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

[anthony022071]

The part I find upsetting is that he seems unwilling to do it. If God is calling him to do this, then he needs to set the example. In his preaching, he has taught (rightly) that God’s will can be assumed under the will of one’s rightful authority (superior). Now he has been directed to return to SOLT, so he is in disobedience.

Obedience to one’s superior is not an absolute rule. That would be a prescription favorable to tyranny,injustice,corruption and heresy. Some of the great saints were disobedient and disrespectful to their superiors,when their superiors were acting unjustly or teaching heresy.

I do understand that he believes (and clearly history has shown this to be the case) he is called to public preaching. For a person so called, they are compelled to fulfill their gift.
If he secluded himself and tried to live a contemplative life it would not have been a right response. One must act according to one’s call to be fulfilled. Right now, God is calling him to get out of the public eye, return to the community, and keep silence. If he wants to call that “crawl under a rock and die”, so be it, but that is what he is called upon to do right now. If God wants him to return to preaching, then I am sure it is possible, but not without obedience first.

I agree, even if he went to live a contemplative life now, the 20 years may be all that God intended. The refusal to accept this, and to embrace his life as a priest, even if he is being defamed unjustly, does not set a good example to the flock.

How do you know what God is calling him to do?

 

[anthony022071]

Why would SOLT want to “shut him up”? He is probably their best source of income…

I don’t know their intentions.

What wrongdoing do you think they have done?

I don’t know,but I suspect that the accusations are false.

He can give his money whereever he chooses. Even if he does return to the community, he can divest it anywhere. They don’t have any claim on his income.

They might insist on having his money if he were to move in with them.

What possible motive would they have to post those details?

Apparently,to make him look bad so people won’t support him.

 

[Cinette]

An email, just now received, from Fr. John Corapi:

Please do not reply to this email-see below for contact information.
If you no longer wish to receive emails from Santa Cruz Media, please CLICK HERE

What’s In This Newsletter

—END OF AN ERA!
—The Black SheepDog is Social!

END OF AN ERA

For twenty years I tried to impart the Catholic and Christian Faith through preaching and teaching the Word of God as a Catholic priest. That era of my life is sadly ended, but rather than lie down and die, I have made a decision to continue doing what I can to inspire, teach, and give hope to the people living in a time in history much in need of it.

In keeping with this decision, the entire inventory of Fr. John Corapi material will be sold only up until 5:00 pm Eastern time, July 25th, 2011. After that, there will be no further chance to acquire the audio and video material that marked that era. Everything in the inventory will be marked down 50%.

At the end of the business day, July 25th, 2011, the doors to the website www.frjohn.com will be closed. We are moving into a new era, the era of The Black Sheep Dog—which you will be able to find at www.theblacksheepdog.us and on our Facebook page: The Black Sheep Dog. We hope that you will follow me to our new meeting place. All updates, information on my book, “The Black Sheep Dog,” radio broadcasts, etc. will be at the new locations.

I am thankful for every one of you; for your kindness, your prayers, and your understanding. I hope that we can meet again in new places and together move on toward fulfilling our mission. God bless you, God love you, and goodbye for now.

John Corapi

The Black Sheep Dog

PLEASE NOTE: YOU MUST USE THE COUPON “ONWARD” WHEN YOU CHECK OUT TO RECEIVE THE 50% DISCOUNT!

The Black SheepDog Wants to Be Social:

As The Black SheepDog, John plans on regularly maintaining a Twitter account, Facebook, and YouTube. Be sure to ‘fan,’ ‘like,’ and ‘friend’ him today!

The Black SheepDog on Facebook
The Black SheepDog’s Blog
The Black SheepDog on YouTube
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…

*Do what I say - don’t do what I do!

Pity that Fr Corapi does not believe in setting an example of graciousness, humility and obedience. CS Lewis said that pride is the root of all sin.

Cinette *

 

[Cinette]

Obedience to one’s superior is not an absolute rule. That would be a prescription favorable to tyranny,injustice,corruption and heresy. Some of the great saints were disobedient and disrespectful to their superiors,when their superiors were acting unjustly or teaching heresy.

How do you know what God is calling him to do?

*I do not believe that God would want him to be disobedient to his Superior! Do you?

Cinette*

 

[Cinette]

I don’t know their intentions.

I don’t know,but I suspect that the accusations are false.

They might insist on having his money if he were to move in with them.

Apparently,to make him look bad so people won’t support him.

*SOLT does not need to “make him look bad” as you state! John Corapi is doing that job all by himself!

