Yes his talks have helped me grow. I got nearly all his CD’s and DVD’s when he had that sale. I was thankful that this opportunity of a lifetime came up, I would have never been able to afford all this good talks.Whenever I would listen to his talks, I heard about a version of Catholicism that was very powerful and awe-inspiring. It helped me understand why the martyrs gave their lives for the Faith. He was tough, and helped me understand that the politically-correct version of Catholicism I was seeing all over my diocese (at the time- the diocese has since undergone a transformation that is nothing short of miraculous) was not the way things were meant to be.
Nope. What he said on those tapes were and still is the truth. Truth is truth no matter who is saying it or in what kind of state they are in.You make a good point.
If a priest is no longer authorized to preach or teach, can you use their materials?
Should people throw out their Fr. Corapi tapes?
Ahhh but who did I say that could judge him? Let the Church judge him, we who are in in the Hierarchial structure should not pass judgement on him.But there does have to be some kind of “judging” on his future activities if they are not in line with Church teachings and some warning that it is quite possible that the charges against him could have some truth to them. We can’t just blindly accept that he hasn’t down anything wrong and pretend to go on accepting him as a leader in the faith when he may no longer warrent that respect or leadership. We shouldn’t crucify him, nor should we still pretend there isn’t something serious taking place with this man and his ministry. People should proceed with caution.
It is very troubling to me, his current activities and attitude towards the whole matter. I’m not one to give him the green light that everything he does and says from this point on is acceptable and helpful to my Catholic faith.
I used to look up to him. I can’t believe it!His order’s press release:
soltnews.blogspot.com/2011/07/press-release-concerning-fr-john-corapi.html
Notice that I said in my post in reading other threads about Fr. Corapi I came across such things. I was hoping to stave off a thread that could easily turn into a rant.The only thing judgemental I saw was a singular comment about him being back on drugs (which we don’t know and should not comment on). Other than that, we are fully within our rights to discuss Fr. Corapi’s situation. He is known for his outspoken and bold defense of the Faith, and now he is ignoring the Church. As long as we don’t pass judgement, as I have only seen 1 person do so far, there is no reason not to talk about it.
His blog site being filled with hateful speech is noteworthy as a compass for the direction his ministry is headed. His lack of obedience is noteworthy (though should not be judged) because he has been made a role model for Catholics for many years.
I do love Fr. Corapi, and I pray for whatever it is he needs. And I also realize that charity does not come absent of Truth and Fr. Corapi himself was very big on this…charity without compromising the Truth.
The About statement on the new web page has been sloppily edited. Many of the old references to John Corapi’s Catholic orthodoxy have been removed, but the webmaster somehow neglected to get rid of the reference to S.O.L.T., the statement about Corapi’s being frequently heard on EWTN radio, and the bit about his regard for Mary and the saints, especially his name saints Padre Pio and St John. (The Padre Pio reference is supposedly to Corapi’s having taken Pio as his religious name when he attempted to enter the Franciscan novitiate.) The webmaster, who also works for Skull Church in Kalispell, will eventually delete these Catholic references, I’m sure.As for his new website, it contains some disturbing statements. In the “about” page it states: “John Anthony Corapi (born 20 May 1947) is a Catholic priest from the United States.”
While that is technically true, it is awfully misleading.
Another line is: “Fr. Corapi is now a member of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity.”
Once again technically true, but…
There’s no mention of being away from his order or no longer being in active ministry. I find those statements to be quite troubling.
Yes, if he continues in disobedience then, most likely, SOLT will move forward and apply to the correct Congregation for laicization.ByzCath -
Question for you. Could this be an indefinite standoff or at some point could the Church step in either SOLT or some other Church office and pursue laicization in the Church’s best interest?
your observations also bothered me this morning when i looked over the new website.As for his new website, it contains some disturbing statements. In the “about” page it states: “John Anthony Corapi (born 20 May 1947) is a Catholic priest from the United States.”
While that is technically true, it is awfully misleading.
Another line is: “Fr. Corapi is now a member of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity.”
Once again technically true, but…
There’s no mention of being away from his order or no longer being in active ministry. I find those statements to be quite troubling.
Hi Legal Eagle,“Cult of personality” types are always to be viewed with suspicion. Peace,
I mentioned it as well. It refers to those who follow a movement because they are enamoured of it’s leader or leader’s characteristics.Hi Legal Eagle,
You mentioned “Cult of personality”. That is an interesting phrase but I’m not sure
I know what it means. Could you shed a little light on this? Thank you.
Hi Promethius,I mentioned it as well. It refers to those who follow a movement because they are enamoured of it’s leader or leader’s characteristics.
When we say that Germans followed Hitler willingly, it’s not because the majority of Germans wanted Jews dead. It’s because Hitler was a powerful personality that he could sway people to him. His “cult of personality” were those who were so enamoured of him that they accepted his ideals and became cold blooded murderers as a result.
