New SOLT Statement re: Father Corapi

[JVSantos]

In the fourth paragraph of today’s statement, which starts as saying…“Regarding the investigation…”, he seems to be treating or seeing the investigation by SOLT as a sort of civil or secular legal court case, when it isn’t one. Maybe I’m off base here, but it seems odd that he uses terms and phrases such as…“My legal counsel advised me,” and “qualify the validity of any legal case.”
It isn’t a civil court case; it’s an investigation by an order of religious (if that’s the proper description of SOLT). He’s acting like he’s being accused of a crime when in fact he’s being accused of behavior unbecoming of a priest. Maybe he always wanted to be involved in law practice, because he’s making such a big deal about his “rights.” Not that he doesn’t have rights, but it’s not the same, I don’t think, as rights in a civil case. It kind of has a John Grisham air about it all.

That being said, so many more prayers are needed. For those of us who were hoping for some sort of resolution today, it’s sad that that’s not going to happen.

He thinks he’s in a civil case, it doesn’t make sense. Anyways he doesn’t matter to me anymore. Goodluck Corapi

 

[Veridical16]

So I read the gist of Corapi. More of the same. Hard to read through without wanting to just look away, since its more flimflam.

If you read between the lines, on the surface he is only meaning to mislead his fans. And preserve those willing to stick by him??

From the earliest days (more than twenty years ago) the Founder of the Society of Our Lady, Fr. James Flanagan, encouraged me to support myself and the Church as well. He said they could not afford to support my ministry and me personally because of the unique nature of the mission. At every step of the way, through the entire past twenty years, the Society of Our Lady’s leadership knew of my financial independence. As Fr. Flanagan encouraged, I have supported SOLT and myself from ‘day-one*.‘ I have never relied on the Society for shelter, clothing, transportation, medical care, or legal counsel and instead, using my history of success in business, set up my mission as any savvy business man would, meanwhile continuing to support the Society and many other Catholic Charities.*

He even justifies his ability to support himself, doesn’t deny the charges of what his superiors judged as excessive and not pious. The paragraph implies that they are spinning his business abilities as ‘sinister’ , but not denying he has all those material things. He even boasts of his business ability? No wrong doing?

And he is even prideful that he was not dependent on the order but himself. What happened to Jesus saying God will provide the necessities don’t worry about “what to eat, what to wear?” yet HE was self-sufficient as a priest. It all came from his business savvy huh?

Regarding ‘hush money’—I never paid anybody off to remain silent. On two occasions there were standard severance agreements executed with former employees and independent contractors. These agreements contained very common non-disclosure provisions. Any attorney who would not include such provisions in such agreements would rightly be guilty of negligent and actionable conduct.

The first sentences he tries to continue to admit NO WRONG DOING yet HE is the one who used the term Hush Money, yet admits to, that SOLT didn’t necessarily imply deliberate hush money, while addressing and acknowledges the SOLT statements facts about his actions are true. In regard to “severance agreements” He is again trying to imply that SOLT was motivated to implicate him, when really ,these are indeed obviously QUESTIONABLE actions for a priest. Yet the statements are phrased to deceive his misguided fans maintaining his victim status. Legal-mumbo jumbo, and euphemistic language.

Truly this man is being duplicitous these last two weeks, if he was truthful it wouldn’t take HIM three,four days to prepare careful statements if what SOLT said, if they were totally false and he was completely innocent and wrongfully accused. He’d comply in a different way, not air out a He-said-She-said public back and forth…

I also don’t like that he keeps consorting with his LEGAL team as if this is a MERE worldly DISPUTE? As if this is a conflict in the secular world or Mere employee v. employer!

Read between the lines. Corapi isn’t budging. Still hanging on, “MY way”

The unholy trinity of Me, myself and I

Regarding the charge of sexual impropriety—This song of greed has been sung many times before. I have never had any promiscuous or even inappropriate relations with her. Never.

How can he say this when people uncovered him using his father’s alias Tony Coradi/Corani or whatever and approaching prostitutes? SOLT says they have emails and the sexting.

Regarding my resignation—I resigned because the process used by the Church is grossly unjust, and, hence, immoral. I resigned because I had no chance from the beginning of a fair and just hearing. As I have indicated from the beginning of all this, I am not extinguished! If I were to commit to the suggestion of the Society, then I would essentially crawl under a rock and wait to die.

