New SOLT Statement re: Father Corapi

[TheRealJuliane]

I am stunned at this latest development. Truly, truly stunned. I didn’t expect such a finding or press release from SOLT. But given the way his statements have gone over the last couple of months, I do not expect The Black Sheepdog to just “lie down and die,” so stay tuned for another round of the fight.

He seems to have been grooming his “fans” (it’s on his webpage, not my word) in suspicion of authority bordering on paranoia so I am not surprised they are sticking with him and railing against SOLT.

His order has every right to recall him, but I would be surprised if he follows the orders he’s been given.

 

[pnewton]

I do mean that Mary Gail, and thanks for reading carefully my clearly phrased post.

I am sure it was clear to you. I did not understand the pronoun you used without precedent or definition, or what “what” was.

Who’s “lambasting” them? I am merely holding them to the standard of truth, which, as a religious Order, they darn well better stand for. .

I am sure they consider themselves to be holding a high standard of Truth. Or are you judging them without evidence, as in pot, kettle, both black? They have been charged with this duty. Who has charged you that anything must be proven to you, as in your statement, “They have not convinced me”?

 

[catharina]

Praying for all involved…

Yes - the only solution for all of us
who are witnessing this sorrow unfold.

 

[jwinch2]

And this would strongly suggest that they believe they have solid evidence, else they are wildly imprudent to make this public. Because if you were to make such claims without solid evidence to back them up, it would be begging for a countersuit.

This is a very good point. Furthermore, in the statement, it seems they went out of their way to establish the credibility of the people involved in the investigation. My perception (and that is all it is of course) is that the SOLT would not have put this out there unless they were absolutely convinced of its veracity, felt they were solid ground from a legal standpoint, and felt there was good reason to release it. Of course, I could be way off on all of that but that is my read of the situation.

 

[Elizabeth502]

I am sure it was clear to you. I did not understand the pronoun you used without precedent or definition, or what “what” was.

It had been extremely clear in my earlier post. Repetition was unnecessary.

I am sure they consider themselves to be holding a high standard of Truth. Or are you judging them without evidence, as in pot, kettle, both black? They have been charged with this duty. Who has charged you that anything must be proven to you, as in your statement, “They have not convinced me”?

This is so off-topic that I have no clue where you’re coming from. Who said anything about “me”? Just like you, I have a right to my own perception and level of conviction. The SOLT announcement convinces me of nothing. Nor does your weird digression, frankly.

 

[Marie5890]

THE lesson of the Fr. Marcel Maciel / Legionaries debacle was that you can’t judge a man’s holiness by what he says or by what his followers say or do. The measure of a man is what he does in life. No living individual can totally manifest Christ. No mere man should be our hero (unless he’s safely dead and thus beyond temptation!). Even popes can only be totally trusted in the function of their office, not their personal conduct. Our celebrity culture wants superheros, but they are not and will not be found.

Indeed. THE lesson.

 

[jfmarm81]

I haven’t vigerously defended Father Corapi since this started, and I will not vigerously condemn him in light of this new statement. Father was a big reason I came back to the faith after I had fallen away for a few years. I loved his message and still hope to own his Catechism series one day. If this is true, and it may well be, then I am very saddened. However, one thing I’ve learned is that as long as there is breath in a person, then it is not too late to repent. I pray for all involved and continue to hope for a positive solution. God Bless.

 

[Shoshana]

Could there be a medical problem that would change his persona? Just wondering…

 

[Carolus_Martell]

Well he had me fooled.

 

[Robert_Bay]

MODERATOR WARNING

CAF rules concerning charity are still enforced

 

[Elizabeth502]

THE lesson of the Fr. Marcel Maciel / Legionaries debacle was that you can’t judge a man’s holiness by what he says or by what his followers say or do.

The allegations against Fr. Corapi are not Insufficient Holiness. Only on CAF can one be formally prosecuted or informally persecuted for Insufficient Holiness in the limited perceptions of those who have Insufficient Knowledge of the state of anyone else’s soul, including that of a priest who led a rather unconventional life and did not pretend to live otherwise. (Said that monastic life --although appealing in some respects-- was not for him, said that he did not have the calling to, nor the virtue for, parish ministry, etc.) He should not be condemned for being allowed to live this rather unconventional ministry by his very Order which is now his accuser.

I am not impatient with concerns that people have; I am a little impatient with those who privately transformed him into something he never pretended to be, and are now joining condemning voices because (surprise!) he has turned out not to meet their fantasies in terms of poverty (for example). Look, if I were upset with/troubled by his dying his beard etc., then I actually wouldn’t watch/listen to such a person because it would distract me from the message. So I appreciate that for some that struck an off-chord, perhaps, but again he is not being formally charged with Vanity. My gosh, I could name a few priests & bishops who have far outdone him in vanity, but naturally I won’t.

I really think that for many, this does have to do with perspective. I am not shocked by priests who appear to be more worldly than some, more vain than some, more independent than some. If the Roman Catholic Church ordained him, and sustained him in a maverick lifestyle, that was the choice of the church and the Order, and they should have, and should now, take responsibility for that level of previous allowance of theirs, and/or neglect to supervise, correct, and disallow.

 

[JulieAA]

This whole issue has just put a very large knife through my heart. Father Corapi gave me such hope and guidance through the years that this just leaves me speechless.

God, Himself, knows the truth and the heart of Father Corapi. Either way, Father Corapi needs our prayers.

