What Happened to Fr. John Corapi?

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brumano said:
" It ain’t over till it’s over". Don’t prepare your post mortems on this spiritual giant of the Roman Catholic Faith just as yet. God has showed him His plans for him at other turning points in his life, He must have known of this turn also. He is not extinguished!
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It is an error to believe that retiring to contemplative prayer in obedience “extinguishes” a person. All that is extinguished in such a case is a person’s pride, ego, narcissism and public accolades.
 
sojo said:
To be fair, the few Anglican sites and blogs I’ve read have been remarkably charitable and kind regarding the whole Corapi thing. They seem genuinely saddened for their Catholic brothers and sisters who are going through all this, and I’m not seeing an overwhelming, “those Catholics, they had this coming” attitude that many of us feared. One poster even commented that though their knee-jerk reaction was to snicker at the Catholics, he quickly felt only sorrow for what we are going through and acknowledged that it wasn’t a “Catholic problem” at all, but a truly Christian problem of pride and greed.

I haven’t looked at many other websites of more traditionally anti-Catholic sects… and it wouldn’t surprise me if this scandal were turned against us eventually, but for now, it has been most charitable, for which we must be most grateful to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Therefore, IMO, we really shouldn’t jump on how “strange” it is for a non-Catholic to post their concern about Fr. Corapi on the non-Catholic board. I’m sure its totally innocent.
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I appreciate your recognition of that. I liked to listen to Fr. Corapi (who wouldn’t?) even though I didn’t agree with him on many points. My prayers are that he may come to repent and realize the many folks he did touch.
 
kylemccloughan said:
Well, don’t over think it. It’s sincere.
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Well, I was sure it was… I was curious though as for a while they banned the whole discussion and was surprised to find this one.

Fr. Corapi isn’t without ego, but then, there is a fine line between confidence and pride. I like his moral message, but his comments on this situation is less than I would expect from him.
 
I agree with you. He should have been faithful, chaste,and obedient while setting an example for the flock. I just heard that he actually is now married and in the Anglican church. Is this true?
 
alizmimm said:
I agree with you. He should have been faithful, chaste,and obedient while setting an example for the flock. I just heard that he actually is now married and in the Anglican church. Is this true?
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No.

He was being compared to someone who did that.
 
guanophore said:
It is an error to believe that retiring to contemplative prayer in obedience “extinguishes” a person. All that is extinguished in such a case is a person’s pride, ego, narcissism and public accolades.
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No, it is not an error to believe that…
 
  • I am a little shocked at the ease of which some posters described the guilt of Father Corapi. I have kept abreast of his situation from day one and no where did I read that there was ANYcredible evidence against him. Where did they get this information? I am hoping they were not just repeating many uncharitable bloggers “venom” because many of them are not even Catholic and most are athiests. This priest deserves to be assumed innocent unless PROVEN otherwise. Many would do well to read the Medjugorje message this month. Our Lady explicitly asks,“not to judge the Shepherds, remember children God has chosen them”.*
 
ookie said:
  • I am a little shocked at the ease of which some posters described the guilt of Father Corapi. I have kept abreast of his situation from day one and no where did I read that there was ANYcredible evidence against him. Where did they get this information? I am hoping they were not just repeating many uncharitable bloggers “venom” because many of them are not even Catholic and most are athiests. This priest deserves to be assumed innocent unless PROVEN otherwise. Many would do well to read the Medjugorje message this month. Our Lady explicitly asks,“not to judge the Shepherds, remember children God has chosen them”.*
I agree that it is improper for any of us to ascribe guilt to anyone, especially a member of the clergy. You are right, it is not our place to do so. However, there are other sources besides venomous bloggers, the most incriminating being Corapi himself.

There is also no reason for SOLT to incriminate him falsely. They published a statement because many of the faithful were being misled about the facts.