Cinette*

 

[Nordar]

I don’t know their intentions.

I don’t know,but I suspect that the accusations are false.

They might insist on having his money if he were to move in with them.

Apparently,to make him look bad so people won’t support him.

I’m sorry but none of that makles any sense.
“I don’t know their intentions” does not answer the question as to why SOLT would wish to shut him up.

Why do you think the accusations are false? Why would they make false accusations? what would be the purpose?

SOLT wanting his money? he was helping support them this whole time so why on earth would they want him to move in with them to get his money? that makes absolutely no sense.

 

[debraran]

Why no mention of sueing SOLT over speaking of “false evidence”? He gave up when they came out with the emails/texts and other evidence. I don’t think 3 people investigating and SOLT which can be sued, would say those things if not true. If so, I would sue them if I were him, show me the evidence (which they might have done already)

This statement from them from EWTN said “recently”

He did have sexual relations and years of cohabitation (in California and Montana) with a woman known to him, when the relationship began, as a prostitute; He repeatedly abused alcohol and drugs; He has recently engaged in sexting activity with one or more women in Montana; He holds legal title to over $1 million in real estate, numerous luxury vehicles, motorcycles, an ATV, a boat dock, and several motor boats, which is a serious violation of his promise of poverty as a perpetually professed member of the Society.

I admit, I’m tainted by what I’m surrounded with, in my extended family, a judge, lawyer and investigator. You always question because it’s the natural thing to do.

 

[guanophore]

Obedience to one's superior is not an absolute rule. That would be a prescription favorable to tyranny,injustice,corruption and heresy. Some of the great saints were disobedient and disrespectful to their superiors,when their superiors were acting unjustly or teaching heresy.

Yes, of course! But SOLT is not asking him to do anything unjust and they are not teaching heresy.

How do you know what God is calling him to do?

Corapi himself has taught that the Church consists of the Bishops, in communion with the successor of Peter. He has taught that the bishop has the jurisdiciton over the flock under his guidance. He has taught that obedience to one’s authorities equals obedience to God. Now it is time to man up, and practice what he has preached. He preached the Truth.

I don't know their intentions.

Do you have some reason to doubt their mission statement on the web site?

I don’t know,but I suspect that the accusations are false.

Yeah, I was clinging to that wishful thinking too, for about four months.

They might insist on having his money if he were to move in with them.

They have no grounds to do such a thing. He made it. He can dispense of it according to his own ideas. What they are asking, though, is that he keep his promises, and divest himself of it, for the sake of his eternal soul.

Apparently,to make him look bad so people won’t support him.

Ok. And how does that benefit them?

I think you are dreaming, Anthony! Wake up, and smell the coffee.:coffeeread:

 

[brumano]

This is a good point. It is certainly possible that all the evidence being cited could have been manufactured. It is also true that the fact finding team are not “FBI” as Corapi noted. I doubt they have the equipment or the expertise to validate the sources like the “FBI” could do. That being said, the quickest and most effective way for Corapi to clear himself would be to cooperate fully with the investigation, and use some of his assets to hire whatever experts he needed.

It may be that he did not have the ability to defend himself because there really is no defense.

I very much appreciate that you at least are trying to be fair while you are convinced that Fr. is for the most part the guilty party in this whole regrettable affair, I’m sure you have what are to you good reasons for thinking that he is that guilty party, you’re certainly entittled to think so; and you know what you may be absolutely right. I think however that you must have noticed throughout this whole controversey a very sharp contrast in the persuassions of the accusers and the position of those like me who believe he is innocent. Think about what you’re recommending here that Fr. ought to do, or as I think you would have to admit at this juncture that is that he ought to have done, because I think it’s pretty clear that the mind of SOLT, certain Church Officials, and many Lay Catholics is now made up that he is guilty, as being the quickest and most effective way for him to clear himself. This is what you’re saying should have been unobjectionable to him to have to do; that while he was carrying on normally as he had been accustomed to in his priestly and ministerial life;that upon the levelling of charges of sexual misconduct and the suspension of his priestly faculties that he was to open his PACs provide all the codes, passwords, email adresses, links, personal id’s of others, et all, everything and anything that the SOLT fact finding team might for any reasons of their’s decide to require him to provide so as to satisfy anyone concerned that he had cooperated with The Investigation. Would you, under any similiar cicumstances do the same? Well, maybe you would but then would you just feel completely unaffected and without remorse when one or hundreds, thousands who trusted and confided with you on matters of the faith, personal problems or anything else were adversely affected. Fr. did the only thing he could do morally and that was to say NO! If he would have gone along with all this do you think he could even get up in the morning and go out and live his faith and function as a priest with a good conscience from then on?