Same song, second verse!
Not budging. Again the first sentence is intended to mislead and give false hope to his hanger-ons…
I wonder how SOLT didn’t psychologically evaluate this man??
Sin shouldn’t be excused away. It’s obvious he is very worldly right now whatever is motivating him, but we can’t be like secularists where we say its merely a symptom and he has no will. A little Grace and a semblance of humility should be overcome these outbursts. He’s either mentally deteriorating. Or his mask has been ripped off , therefore he’s showing his true self. Or it’s a combination of both.

I do believe he is BLIND, whether its psychological, or from the fact that he was being deceptive longer than we realize, which explains why one would want to believe his mind is deteriorating or solely due to his drug abuse.

I think the subtext here, is that he really was proud of his “public ministry” and its profitability, he certainly doesn’t want to lose his clout and appeal as he already had big plans last week. A wrench was certainly thrown in his autobiography promotion when the truth came out…

 

[coco2]

Has he resigned yet?? I don’t think so… we must remember that once a priest, always a priest, and I feel that although he has lost his way, he still should be treated with dignity that all human beings deserve. When he has officially resigned or been laicised (sp?) then he can become MISTER… just calling someone by their last name is very rude and even passive aggressive.

I believe that is what the July 5 statement says, that he did resign. He has been ordered by his Bishop, and he refuses to comply. All this suing and legal action isn’t Christlike at all. The man has lost his way, and I am afraid so are the ones following his footsteps.

 

[Veridical16]

In the fourth paragraph of today’s statement, which starts as saying…“Regarding the investigation…”, he seems to be treating or seeing the investigation by SOLT as a sort of civil or secular legal court case, when it isn’t one. Maybe I’m off base here, but it seems odd that he uses terms and phrases such as…“My legal counsel advised me,” and “qualify the validity of any legal case.”
It isn’t a civil court case; it’s an investigation by an order of religious (if that’s the proper description of SOLT). He’s acting like he’s being accused of a crime when in fact he’s being accused of behavior unbecoming of a priest. Maybe he always wanted to be involved in law practice, because he’s making such a big deal about his “rights.” Not that he doesn’t have rights, but it’s not the same, I don’t think, as rights in a civil case. It kind of has a John Grisham air about it all.

That being said, so many more prayers are needed. For those of us who were hoping for some sort of resolution today, it’s sad that that’s not going to happen.

It certainly exposes that he is already OF THE WORLD. Does he not know the otherworldly splendor within the Church and the possibility of Christ’s will acting in his superiors? Amidst the imperfect, man made mechanism? In spite of them…
He should spend more time meditating on the Saints experiences when they had to suffer through their superiors decisions. Even when the Superiors were wrong, (which I believe Corapi is wrong) even if Corapi perceives he is being wronged (incorrectly) , clearly he doesn’t seem to be acting in a way that would acknowledge the good example shown by others experience what he “perceives” to be experiencing “unjustly” from his superiors— rather Employers if we are to go off the context of his blog.

In light of these development.
I personally dont’ think he perceives to be “wronged” though going off his entrees…Since he doesn’t deny any of the specific charges in convincing refutations (except, the rigid view of having nothing do with his accuser) Sure he blames. But he doesn’t really say in any of his posts he’s wrongfully accused and innocent either, just that "everybody is out to get me! " "you don’t know how bad I’ve had it! how dare they subject me to a church procedure! Me! " …I think his statements are just aimed to maintain what little following he can hold onto for the sake of his public ministry / business / next venture ambition…

He has joined the Church of Me.

From Airmaria, Father Tito calls it *" the Unholy Trinity of Me, Myself, and I " *

The comments on the blacksheepdog website in response to his statements are interesting. About 50/50 supportive and against.

This is the tragic part.

By his statement, he encourages maintaining division…rather than relenting and repenting of his actions these weeks. Encouraging the coalescing, and unity of prayers for his sins, and encouragement of good will to his superiors. It’s stumbling block for the hanger-ons to finally acknowledging what seems more logically and reasonably the truth, that SOLT released in their statements.

Pray to our Lady, that the laity is NOT deceived!

 

[coco2]

I was sucked in…

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Was I guilty of only hearing what I wanted to hear? Some of the comments on the thread make me wonder because I don’t remember him mentioning any woman other than his own mother and the Blessed Virgin and a woman in an airport that was angry at all priests because of the sexual abuse scandals.

I listened to his talks on the Lord’s Prayer and it changed how I prayed. I listened to his talks on the Rosary and I became more intent. I wanted to go into spiritual battle with the rosary in my hands.

