New SOLT Statement re: Father Corapi

[brumano]

Father John Corapi has submitted his resignation from the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT), the Register has learned.

Father Gerard Sheehan, regional priest servant of SOLT, said in a press release dated July 5 that the popular priest and speaker has inspired countless thousands of Catholics, “many of whom continue to express their support of him.”

However, Father Sheehan added, “SOLT also recognizes that Father Corapi is now misleading these individuals through his false statements and characterizations. It is for these Catholics that SOLT, by means of this an

Apparently Fr.Sheehan has made up his mind but I’m not convinced especially since I’m gathering from Fr.Shehan’s statement that Fr. Corapi still maintains his innocence in statements that Fr. Sheehan claims are “misleading, false…mischaracterizations”, well these now become claims of Fr. Sheehan’s that do not establish facts and so they do not “set the record straight” as he wishes to assert. The tone and the quality of what Fr. Sheehan is putting forth here is very dubious; in the first place he neglects to inform on the outcome on the investigation of the recent allegations of only several months ago from the dismissed secretary at the Diocesan office; we know Fr.Corapi denied those, and I think it is very safe to say that if those allegations could have been substantiated that Fr. Sheehan would make that known, afterall this is the matter which was at immediate concern, yet no mention is made specifically of it which tends to strengthen the gut feeling that those accusations were false and so quite possibly could have been issued with malice toward Fr.Corapi as their root.

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

The devil won this one.

No. John Corapi is alive and the state of his soul on the day of his death is what matters.

He needs prayer.

 

[estesbob]

“It is important to listen to the message instead of looking at the messenger” - heard in the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous

Very good point. In my early sobriety I was helped very much by an “old-timer” who gave me some great advice and helped me get through those tough early months. . He later slipped, left the program and finished life as a derelict alcoholic. The last time I saw him he apologized for throwing away his sobriety I told him he didn’t throw away all of his sobriety away because part of it still lived in me. His message helped keep me sober and many others, regardless of the fact that he succumbed to his illness in the end.

As we look at Fr Coarapi we should feel great sadness but that does not undo the great good he has done- unless we allow it to.

 

[smichhertz]

Very good point. In my early sobriety I was helped very much by “old-timer” who gave me some great advice and helped me get through those tough early months. . He later slipped, left the program and finished life as a derelict alcoholic. The last time I saw him he apologized for throwing away his sobriety I I told him he didn’t throw away allof sobriety away because part of it still lived in me. His message helped keep me sober and many others, regardless of the fact that he succumbed to his illness in the end.

As we look at Fr Coarapi we should feel great sadness but that does not undo the great good he has done- unless we allow it to.

Great post! And well said!

 

[Scoobyshme]

No. John Corapi is alive and the state of his soul on the day of his death is what matters.

He needs prayer.

Mary Gail, BINGO! You hit the nail on the head. You are SO correct! God bless!

 

[Marie5890]

Very good point. In my early sobriety I was helped very much by an “old-timer” who gave me some great advice and helped me get through those tough early months. . He later slipped, left the program and finished life as a derelict alcoholic. The last time I saw him he apologized for throwing away his sobriety I told him he didn’t throw away all of his sobriety away because part of it still lived in me. His message helped keep me sober and many others, regardless of the fact that he succumbed to his illness in the end.

As we look at Fr Coarapi we should feel great sadness but that does not undo the great good he has done- unless we allow it to.

Thank you for sharing that very kind and charitable post. One of my parents struggles with this every day battle known as alcoholism. Sometimes they are on the wagon. Sometimes not. It’s a very loving way of reminding all that drug and/or alcohol addiction is a destructive and deadly master …

 

[DavidPalm]

I told him he didn’t throw away all of his sobriety away because part of it still lived in me.

Fantastic! So beautifully said. Thank you.

 

[estesbob]

Thank you for sharing that very kind and charitable post. One of my parents struggles with this every day battle known as alcoholism. Sometimes they are on the wagon. Sometimes not. It’s a very loving way of reminding all that drug and/or alcohol addiction is a destructive and deadly master …

. I will pray for your parent. Having worked with recovering alcoholics for over 25 years, I can tell you sometimes it takes a long time for sobriety to finally take hold. . All we can do is pray, support but never enable.

 

[Shoshana]

Very good point. In my early sobriety I was helped very much by an “old-timer” who gave me some great advice and helped me get through those tough early months. . He later slipped, left the program and finished life as a derelict alcoholic. The last time I saw him he apologized for throwing away his sobriety I told him he didn’t throw away all of his sobriety away because part of it still lived in me. His message helped keep me sober and many others, regardless of the fact that he succumbed to his illness in the end.

As we look at Fr Coarapi we should feel great sadness but that does not undo the great good he has done- unless we allow it to.