It may be but it does not follow that he does not have a defense; this exemplifies the type of logic employed by the accusers of Fr.Corapi; he tried to limit the investigation to pertinent matters of the accusations that were brought forth only; so he is guilty. He resigned so he is guilty. He keeps saying he’s not guilty in the public so he is guilty. He did not use his assets to contribute experts to the internet investigation, so he is guilty so on and so on.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I very much appreciate that you at least are trying to be fair while you are convinced that Fr. is for the most part the guilty party in this whole regrettable affair, I’m sure you have what are to you good reasons for thinking that he is that guilty party, you’re certainly entittled to think so; and you know what you may be absolutely right. I think however that you must have noticed throughout this whole controversey a very sharp contrast in the persuassions of the accusers and the position of those like me who believe he is innocent. Think about what you’re recommending here that Fr. ought to do, or as I think you would have to admit at this juncture that is that he ought to have done, because I think it’s pretty clear that the mind of SOLT, certain Church Officials, and many Lay Catholics is now made up that he is guilty, as being the quickest and most effective way for him to clear himself. This is what you’re saying should have been unobjectionable to him to have to do; that while he was carrying on normally as he had been accustomed to in his priestly and ministerial life;that upon the levelling of charges of sexual misconduct and the suspension of his priestly faculties that he was to open his PACs provide all the codes, passwords, email adresses, links, personal id’s of others, et all, everything and anything that the SOLT fact finding team might for any reasons of their’s decide to require him to provide so as to satisfy anyone concerned that he had cooperated with The Investigation. Would you, under any similiar cicumstances do the same? Well, maybe you would but then would you just feel completely unaffected and without remorse when one or hundreds, thousands who trusted and confided with you on matters of the faith, personal problems or anything else were adversely affected. Fr. did the only thing he could do morally and that was to say NO! If he would have gone along with all this do you think he could even get up in the morning and go out and live his faith and function as a priest with a good conscience from then on?

It may be but it does not follow that he does not have a defense; this exemplifies the type of logic employed by the accusers of Fr.Corapi; he tried to limit the investigation to pertinent matters of the accusations that were brought forth only; so he is guilty. He resigned so he is guilty. He keeps saying he’s not guilty in the public so he is guilty. He did not use his assets to contribute experts to the internet investigation, so he is guilty so on and so on.

The SOLT did not ask for that, according to their news release (and all we know is what has been said in the various news releases and statements made). They asked him to rescind his civil suit so that they could question witnesses without them being under constraint. This is a canonical investigation, not a civil or criminal investigation. The rules are different than US law since they are universal church law. The findings that the SOLT announced are binding on Fr Corapi as a priest, but do not mean that he has been declared “guilty” under any US laws. A canonical investigation does not mean that a priest needs to violate the seal of the confessional, but it does mean that he has to cooperate and allow the process to go on in impeded.

What people are concerned about now is that Fr Corapi has not been obedient to his proper superiors in the SOLT and in the church. He has not allowed the canonical process to move forward, he has not followed the reasonable direction of his order/society. These are not new, strange requests. This are common expectations of every priest in every situation.

 

[franas]

Think of this:

The accuser just celebrated her 6th wedding anniversary. She is with her hubby and has five children, etc. I wonder how Fr. Corapi fit into her schedule like cohabiting and other outlandish sexting accusations.

 

[mom4mary]

[QUOTEThink of this:

The accuser just celebrated her 6th wedding anniversary. She is with her hubby and has five children, etc. I wonder how Fr. Corapi fit into her schedule like cohabiting and other outlandish sexting accusations.
[/QUOTE]

SOLT has stated that they have proof of such activities beyond just her accusations. So far, Fr. Corapi has not addressed SOLT’s assertion that they have actual, hard evidence in this regard.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Think of this:

The accuser just celebrated her 6th wedding anniversary. She is with her hubby and has five children, etc. I wonder how Fr. Corapi fit into her schedule like cohabiting and other outlandish sexting accusations.

It’s not clear from the official statements that the woman named in Fr Corapi’s law suit is the same woman (women) who the SOLT mentions in their statement.

However, speaking in general, it has certainly been proved many times in the past that someone can both be married and be carrying on an affair.