I should have wondered why there was not a mass as part of the conference. I should have wondered why doctors at Mayo did not recommend simply taking Vitamin D. I should have wondered why he talked so much about his own safety and people constantly breaking into his home. Who are the people that wanted to kill him? Are there police reports from when his 2 dogs cornered a man in black in his kitchen? Etc.

I feel like Red Riding Hood.

I saw a clip from the Cincinnati conference and immediately knew this was a different man, no longer a shepard for Christ. It was so obvious, I can’t believe people didn’t stand up and leave while he was talking. When this all came down, I wasn’t so surprised. Very saddened, but I had already been on alert for awhile.

 

[debraran]

I suppose it was a good idea not to have his tapes, etc. on EWTN when they took him off. Even if he spoke the truth, you don’t want it to seem tainted by someone who may have not believed it.

That’s what is hurtful, many preachers in many religions, say one thing and do another, sometimes having relationships they say are wrong, but Father told many stories in his preaching. Those stories could come under scrutiny and cause the message to be muted.
Does it matter if he felt he saw a heavenly person and “smelled lilacs” when he was ordained and before, does it matter if his stories about priests falling and prostitutes converting and his army tales were false, does it matter if his illness was contrived or his other stories weren’t true…yes and no, the bible teaching was sound, but it’s too intertwined with his revelations that many (or at least I) can’t believe. If they were true, I hope he has that grace again to come back to the beginning.

I guess it doesn’t matter, in a month or so, I think it will be yesterday’s news.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

What he is doing right now reminds me so much of someone I know, unfortunately. The person is a narcissist, who is prone to paranoia and hostility when he feels unjustly treated in his personal or business life. He is very willing to take things to court, and has had quite a bit of success because he is so obnoxious that people will settle rather than drag on for years and be damaged by his rage and venom.

The paranoia of “it’s me against the world,” and “they are all out to get me,” is so familiar. I really believe Corapi is not in his right mind, and that could be because of his previous drug use, his previous alcohol use, or that he is currently drinking and/or using. He is not in a steady frame of mind, that I can guarantee.

It is horrible.

 

[Veridical16]

I don’t think this statement is fair. These events are very difficult to accept and takes time to sink in and make sense of. Using terms like “quietly come around”, “very scary” and “lunatic cult” only feed the sense that Fr. Corapi is being mistreated. People who follow Fr. Corapi are good people, they feel like something is being wrenched away from them. It is very difficult.

That’s charitable, whm…

Can’t over generalize. Though, some of the reactions can be characterized as irrational…But I feel there is a good mix of good people amongst the reactions; they’re just emotional and hurt, and in disbelief, because they are in part, a little guilty that they credit this man for their faith, when it’s a cold splash of water. They’re almost put into a position to decide where they are at, kind of testing if their faith is strong? That’s how I feel the reactions might be, fueling some sort of denial…especially that they may have to admit they have been deceived (they are being victimized right now) by this man

though I think SOJO does touch on a little bit of truth…from what I’m seeing recently by some of the comments.

It seems that many who were still defending Father up till this last press release have quietly come around. The remaining voices demanding some sort of American style “trial” or that private information be released to the public to “prove” it to them personally are the ones remaining, and it is very scary. Some of them sound like a lunatic cult - I’m feeling more uneasy than ever.

To Sojo,
I wouldn’t worry because , others in the thread already said, Corapi’s not really that well-known…

Fr Corapi’s appeal has been to a limited segment of the Catholic population. Most don’t know who he is for the most part.

Which is something we should be thankful for, actually. I think as we’re seeing now Corapi thinks very highly of himself and his ministry, distorted self-regard. As well as some of Corapi’s fans. I’

ve seen some Corapi fans say that he was the new Fulton Sheen, but not in a nice way, but in a territorial and boastful way, “We don’t need Sheen anymore”

 

[Veridical16]

What he is doing right now reminds me so much of someone I know, unfortunately. The person is a narcissist, who is prone to paranoia and hostility when he feels unjustly treated in his personal or business life. He is very willing to take things to court, and has had quite a bit of success because he is so obnoxious that people will settle rather than drag on for years and be damaged by his rage and venom.

The paranoia of “it’s me against the world,” and “they are all out to get me,” is so familiar. I really believe Corapi is not in his right mind, and that could be because of his previous drug use, his previous alcohol use, or that he is currently drinking and/or using. He is not in a steady frame of mind, that I can guarantee.