 

[catharina]

Could there be a medical problem that would change his persona? Just wondering…

Yes, of course.
Drug addition can show long-term
damages years after drug use has ceased,
from faulty memory to impaired judgment
and much more in between.

 

[Ray_Scheel]

Unfortunately I have watched enough of this to believe his next move will be to file suit.

Everyone will be watching for the reaction. If these statements are false, a lawsuit would be expected. So true or not, I expect Corapi will file the suit.

It is becoming more and more painful to watch.

At that point, the witnesses currently unwilling to testify in fear of being sued by him because of non-disclosure agreements could be subpoenaed to testify in such a civil action. He knows the emails and the text messages may well exist on the computers and phones of those he sent them to, and that at least some of those are not covered with NDAs. So, no, I don’t think he is going to sue, as at that point he would lose the ability to sow uncertainty, which is the only thing he has going for him…

 

[Elizabeth502]

Ray, I don’t have time right now to check, but I do believe that he previously did file suit, and has not retracted that. If so, then yes, all evidence/messages, etc., and witnesses for either side will become part of the court record, as well they should be!

 

[redrosetea]

I once heard Fr Corapi say he had seen a witch curse a load of dope…I honestly believe there is a satanic influence in addiction and John Caropi might be addicted to sex and drugs

I want to say here an now I do think at one point he was a true believer,perhaps a tiny glimmer of faith is still flickering within him…I am going to pray for him, because I honestly think he is suffering…I wonder if he could be possessed to do this …? I am not being a smart Alec, I am heart sick at our church getting another black eye

But it is better to know ,and bring it to the forefront ,and deal with it, for all of the hurt and shame that goes along with this…We must remember he did do some good, and did bring souls to Christ…I hope he can give his own soul again to God ,and find peace and salvation within the church…we mustn’t hate …we must pray for him…

 

[KCT]

This whole issue has just put a very large knife through my heart. Father Corapi gave me such hope and guidance through the years that this just leaves me speechless.

I had heard of the man, but never got around to listening to his talks (and I don’t have EWTN), so I have no personal experience.

I’m sure he did offer good guidance because God works through flawed individuals.

Scott Hahn likens it to an overweight, chain smoking doctor writing a prescription. The medicine still works, even though an unhealthy doctor prescribed it. A priest still has the grace of holy orders, so even an “unholy” priest can hear confessions, say Mass etc. I don’t mean to assume/ presume Fr. Corapi is unholy, just giving an example.

Fr. Corapi, Fr. Maciel, the abuse scandals . . . remind us that the Church is full of sinners, but Christ promised that the gates of Hell will not prevail. We have to cling to that and to Christ.

 

[manualman]

The allegations against Fr. Corapi are not Insufficient Holiness. Only on CAF can one be formally prosecuted or informally persecuted for Insufficient Holiness …

I’m not following you here. Are you arguing that ongoing alcohol abuse, sexual promiscuity and drug abuse by a priest shouldn’t be impediments from his further involvement in active ministry? Surely you’re not saying that, but it sounds like it.

I’ll readily admit that every human on the planet commits sins that need forgiving, but there IS a line at which it becomes so serious that the person simply can not be in priestly ministry. If SOLT’s conclusions are true (and they appear to be the ones with authority to decide), he’s well over that line.

My point in the post you quoted is that no mere human person is the embodiment of our faith, not Fr. Corapi, not scott Hahn, not Karl Keating, not some Croatian kids who claim to see the Blessed Mother daily for decades. Christ is the embodiment of our faith. When we have great preachers, that’s a good thing. But we must beware the cult of personality or things like Fr. Maciel will happen again. If SOLTs conclusions prove true, then they already have with the followers of Fr. Corapi.

Stop idolizing mere men and get back to worshipping God, folks!

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

The other two are a psychiatrist and a lawyer. In any case, none of them is a professional investigator.

So you know who these two individuals are?

There are many, many lawyers who are professional investigators. I even believe that there are some psychiatrists who are investigators.

Do you know for a fact that this board of three did not hire a professional investigator to gather evidence for them? This is standard procedure for groups such as this. I speak from knowledge of how these things are processed as a member of a religious order.

There is a board appointed to determine if the accusations are credible. This board then goes about gathering evidence. They interview people and, if necessary, hire outside investigators to investigate.

SOLT does not have to prove anything to you, or to me, nor do they need to justify their process in handling this sort of case.

 

[m134e5]

Yes, I posted on the other thread about this, it’s highly unusual for a Church authority to make such detailed and quite horrifying claima in a statement so I would take this as a move to save souls - those who were intent on blindly following Fr. Corapi’s new direction without question, and Fr. Corapi’s soul too. As you say, the ball is now in his court to respond to this statement - maybe the SOLT feel that by shining the light on the truth of the situation, they will bring him out of the darkness, literally. His superiors have publicly identified his sins, he has now almost been forced to act - by either continuing along the same path or returning to the Truth.

God please give him the strength to rise from his sins, and walk in the light of Christ.

It seems strange to me. I know priests who have been accused of impropriety. Some aren’t good at keeping things that bother them to themselves, but they’ve at least been able to keep quiet about their accusation. Fr. Corapi’s letter seemed inappropriate- it looked to me that something had compromised his ability to make sound judgment. I am not so sure he has simply fallen away after all the good he has done- I suspect he may have a medical condition that has compromised his personality (maybe a stroke).