Thank you so much…this touched me so much as my father was a violent alcoholic for 23 years of my life. He recovered and remained such for the rest of his life. He did much good himself when he was sober and was very sensitive. His drinking did not cloud my love for him although I was scarred myself because of it.

Thank you again and again…

 

[pnewton]

I do not know much one way or the other, but the hearing is over, such as it was within the constraints imposed by canon law and Fr. Corapi’s contracts with his employees. Unless there is a trial forced by Fr. Corapi against those who violated these non-disclosure agreements, I do not think there will be any further procedings. In the end, I am not phased one way or another, and if I get a chance to pick up some of his materials that are getting dumped cheap, I will. It is still good stuff.

Drug addiction never goes away and always remains a temptation. No man is above succombing to temptation, or beyond redemption. We can know that Fr. Corapi took a vow of poverty and obedience, as a religious priest. He can obey, or not. Even if he does not, I will not judge such an action, as I do not know what I would do if I was tempted to break such a vow. I would rather have him right with God even if he never again had a public ministry. Fame will get no one into Heaven.

 

[estesbob]

Thank you so much…this touched me so much as my father was a violent alcoholic for 23 years of my life. He recovered and remained such for the rest of his life. He did much good himself when he was sober and was very sensitive. His drinking did not cloud my love for him although I was scarred myself because of it.

Thank you again and again…

Thank you for your kind words. . I am forever grateful that God gave me sobriety before causing long-term problems for my children- who were six and 10 when I took my last drink.

 

[PetoVeritas]

I think that this is ultimately sad. :bighanky: Regardless of who is guilty it is a sad situation for our Church and an ugly one that only adds to and perpetuates the scandals that have plagued it in this past couple of decades.
I don’t know what to think whether it is “mud slinging” back at Fr. Corapi or a case of a good teacher being a hypocrite. Someone on this thread said it best, regardless we don’t have enough information to make a decision. Unless we get more clarification it’s just Corapi’s word against SOLT’s.

Either way prayer should be our recourse.

 

[joanofarc2008]

Joan, well-spoken! Thank you and God bless!

Not my words - the words of St Francis of Assisi - and that is why he is a Saint - and well for that matter quite a blessed one with the Stigmata.

 

[joanofarc2008]

Very good point. In my early sobriety I was helped very much by an “old-timer” who gave me some great advice and helped me get through those tough early months. . He later slipped, left the program and finished life as a derelict alcoholic. The last time I saw him he apologized for throwing away his sobriety I told him he didn’t throw away all of his sobriety away because part of it still lived in me. His message helped keep me sober and many others, regardless of the fact that he succumbed to his illness in the end.

As we look at Fr Coarapi we should feel great sadness but that does not undo the great good he has done- unless we allow it to.

Thank you very much for this - I am currently 2 years sober - but I have struggled since 2002 when I entered the rooms at age 22. My sponsor went out after her 15 year anniversary. I spoke to her while she was drunk 90 days later. It was a tough conversation. I pray for her. Last I knew she was still struggling trying to come back.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

You are correct.
SOLT could be misleading us.

Of course, if that is the case Corapi will have a clear case and could have them effectively shut down with a civil judgement.

So one has to ask…why? What have they to gain?

I do not believe we are being misled by the SOLT.

Something is very peculiar with the entire process.

Why would SOLT release such a statement? What ‘proof’ have they offered that would stand in a court of law? No one has come to trial. It’s curious. Most curious.

Even if Father is guilty of all he’s accused of and more, does that change a single word of the orthodoxy of his teachings?

 

[ThyKingdomCome]

This is a bombshell. How do I explain this to my 10 year old son who was greatly inspired by Fr. Corapi?

I feel for you. My 10yo son doesn’t know much about him, except that he has heard his name a few times in recent days (as much as I have tried to shield him from the talk, I wasn’t able to do it completely). This is the message I gave him when he asked me who Father Corapi was: As you know, (I have told my son before, I told him when he asked the other day, and I’ll lather rinse repeat), the leaders of our church are human, sinners, susceptible to the devil, and in fact may be targeted by the devil. So just like Peter himself denied Christ, we have had priests, bishops, and even popes who have done very bad things. The Holy Spirit has always protected the Pope from teaching wrong faith or morals, but they are not kept from sin. Unfortunately it seems that Father Corapi may have done some very bad things (my son asked me what, and I said that someone accused him of having an inappropriate relationship with a woman, among other bad things). He has taught some REALLY good things to many Catholics, including myself, and I am grateful for that. But he has made some big mistakes too. Maybe it’s because the devil went after him and tempted him because he didn’t like the message he was spreading. Or maybe it is simply because he is human and faced temptations like the rest of us do. After all he made a LOT of bad choices before he became a priest. We can be glad that we know the faith better because of what he taught us, but we may not be able to look to him as an example of being a good Christian anymore. We should pray for him though. We don’t know for sure what sins he has committed, or what his relationship with God is like, but we know that he needs our prayer no matter what. We should pray for ALL of our priests, because they do such an important job, and the devil doesn’t like it.

