idiosyncrasies).

Second, he went back and forth between “me” and “we” quite a bit. Is the “we” his media company? He and his followers? Himself in the royal “we”? Again, did he speak of “we” in the past and what meaning did it have then?

Also, as someone mentioned on the other thread, he does look very sad/tired at the end. I am sure these past few weeks have been very hard on him. I have been praying that he return to the SOLT and take time for rest and reflection. It now looks clear that that will not happen, but I will continue to pray for him and all priests, and for the others involved in this tragedy.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Agree, ElToro. He’s confused and torn. He probably influenced by spiritual warfare. The disturbing imagery, surely he is blind to know that the BS-dog image is not loving imagery.

Fulton Sheen - The Devil
youtube.com/watch?v=7z3-F71abro

Too much divided rhetoric in his Blog posts, wants it both ways to keep stringing along those he hopes to keep following him. Motivated to keep the veneer of “respect for the Church” while his intentions are pure defiance & worldly ambitions at the expense of the Church. I’m not excusing his decision making by saying Spiritual Warfare is on display here. But he seems very much IN the MIRE of worldliness with the leather jacket; and eagerness to have his foot out the door of the Church/his vocation.

Turtle mentioned this in the other locked thread.

That reminds me of this recent picture of Mel this year wearing scapular.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-97E6yZjIi...00/article-0-0C1DDF1F00000578-251_306x423.jpg

Christ knows if there is true piety behind it, but it is nice to know he still has a reminder of Mary on him.
eponymousflower.blogspot.com/2011/05/mel-gibson-still-wears-his-scapular.html

Right now Corapi & his followers are approaching a precipice. he might even potentially do more damage. I wish he was under House Arrest, truly.

Mel Gibson is certainly an alcoholic. I thought he had admitted to it himself, and gone to rehab at least once. This is what alcoholism does to people, and celebrities or public figures melt down in full view of the public. Mel is a talented individual and I believe he wants to also be a sober Catholic. At least he has admitted his problem and sought treatment. Many never do. And many relapse at some point and do themselves and their loved ones great damage.

 

[CreedalCatholic]

First of all, everyone in the general discussion are very much like jury members sitting on the sidelines (a much more truly democratic process.) So, each person can allow the dust to settle to evaluate the evidence in accordance to the law (or more so in: Love thy God with all your heart, mind, and soul and all your strength; and love thy neighbor.)

Second of all, most of the evidence clearly comes with the strangeness of the whole case.

There is exhibited evidence of Fr. Corapi:

Father Corapi’s management sends a statement pleading to us about the situation for Father’s administrative leave.

An Archidiocesen Priest from Minnesota sends out a statement describing the flaws of the process and the lack of credibility (he advocated praying for everyone involved as well.)

Father begins the blacksheepdog biography and domain amidst the allegations.

Father communicates he is leaving SOLT and the priesthood.

Father acknowledges the details of which he is being accused (those explicity from the 3-person fact finding panel) and files a lawsuit (and communicates this to the public.)

There is the exhibited evidence of SOLT:

The regional servant sends out a message (also asking people to pray) of Fr. Corapi’s administrative leave with: “unbecoming of a priest” (or words to that effect) as a result of a letter of complaint (along with clarifying the Bishop of Corpus Christi only advised SOLT to put Fr. Corapi on administrative leave (which is standard procedure in light ot scandal.)

SOLT’s regional servant sends out another message about offering and advising Father to come to the community. And he communicates (along with mentioning SOLT’s constitutional revisions) and acknowledges Corapi’s leaving the priesthood and SOLT’s cooperation with him.

Later, the SOLT regional sends out much more explicit information of the accusation and details of evidence (from the accuser) reviewed by a 3-person fact finding panel.

What, we as a jury, can and will never know is the actual evidence. We’re, in fact, a hear-say jury of evidence (or a jury of the general public.) And since this a general public jury, there are 3rd, 4th, and so on groups with evidence (bloggers, Apologists, those in media, etc.)

Finally, the evidence doesn’t explain itself and those who are involved must explain (or at least give testimony.) As a result, you have a trial (publicly hear-say.)

Here is what I think:

I don’t believe each side has been truthfully honest (which is quite good, meaning it is quite normal in most common trials.) Because, the stakes are high and each person has a lot to lose.

What I ask are some questions:

As for Father:

Why pursuit the blacksheepdog name for sake of leaving the priesthood (at least the gesture in thought and action since God has ordained him through Bl. Pope John Paul II)?

What purpose serves the Church in disobeying not so much as poorly guided authority as the Church herself?

What is the necessity of getting agitated with Church authority, the accuser, and putting the accuser and those, who have responsibility, in much more dire and much more duress with attending to Christ’s flock?