The truth is that he refused to participate with the investigatory process, and disobeyed both the bishop where he lives, the bishop over the SOLT and the superior of SOLT. He is the one who chose not to clear his name. He walked away from his vocation rather than face the charges against him.
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ookie said:
  • I am a little shocked at the ease of which some posters described the guilt of Father Corapi. I have kept abreast of his situation from day one and no where did I read that there was ANYcredible evidence against him. Where did they get this information? I am hoping they were not just repeating many uncharitable bloggers “venom” because many of them are not even Catholic and most are athiests. This priest deserves to be assumed innocent unless PROVEN otherwise. Many would do well to read the Medjugorje message this month. Our Lady explicitly asks,“not to judge the Shepherds, remember children God has chosen them”.*
Unapproved apparition and we are not allowed to discuss it. So I think we shouldn’t be quoting the “visionaries” either. 😦
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Thank you for responding. I was very upset by what transpired with Father Corapi. Fathers actions do not automatically make him guilty as charged. There are any number of reasons that Father may have reacted as he did. Suppose for example Fathers reaction was due to a sensitive nature or out of pride( or hurt) because he felt he was not being supported by his superiors. This action (right or wrong) may have caused Father to take the high road. Suppose there is information Father is unable to speak of because it was said by his accuser under the seal of confession. My Catholic faith and the 20 years I served priests’ showed me a perspective of “the life of a priest” that few know. In a Rectory, at any given time, strangers (non-parishioners) appear at the door asking for money or to speak to a priest. The priests bring these people into their office behind closed doors and give hours of their time helping and counceling them. They never for a moment refused one person despite the fact that they could be falsely accused of just about anything by these people who mostly they never see again. I witnessed this hundreds of times over a twenty year period! They selflessly serve and are being battered by society and what’s worse fellow Catholics! I believe with all my heart that we should defend these priests to the end and believe them when they tell us they are falsely accused. Don’t assumed them guilty because they walk away. Innocent unless proved guilty, and even then pray for them. This is what God is calling us to do. God Bless.
 
ookie said:
Thank you for responding. I was very upset by what transpired with Father Corapi. Fathers actions do not automatically make him guilty as charged. There are any number of reasons that Father may have reacted as he did.
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Yes, I am still upset about it. He has done more for my faith formation in the last three years than any other one person. I miss the program very much.

I agree, none of his actions mean he is guilty of the chargesthat were made, but his actions, in themselves, are objectively wrong. As for reasons, there is probably no one on this board who came up with more justifications than I did. :o
ookie said:
Suppose for example Fathers reaction was due to a sensitive nature or out of pride( or hurt) because he felt he was not being supported by his superiors.
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It would be a sin for them to support wrong actions. But I think you are right, he did get his feelings and his pride hurt.
ookie said:
This action (right or wrong) may have caused Father to take the high road.
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It is not a high road to abandon your promises. He made promises to the bishop, and his superior. He quit them, and rode off on his motorcycle.
ookie said:
Suppose there is information Father is unable to speak of because it was said by his accuser under the seal of confession.
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Then he will not be held responsible for it. There was nothing in the allegations, though, that occurred under the seal.
ookie said:
My Catholic faith and the 20 years I served priests’ showed me a perspective of “the life of a priest” that few know. In a Rectory, at any given time, strangers (non-parishioners) appear at the door asking for money or to speak to a priest. The priests bring these people into their office behind closed doors and give hours of their time helping and counceling them. They never for a moment refused one person despite the fact that they could be falsely accused of just about anything by these people who mostly they never see again. I witnessed this hundreds of times over a twenty year period! They selflessly serve and are being battered by society and what’s worse fellow Catholics! I believe with all my heart that we should defend these priests to the end and believe them when they tell us they are falsely accused.
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I am certainly willing to give any accused person the benefit of the doubt. We are all obligated, though, to obey the Church, and follow the directives of our superiors, even if we believe they are wrong.
ookie said:
Don’t assumed them guilty because they walk away. Innocent unless proved guilty, and even then pray for them. This is what God is calling us to do. God Bless.
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Father Corapi was being called to refrain from ministry and to silent obedience. He refused to accept the directives. I will continue to pray for him, as for all the ordained, but nothing has occurred that justifies disobedience.
 