 

[joanofarc2008]

I feel for you. My 10yo son doesn’t know much about him, except that he has heard his name a few times in recent days (as much as I have tried to shield him from the talk, I wasn’t able to do it completely). This is the message I gave him when he asked me who Father Corapi was: As you know, (I have told my son before, I told him when he asked the other day, and I’ll lather rinse repeat), the leaders of our church are human, sinners, susceptible to the devil, and in fact may be targeted by the devil. So just like Peter himself denied Christ, we have had priests, bishops, and even popes who have done very bad things. The Holy Spirit has always protected the Pope from teaching wrong faith or morals, but they are not kept from sin. Unfortunately it seems that Father Corapi may have done some very bad things (my son asked me what, and I said that someone accused him of having an inappropriate relationship with a woman, among other bad things). He has taught some REALLY good things to many Catholics, including myself, and I am grateful for that. But he has made some big mistakes too. Maybe it’s because the devil went after him and tempted him because he didn’t like the message he was spreading. Or maybe it is simply because he is human and faced temptations like the rest of us do. After all he made a LOT of bad choices before he became a priest. We can be glad that we know the faith better because of what he taught us, but we may not be able to look to him as an example of being a good Christian anymore. We should pray for him though. We don’t know for sure what sins he has committed, or what his relationship with God is like, but we know that he needs our prayer no matter what. We should pray for ALL of our priests, because they do such an important job, and the devil doesn’t like it.

You do a really good job talking to your son.

 

[Shoshana]

Something is very peculiar with the entire process.

Why would SOLT release such a statement? What ‘proof’ have they offered that would stand in a court of law? No one has come to trial. It’s curious. Most curious.

Even if Father is guilty of all he’s accused of and more, does that change a single word of the orthodoxy of his teachings?

This is a very sincere question on my part…why would they line up the sins publicly? Is it because Fr John went public himself? I do not understand…but will continue to pray…

 

[estesbob]

I feel for you. My 10yo son doesn’t know much about him, except that he has heard his name a few times in recent days (as much as I have tried to shield him from the talk, I wasn’t able to do it completely). This is the message I gave him when he asked me who Father Corapi was: As you know, (I have told my son before, I told him when he asked the other day, and I’ll lather rinse repeat), the leaders of our church are human, sinners, susceptible to the devil, and in fact may be targeted by the devil. So just like Peter himself denied Christ, we have had priests, bishops, and even popes who have done very bad things. The Holy Spirit has always protected the Pope from teaching wrong faith or morals, but they are not kept from sin. Unfortunately it seems that Father Corapi may have done some very bad things (my son asked me what, and I said that someone accused him of having an inappropriate relationship with a woman, among other bad things). He has taught some REALLY good things to many Catholics, including myself, and I am grateful for that. But he has made some big mistakes too. Maybe it’s because the devil went after him and tempted him because he didn’t like the message he was spreading. Or maybe it is simply because he is human and faced temptations like the rest of us do. After all he made a LOT of bad choices before he became a priest. We can be glad that we know the faith better because of what he taught us, but we may not be able to look to him as an example of being a good Christian anymore. We should pray for him though. We don’t know for sure what sins he has committed, or what his relationship with God is like, but we know that he needs our prayer no matter what. We should pray for ALL of our priests, because they do such an important job, and the devil doesn’t like it.

Here’s what I think we need to keep in mind. Of Jesus’s 12 closest friends one betrayed him,one denied him three times , one doubted him and 11 fled when he was crucified, leaving only John at the foot of the cross. And yet they were able to pass on a message that resonates 2000 years later, As was said earlier in this thread. The message is the key, not the messenger.

 

[vz71]

Why would SOLT release such a statement?

As they stated, to clarify the situation.
Corapi has told everyone that the investigative process is ill-handled and clumsy.
That those chosen to investigate have no background or experience.

This is clearly not the case.

What ‘proof’ have they offered that would stand in a court of law? No one has come to trial. It’s curious. Most curious.

Well, until they actually made the announcement they needed no such proof.
Evidence yes. But there are no civil crimes here, so they needn’t proof to stand in a court.
Now that they made the announcement, there could be a civil case made by Corapi should the accusations be false. And proof in a court would be needed.

Even if Father is guilty of all he’s accused of and more, does that change a single word of the orthodoxy of his teachings?

No, not at all.
The integrity of what he taught is intact. But the context changes some.
I would be concerned that someone will be introduced to Corapi through his Catechism series and then find the ‘new’ Corapi on the BlackSheepDog website and be misled.