 

[brumano]

The SOLT did not ask for that, according to their news release (and all we know is what has been said in the various news releases and statements made). They asked him to rescind his civil suit so that they could question witnesses without them being under constraint. This is a canonical investigation, not a civil or criminal investigation. The rules are different than US law since they are universal church law. The findings that the SOLT announced are binding on Fr Corapi as a priest, but do not mean that he has been declared “guilty” under any US laws. A canonical investigation does not mean that a priest needs to violate the seal of the confessional, but it does mean that he has to cooperate and allow the process to go on in impeded.

What people are concerned about now is that Fr Corapi has not been obedient to his proper superiors in the SOLT and in the church. He has not allowed the canonical process to move forward, he has not followed the reasonable direction of his order/society. These are not new, strange requests. This are common expectations of every priest in every situation.

My post and the one before it pertained to the Internet material charges and investigation; for the possibilities of what cannonical processes as you call them can yield see post #324.
I understand there’s a difference between State Law and Church Law and of the two which would we hold to a higher standard? Guilt is a moral pronouncement on the person not just a legalistic finding, that is why the charges about a priest’s moral conduct are so serious to be issued in the first place. There does not appear to have been much in the way of sober and responsible deliberation before the levelling of all these charges.
The issue about Obedience is not as clear cut and dry as SOLT would prefer all to accept, there’s no avoiding that fact and there’s no successful way that anyone can just blanket everything Fr.did and didn’t do as being disobedient.
A request is a request; to decline a request is not to disobey an order.

 

[mom4mary]

The issue about Obedience is not as clear cut and dry as SOLT would prefer all to accept, there’s no avoiding that fact and there’s no successful way that anyone can just blanket everything Fr.did and didn’t do as being disobedient.
A request is a request; to decline a request is not to disobey an order.

According to SOLT’s own statement, they are not just requesting that he do certain things, but instead are directing him to do so, under obedience:

"SOLT has contemporaneously with the issuance of this press release directed Fr. John Corapi, under obedience, to return home to the Society’s regional office and take up residence there. It has also ordered him, again under obedience, to dismiss the lawsuit he has filed against his accuser.

SOLT’s prior direction to Fr. John Corapi not to engage in any preaching or teaching, the celebration of the sacraments or other public ministry continues. Catholics should understand that SOLT does not consider Fr. John Corapi as fit for ministry."

This is not just an “it would be nice if you would…”. He is being directed to do so under obedience to his religious superiors.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

My post and the one before it pertained to the Internet material charges and investigation; for the possibilities of what cannonical processes as you call them can yield see post #324.
I understand there’s a difference between State Law and Church Law **and of the two which would we hold to a higher standard? **Guilt is a moral pronouncement on the person not just a legalistic finding, that is why the charges about a priest’s moral conduct are so serious to be issued in the first place. **There does not appear to have been much in the way of sober and responsible deliberation before the levelling of all these charges. **
The issue about Obedience is not as clear cut and dry as SOLT would prefer all to accept, there’s no avoiding that fact and there’s no successful way that anyone can just blanket everything Fr.did and didn’t do as being disobedient.
A request is a request; to decline a request is not to disobey an order.

Corapi took vows to his order. If he had reservations about doing that, he should not have taken the vows. But he did, and he is under their authority, although he’d like to pretend he can just get up and walk away.

Your statement that “there does not appear to have been much in the way of sober and responsible deliberation before the leveling of all these charges.” How do you know what deliberation there has or has not been? What we have is only what both parties have given us. There has been a lot of inflammatory rhetoric from Corapi. He keeps saying “they want me to be gone,” or “they want me to crawl under a rock and die.” But no one is asking him to do any such thing. He must know that he stirs up his supporters with such statements. The SOLT did not ask for this scandal. They do not want this scandal. Corapi has gifted them with this scandal.

And yes, he is being disobedient to the point of insubordination. As a military veteran, he must know that disobeying a lawful order by an immediate superior is insubordination. We can be charitable as all get-out about that, but in the end, he either obeys or he refuses. I think it’s clear what he wants to do. “End of an Era” he terms it. “Onward!” is his mantra. He just told SOLT to go pound sand.

 

[trials]

Do you know, I’ve discussed this whole situation at length at home, and a little on here, and every time a new update has come out I’ve reacted to it. Then every so often, I just get dumbfounded again at what has happened to Fr. Corapi. I am praying earnestly for him every day, but sometimes I just think back to how I used to feel when watching his Catechism series or the Power of the Eucharist, and then I think of him now - it’s like a total disconnect. It’s frightening.