In a vastly less ominous sense, Fr Corapi has a cult of personality… he’s very charismatic and engaging. Some of his listeners are now turning around and bashing the very same church that Fr Corapi preached in… simply because Fr Corapi is being investigated! They fail to realize that they are following a personality rather than a truth… they are indignant at the fact that the church would even DARE to question their “cult of personality” leader, and so they reject the good and truth of loyal obedience to the church in order to follow their leader.
That’s a cult of personality, it’s a loose term for having people who were so enamoured with him that when he defected they went too.
Tell me, who’s going to monitor him? He has no authority now that he has to report to. He rejected the advice of his order. He didn’t put any faith in his fellow Catholics that could clear him of these charges, or even in God for that matter. Aren’t we taught to put our faith in God in all our trials, that He will see us through even in our darkest moments? Corapi took vows to follow the instructions of his order, in good times and bad, but when he felt he was being persecuted, he walked away from his order and even his priesthood. I find that very troubling, don’t you? If he didn’t believe that the Catholic Church could see him through this situation, as a priest, I certainly would look at any of his future activities with caution.Originally Posted by PatriceA
Hi PatriceA,
But there does have to be some kind of “judging” on his future activities if they are not in line with Church teachings
Origin, the famous Father of the Church, at the end of his life unfortunately embraced
an error. But today He is still quoted and read for all the great writings and thoughts about
the faith in spite of the problem he had at the end.
You feel that he won’t be monitored?
There are good spiritual books that many Protestants have written about their faith in
Jesus which I throughly enjoy reading, tho I am careful to sift the wheat. They sometimes show a very lively and touching way of explaining their love and faith which is moving.
And from what I have expierenced from many catholics on CAF, I am beginning to wonder if there really is any such thing as a doctrinely pure catholic. Everyone seems to have
their picadilloes, except of course you and me. And I sometimes wonder about you.
(That’s a tee hee).
Aren’t all catholics still swimming the Tiber? Every one else is too, tho they just don’t know it.
“Guide me in your truth and teach me” Psalm 25
A little off topic but here’s the quick answer - probably not.I know a priest who resigned years ago and still refers to himself “father xxxxx”(name omitted). He has officiated many weddings since then. Are these weddings valid? I know they are illicit, but are couples married by this “priest” really married as far as the church is concerned?
Oh, I totally agree that this personality for preaching can be a great gift! My only point was that as laypersons we must be sure to avoid the cult of personality lure that this can have on us. We should still be thankful for good preachers though!But some have a gift for teaching and/or preaching. They are clear, precise, and orderly in their presentation, and easy to follow. But not all have this gift and when it does come along, it is a joy to hear. I’m sure all of us have heard many clergy of all faiths. Some have this and some don’t.
Hi PatriceA,Tell me, who’s going to monitor him? He has no authority now that he has to report to. He rejected the advice of his order. He didn’t put any faith in his fellow Catholics that could clear him of these charges, or even in God for that matter. Aren’t we taught to put our faith in God in all our trials, that He will see us through even in our darkest moments? Corapi took vows to follow the instructions of his order, in good times and bad, but when he felt he was being persecuted, he walked away from his order and even his priesthood. I find that very troubling, don’t you? If he didn’t believe that the Catholic Church could see him through this situation, as a priest, I certainly would look at any of his future activities with caution.
Actually I won’t be monitoring him. I’m not interested in his way of “preaching” at all. However I do think he will preach about what he practices, I just don’t like what he’s practicing.Hi PatriceA,
You said “who is going to monitor him?” I know you will be. And just as you do, so will
others. I believe you are concerned “they do not practice what they preach.” Mathew.
But the curtain hasn’t quite fallen all the way yet. He does deserve credit for all the good
he has spoken in the past, and time will tell about the future. This is where you, I, and
everyone pray for a successful and holy outcome.
Hi Promethius,Oh, I totally agree that this personality for preaching can be a great gift! My only point was that as laypersons we must be sure to avoid the cult of personality lure that this can have on us. We should still be thankful for good preachers though!
The other lure that’s out there is for the good preacher themselves… it’s hard when being the subject of much veneration to avoid the temptation to see yourself as bigger than you are, or as no longer needing to listen to the church and it’s authority. Some great preachers, most I daresay, can be the subject of veneration without being corrupted by venerations influence to sinful pride… I fear, however, that Fr Corapi has fallen before the temptation to view onesself as no longer needing the guidance or authority of the church.
So the stab is double in my mind: it has been revealed that there is a cult of personality around Fr Corapi, which enables him to dangerously and inapropriately reject the authority of the church and his bishop… and this cult provides him the comfort that he’s still the “superhero” of the faith that he was before, and that the church was wrong to “stand against him.” Then the second stab: if Fr Corapi were not succombing to this pride, he would tell his ardent followers who are likewise being disobedient to their bishops (or worse, publicly rejecting their bishops and insulting them!) by his influence to not do so because they are in the wrong. Instead, Fr Corapi feeds them to enable them to keep supporting him despite the now clearly inappropriate nature of this support.