**** Thank you for your response. I agree wholeheartedly that he was wrong in disobeying the Bishop and his superiors. My point is that people everywhere, because of verbal gossip and attacks, actually believe that he admitted to these allegations. If he did, I have never read a word of a confession from father. My belief is that we can believe his reactions were definitely wrong but that doesn’t make him guilty as charged. There are bloggers all over the internet that actually state he did everything the women accused him of. I think this has happened because many Catholics very easily “believed without evidence” that father was guilty because he left. They were willing to throw him under the bus and believe the accusations. I don’t understand this kind of mean-spiritedness, especially in the hearts of practicing Catholics. I don’t know father personally but watching and listening to him over the years I think it would be easy to imagine him getting his back-up after this kind of attack. He always appeared a bit feisty which honestly is what I think endeared him to many of us. Anyway, I believe in my heart that unless otherwise specified by father (an admission of guilt) Catholics should be willing to believe Father when he says he is innocent of these charges. I join many Catholics in praying daily that Father return to the Church and His order.
 
ookie said:
**** Thank you for your response. I agree wholeheartedly that he was wrong in disobeying the Bishop and his superiors. My point is that people everywhere, because of verbal gossip and attacks, actually believe that he admitted to these allegations. If he did, I have never read a word of a confession from father. My belief is that we can believe his reactions were definitely wrong but that doesn’t make him guilty as charged. There are bloggers all over the internet that actually state he did everything the women accused him of. I think this has happened because many Catholics very easily “believed without evidence” that father was guilty because he left. They were willing to throw him under the bus and believe the accusations. I don’t understand this kind of mean-spiritedness, especially in the hearts of practicing Catholics. I don’t know father personally but watching and listening to him over the years I think it would be easy to imagine him getting his back-up after this kind of attack. He always appeared a bit feisty which honestly is what I think endeared him to many of us. Anyway, I believe in my heart that unless otherwise specified by father (an admission of guilt) Catholics should be willing to believe Father when he says he is innocent of these charges. I join many Catholics in praying daily that Father return to the Church and His order.
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I would love to read this. Paragraphs are your friends.
 
so much for Christian manners and charity being displayed on the site… And I’m the one on trial.
 
ookie said:
**** Thank you for your response. I agree wholeheartedly that he was wrong in disobeying the Bishop and his superiors. My point is that people everywhere, because of verbal gossip and attacks, actually believe that he admitted to these allegations. If he did, I have never read a word of a confession from father.

My belief is that we can believe his reactions were definitely wrong but that doesn’t make him guilty as charged. There are bloggers all over the internet that actually state he did everything the women accused him of. I think this has happened because many Catholics very easily “believed without evidence” that father was guilty because he left. They were willing to throw him under the bus and believe the accusations. I don’t understand this kind of mean-spiritedness, especially in the hearts of practicing Catholics.

I don’t know father personally but watching and listening to him over the years I think it would be easy to imagine him getting his back-up after this kind of attack. He always appeared a bit feisty which honestly is what I think endeared him to many of us.

Anyway, I believe in my heart that unless otherwise specified by father (an admission of guilt) Catholics should be willing to believe Father when he says he is innocent of these charges. I join many Catholics in praying daily that Father return to the Church and His order.
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Miriam1947 said:
I would love to read this. Paragraphs are your friends.
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Walls of text can be difficult to follow. Since I tend to be a bit of a spelling/grammar nazi, I figured I’d lend a helping hand. 😃
 
ookie said:
**** T I join many Catholics in praying daily that Father return to the Church and His order.
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Ookie, we have a continuous rosary being prayed for Fr. Corapi in the Prayer Intention forum if you would like to join us.
 
With all that has transpired with John Corapi it seems that he did not practice what he preached. We know one important thing, he did not submit to the authorities God had placed over him.

Perhaps he did not spend enough time in front of the Blessed Sacrament or pray the rosary like he always said we should. I don’t know, but this is one sad story.
 
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