It is horrible.

Glenn Beck suffers from these symptoms too. Beck was an alcoholic, had a tragic upbringing, is now on some weird spiritual quest, with bad theology.

Sounds similar to Corapi’s announcement that he had big plans to be a Black Sheep Dog to the whole world now.
Both him and Corapi ( in his blogs) display Megalomania.

 

[debraran]

His does have an ego, but recent pictures of him and videos have been absent for a long time. I don’t know if that means anything. I

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Unless I missed a few, I counted 33 instances of “me,” “myself,” or “I” in that short but hostile and un-Christlike statement. I think the only other person who might improve on that count resides in the White House.



And, this phrase “crawl under a rock and die” keeps coming back and back. Where is that coming from, I wonder - it is too distinctive to mean nothing.

 

[Shoshana]

What he is doing right now reminds me so much of someone I know, unfortunately. The person is a narcissist, who is prone to paranoia and hostility when he feels unjustly treated in his personal or business life. He is very willing to take things to court, and has had quite a bit of success because he is so obnoxious that people will settle rather than drag on for years and be damaged by his rage and venom.

The paranoia of “it’s me against the world,” and “they are all out to get me,” is so familiar. I really believe Corapi is not in his right mind, and that could be because of his previous drug use, his previous alcohol use, or that he is currently drinking and/or using. He is not in a steady frame of mind, that I can guarantee.

It is horrible.

Thank you so much…this is the stand that I take also…let us pray!

Jesus, I pray for Your faithful and fervent priests; for Your unfaithful and tepid priests; for Your priests laboring at home or abroad in distant mission fields; for Your tempted priests; for Your lonely and desolate priests; for Your young priests; for Your dying priests; for the souls of Your priests in Purgatory.
But above all, I recommend to You the priests dearest to me; the priest who baptized me; the priests who absolved me from my sins; the priest at whose Masses I assisted and who gave me Your Body and Blood in Holy Communion; all the priest who taught and instructed me; all the priests to whom I am indebted in any other way (especially…).
O Jesus, keep them all close to your heart, and Bless them abundantly in time and in eternity. Amen.

 

[Veridical16]

I suppose it was a good idea not to have his tapes, etc. on EWTN when they took him off. Even if he spoke the truth, you don’t want it to seem tainted by someone who may have not believed it.

That’s what is hurtful, many preachers in many religions, say one thing and do another, sometimes having relationships they say are wrong, but Father told many stories in his preaching. Those stories could come under scrutiny and cause the message to be muted.

This is I think a part of what James 3 talks about in warning

Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. 2For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. 3Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. 5So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.
See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!

Corapi’s elderly confessor, who didn’t think it was wise for Corapi to become a priest from his sordid life, was correct in light of the damage that has come from this scandal. Though of course Corapi still has the opportunity for God to bend that misjudgment on Corapi’s part.

Does it matter if he felt he saw a heavenly person and “smelled lilacs” when he was ordained and before, does it matter if his stories about priests falling and prostitutes converting and his army tales were false, does it matter if his illness was contrived or his other stories weren’t true…yes and no, the bible teaching was sound, but it’s too intertwined with his revelations that many (or at least I) can’t believe. If they were true, I hope he has that grace again to come back to the beginning.

I think given that there was evidence found that Corapi embellished about his background, with two details, being debunked. His Green Beret, and his “black belt” not being true even though it was included in an earlier bio. And now that we know of his actions since 1999. There will now always be incredulity amongst his personal anecdotes for anyone who continues to listen to them that will get in the way of the non-erroneous message about the Church.
I don’t believe him anymore especially about the Satanic spells on drugs and Rock music stuff. Though I do believe the occult practices are out there from other people’s experiences and other priests who’ve witnessed or deal with Satanists. I don’t know whether to believe*** Corapi’s ***had personal experiences like that. Just like his superficial use of what Sheepdog is supposed to do. I just think he wanted to come up with “hooks” for his market and heard other Catholic witnesses and just made up his own embellished details.

Don’t get me wrong. That isn’t to say. For instance, Fulton Sheen sinned when he in his youth and vanity fibbed about , one of his degrees, kind of an ends justifies the means eagerness, though he was contrite about it…and very sad when people confronted him about his vanities, and enjoyment of nice things and comfort ( I remember reading) and knowing his personal struggles with sin, doesn’t diminish his message at all.