As for the regional servant:

What would have lacked credibility in both claim and the evidence?

And in this case, what was the credibilty in this claim and this explicit evidence now presented to the public?

Why the announcement to the general public with additional and more explicit evidence thus placing great distress to the public and Father Corapi?

Why weren’t matters handeled with more discretion and due process? Why, as Bishop Gracida pointed out, wasn’t there a much less scandalous (and less damaging) avenue taken to put Father on administrative leave?

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

This newletter came out in Nov 2009

fathercorapi.com/Webpage.aspx?WebpageId=31&CategoryId=25

Jesus often said things like “Fear is useless. What is needed is trust;” and “Let your hearts not be troubled…;” etc. We would do well to remember this at a time when it is often not easy to be certain, happy, and without anxiety and fear. I have recently lost my closest ally and co-worker in the history of my ministry. My God-daughter Tamra traveled well over a million miles with me, worked very hard, and enabled more than 300 events, often the only person working in my office and assisting me. Her husband Matt is mostly responsible for all of the videography and technological growth we have enjoyed. They are moving on to other things, and although my heart is broken at the loss, I can only wish them every blessing for the future. Their hard work and talent blessed millions of souls through the years. Sometimes it is brutally hard to go on, for all of us. Yet, time will go on with us or without us.

But he wrote it supposedly after the non disclosure agreement, and in the lawsuit it states, she was terminated with cause.

The lawsuit is on Jimmy Akin’s blog

On the blacksheepdog website she was described as a raging alcoholic for years. But she didn’t seem to be 1.5 years ago. She was his closest ally.

 

[Veridical16]

This newletter came out in Nov 2009

fathercorapi.com/Webpage.aspx?WebpageId=31&CategoryId=25

But he wrote it supposedly after the non disclosure agreement, and in the lawsuit it states, she was terminated with cause.

The lawsuit is on Jimmy Akin’s blog

On the blacksheepdog website she was described as a raging alcoholic for years.** But she didn’t seem to be 1.5 years ago. She was his closest ally**.

This is not good. I don’t like how this reminds me of politicians, and having to navigate who is keeping their story straight…

Pray that he please goes back to his order. Or please let the ecclesiastical authorities just put Fr. Corapi under house arrest or something.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

This newletter came out in Nov 2009

fathercorapi.com/Webpage.aspx?WebpageId=31&CategoryId=25

But he wrote it supposedly after the non disclosure agreement, and in the lawsuit it states, she was terminated with cause.

The lawsuit is on Jimmy Akin’s blog

On the blacksheepdog website she was described as a raging alcoholic for years. But she didn’t seem to be 1.5 years ago. ** She was his closest ally.**

And, apparently, his god-daughter.



Here’s something that is troubling to me. Every communication from The Black Sheepdog, formerly known as Fr. Corapi, has included some iteration of “I won’t lie down and die,” or “…crawl under a rock and die.” He has stated these things each time he speaks, and now again in his video. What could this mean? It is an understandable thing to say once, but over and over again? It’s almost like a code he is repeating again and again, so that we hear it and understand. Or maybe his followers know the code.

All I know is that it is very odd how many times he has said, “They want me to lie down and die, but I won’t.”

 

[Marie5890]

Here’s something that is troubling to me. Every communication from The Black Sheepdog, formerly known as Fr. Corapi, has included some iteration of “I won’t lie down and die,” or “…crawl under a rock and die.” He has stated these things each time he speaks, and now again in his video. What could this mean? It is an understandable thing to say once, but over and over again? It’s almost like a code he is repeating again and again, so that we hear it and understand. Or maybe his followers know the code.

All I know is that it is very odd how many times he has said, “They want me to lie down and die, but I won’t.”

I can only give you the sense that I have having followed this story as it has unfolded.

I think John Corapi is going thru something of an “identity crisis” trying to figure out or understand who is the “authentic John Corapi”

I think, from all sides, he is having to deal with others defining “who he is in the eyes of God” and that can muddle a person’s head. It gets confusing. It can cause poor decisions choice as one tries to unwind the confusion.

He may have a need to, without realizing it, shut out all the confusion and noise and trying to quietly come to a better and deeper understanding of “who is John Corapi as God has made John Corapi”

As a priest I have no doubt he has had A LOT of things projected onto him, rightly or wrongly. It’s confusing in either case.

I truly hope he is able to find his way thru the confusion. All the noise. Find out, authentically, who he is in God’s eyes, and what God wants him to do.

No easy task, that.

I honestly wish him the best in this painful pilgramage.

 

[ckchan]

And, apparently, his god-daughter.