How fragile our sanctity is. I trust good will come out of this, but how near we are to that abyss all the time. One step back on our journey of hope, and look how far we could end up falling. And I’m speaking as a seasoned sinner who re-converted only a few years ago. God give us the grace to carry on our path towards You, and please, for all the good he did, please give Fr. Corapi the grace and strength to return to obedience, humility and ultimately, salvation.

 

[mom4mary]

Corapi took vows to his order. If he had reservations about doing that, he should not have taken the vows. But he did, and he is under their authority, although he’d like to pretend he can just get up and walk away.

Your statement that “there does not appear to have been much in the way of sober and responsible deliberation before the leveling of all these charges.” How do you know what deliberation there has or has not been? What we have is only what both parties have given us. There has been a lot of inflammatory rhetoric from Corapi. He keeps saying “they want me to be gone,” or “they want me to crawl under a rock and die.” But no one is asking him to do any such thing. He must know that he stirs up his supporters with such statements. The SOLT did not ask for this scandal. They do not want this scandal. Corapi has gifted them with this scandal.

And yes, he is being disobedient to the point of insubordination. As a military veteran, he must know that disobeying a lawful order by an immediate superior is insubordination. We can be charitable as all get-out about that, but in the end, he either obeys or he refuses. I think it’s clear what he wants to do. “End of an Era” he terms it. “Onward!” is his mantra. He just told SOLT to go pound sand.

So very well said!

 

[Shoshana]

Corapi took vows to his order. If he had reservations about doing that, he should not have taken the vows. But he did, and he is under their authority, although he’d like to pretend he can just get up and walk away.

Your statement that “there does not appear to have been much in the way of sober and responsible deliberation before the leveling of all these charges.” How do you know what deliberation there has or has not been? What we have is only what both parties have given us. There has been a lot of inflammatory rhetoric from Corapi. He keeps saying “they want me to be gone,” or “they want me to crawl under a rock and die.” But no one is asking him to do any such thing. He must know that he stirs up his supporters with such statements. The SOLT did not ask for this scandal. They do not want this scandal. Corapi has gifted them with this scandal.

And yes, he is being disobedient to the point of insubordination. As a military veteran, he must know that disobeying a lawful order by an immediate superior is insubordination. We can be charitable as all get-out about that, but in the end, he either obeys or he refuses. I think it’s clear what he wants to do. “End of an Era” he terms it. “Onward!” is his mantra. He just told SOLT to go pound sand.

I do not know how many times this have been said…;but he did not take vows! He took promises! Here is an succint explanation of the difference;

Priests (diocesan but also Fr Corapi) do not take any vows. Instead, they make promises to remain celibate for the sake of building up the kingdom of God, to be obedient to the bishop, and to live a life of pastoral poverty (i.e. striving to live as free and detached from material goods to the degree that his ministry affords).
The difference between a vow and a promise is that vows are much more binding for the person making them, and they can only be rescinded in extreme circumstances. Promises can be revoked in less serious circumstances. When a diocesan priest is laicized (removed from active ministry by his bishop), he is no longer bound to the promises of obedience to the bishop, and pastoral poverty. However, he must receive a special dispensation from Rome to rescind the promise to live a celibate life.

vocationstoronto.ca/priesthood.htm

 

[mom4mary]

I do not know how many times this have been said…;but he did not take vows! He took promises! Here is an succint explanation of the difference;

Promises can be revoked in less serious circumstances. When a diocesan priest is laicized (removed from active ministry by his bishop), he is no longer bound to the promises of obedience to the bishop, and pastoral poverty. However, he must receive a special dispensation from Rome to rescind the promise to live a celibate life.

vocationstoronto.ca/priesthood.htm

Look, obviously when he became a priest, it was understood by those around him that doing so was a very serious decision** on his part** and those who ordained him (namely, Bl. John Paul II) were led by him to believe that he was serious and sincere in choosing to follow what was presumed to be a calling to this vocation. I do not buy the argument that Fr. Corapi just somehow didn’t understand the seriousness of what he was doing, or that it’s okay to “just stop” becoming a priest now because he has decided to change his persona from Catholic priest to The Black Sheep Dog. Honestly, and I don’t mean this disrespectfully to either Fr. Corapi or any of you here at CAF, but how is it that one human being (Fr. Corapi) has been able to evoke such a response from his following that almost all sense of logic and reason is suspended in favor of trying to exonerate and validate him in doing things that are in the worst case dangerous or in the least case extraordinarily odd and out of character for a priest. Also, he has not be laicized at this point, so he still considered a priest, albeit a suspended one.