Obviously Corapi’s situation is completely dissimilar! As Sheen never used money for himself but Propagation of the Faith.
Fulton Sheen also underwent suffering in his final decade and was obedient , even to a superior who I believe was jealous/resentful of him… and Sheen didn’t boast about his speaking abilities like Corapi did in his speeches. He boasted about the Eucharist and hourly devotion to it, and he mentioned a lot more devout friends in his personal experiences than himself.

He even started off being obedient and sent by his superior to do humble work in some slums or small parish even though he was highly educated to teach already…

In hindsight, one could say, Corapi’s decision to become a priest started with a disobedient dismissal of the confessor’s advice.

I guess it doesn’t matter, in a month or so, I think it will be yesterday’s news.

Which is a good thing. No thanks to the Black Sheep Dog website.

 

[Marie5890]

(Just caught a special programming note on EWTN. Tomorrow …Fri July 7th…they will be having a Holy Hour for Priests starting at 3:30 pm Eastern time. …)

 

[Denise1957]

What he is doing right now reminds me so much of someone I know, unfortunately. The person is a narcissist, who is prone to paranoia and hostility when he feels unjustly treated in his personal or business life. He is very willing to take things to court, and has had quite a bit of success because he is so obnoxious that people will settle rather than drag on for years and be damaged by his rage and venom.

The paranoia of “it’s me against the world,” and “they are all out to get me,” is so familiar. I really believe Corapi is not in his right mind, and that could be because of his previous drug use, his previous alcohol use, or that he is currently drinking and/or using. He is not in a steady frame of mind, that I can guarantee.

It is horrible.

I too have been thinking that he is not in his right mind. I hope that a family member of his will intervene and go and help him (don’t know if his mother is still alive and living in New York). I don’t see the situation improving without intervention, or a miracle.

I’ll ask for the prayers and intercession of St. Mary of Egypt, whom I have found to be a good intercessor for those suffering from mental afflictions. Here’s her New Advent bio:

newadvent.org/cathen/09763a.htm

 

[debraran]

I never saw a picture with his Mom (was there one that anyone saw?) and I wondered if she ever came to see him talk. If she knew what was going on, that would have made her sad. I never heard him say he bought her a new house, although he might have, just thought it strange because she helped him so much. But I wasn’t a big fan, so I could have missed it.

 

[Veridical16]

Unless I missed a few, I counted 33 instances of “me,” “myself,” or “I” in that short but hostile and un-Christlike statement. I think the only other person who might improve on that count resides in the White House.

Scary indeed.

And, this phrase “crawl under a rock and die” keeps coming back and back. Where is that coming from, I wonder - it is too distinctive to mean nothing.

Juliane, I notice that keeps coming back. Maybe it’s possible his conscience or his guardian angel pricking at his brain. Since that seems to keep coming through. Surely he isn’t abiding in Christ through these gestures.

John 15

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up;

 

[TheRealJuliane]

I have read through some of the comments on his BS-Dog website and I would say the proportion is nearer to 80% who are telling him to stop this and be obedient. Maybe even higher. The last statement is so alarming that I’m sure even some of his previous “fans” are privately thinking that he really has gone off the deep end.

He has told us in no uncertain terms that it’s him against the SOLT. I don’t know what they will do now. Perhaps there is nothing they can do. I hope they can shut down this BS-Dog website of his. Maybe they can send marshalls in the dark of night to spirit him away to rehab, like we were contemplating if our son had not cooperated with his intervention camp…

 

[MarcoPolo]

16 days could be fine if they were at the tail end of an investigation that had been ongoing for 90 days. SOLT gave no such indication on June 20. But the problem is, SOLT indicated the investigation had been compromised because of Fr. Corapi’s civil suit. So either the June 20 statement that they had not come to a conclusion is false. Or the idea that the investigation was truly hindered is misleading.

This investigation would not be the first example I have ever seen of a project that appears to have little if any progress until the final stages.

The SOLT may well have believed their investigation hindered, and then stumbled upon plenty of evidence.

I came across SOLT webmaster Fr. Medley’s blog. It looks like they had the goods all along and that the June 20th statement by Fr. Sheehan (that they had yet to determine if the allegations were “credible”) was inaccurate.

From Fr. Medley, July 6:We had way too much info to be able to suspend him in the first place that ought to have humbled him, but because people see him as gifted they are not permitted to see his faults.

 

[Samson01]

I took him for his word on his military experience…Those SF guys are going to have his ***…