Here’s something that is troubling to me. Every communication from The Black Sheepdog, formerly known as Fr. Corapi, has included some iteration of “I won’t lie down and die,” or “…crawl under a rock and die.” He has stated these things each time he speaks, and now again in his video. What could this mean? It is an understandable thing to say once, but over and over again? It’s almost like a code he is repeating again and again, so that we hear it and understand. Or maybe his followers know the code.

All I know is that it is very odd how many times he has said, “They want me to lie down and die, but I won’t.”

This is why I think SOLT felt the need to “set records straight”. Because it’s passive aggressive. (‘The situation is that (xx) want me to crawl under a rock and die’ without saying those words, and using metaphorical language, it’s open to interpretation where it sounds like he is the victim or simply playing the victim card). Also, by saying those words over and over again it’s the same as giving/reminding his fanbase reason for their undying support.

What I don’t understand is Fr. C assumes (based on his response) that complying to be in community is the same as “crawling under a rock and die.” If such is the case, then why do we have so many happy religious people in community. Why not trust in God that we will grow holy, and spiritually fruitful in the community rather than venturing on our own? Since it is Christ speaking thru his superiors.

 

[7_Sorrows]

i just watched the latest video posted on his website. he looked very thin.
to me, he is someone in his 60’s who wants to make a career move. as he said, it is traumatic for us because this has happened suddenly, within 3 months, where perhaps he has been contemplating it for sometime. he definitely needs our prayers and i hope he finds what he is looking for in his new life. i am glad that he finally came out and spoke and said something. his problems are probably far from over. none of us knows what the future holds. perhaps he feels that God is calling him in another direction. God be with him.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

This is why I think SOLT felt the need to “set records straight”. Because it’s passive aggressive. (‘I’m being aggravated here by (xx)’ without saying those words). Or simply playing the victim card. Also, by saying those words over and over again it’s the same as giving/reminding his fanbase reason for their undying support.

What I don’t understand is Fr. C is assuming that complying to be in community is the same as “crawling under a rock and die.” If such is the case, then why do we have so many happy religious people in community. Why not trust in God that we will grow holy, and spiritually fruitful in the community rather than venturing on our own? Since it is Christ speaking thru his superiors.

:clapping:

He really has placed himself in battle against his superiors, as if they have no authority over him whatsoever. And you are right, it is as if he is reminding his followers that it is either fight or die. Yet he is a priest! He should not be fighting the Church, but he is, isn’t he? The weak disclaimers at the end of his statements about “You should love the Church,” don’t begin to counterbalance this “I’m going down fighting” attitude.

I am going to pray now. May the Holy Spirit pursue John Corapi until his mind is again clear and filled with peace.

 

[PRmerger]

Mel is a talented individual and I believe he wants to also be a sober Catholic.

My understanding is that he is not a Catholic, but a schismatic. He is a member of the sedevacantist movement, yes?

In fact, I learned this on Catholic Answers Live when Patrick Coffin mentioned it, along with Jimmy Akin.

 

[scoobydoo6v92]

Amen. What concerns me the most is not the past but now and the future. This black sheep dog stuff looks like it might well be the product of Satan…

I am not sniding (sp?) John Corapi. But since you mentioned that the black sheepdog stuff may be a product of satan, Did you notice how much closer he is looking like Anton Levey??? seriously I am not being nasty just look at him in his new video he looks scary. I think he is being influenced by satan and he don’t realize it. Could that be the reason why he is going through the metamorphosis we are seeing? satan finaly winning the battle and called voctory? I am seroius he is looking more and more like Anton Levey and it is bothering me. He looks awful in that leather jacket and just looks like nothing he was. There is more to this than his will, I really think he is playing with fire and satan has been beating him up for ten years and won. I still think Corapi’s pride did it but he was not alone he was influenced by satan. My opinion.

 

[PaulDupre]

We must all pray for John Corapi. There but for the grace of God go I.

It is never too late for a soul to repent.

 

[CatholicFireman]

We must all pray for John Corapi. There but for the grace of God go I.

It is never too late for a soul to repent.

Amen.

 

[Fink]

What if the fallen comrade doesn’t realize he has fallen? What if he doesn’t realize the need to get back up, because he thinks he is still standing?

There’s a difference between bashing someone and saying “You are doing something wrong.”

Youve taken my breath away. What do you think the words: "......and were to help him get back up!" mean? Does the word “metaphor” mean anything to you?
i give up!

As for almost everyone else: enjoy the sport while the thread lasts.
See you on the Confession queue! (Hint: Eighth Commandment.)

 

[anthony022071]

The title of this thread is false. Father Corapi has never said he is leaving the priesthood.
He was put on administrative leave,suspended from public ministry. He was never a normal parish priest. His mission was discerned for him by his superior Father James Flanagan,the founder of SOLT,who also told him that he should support himself.