SOLT PRESS RELEASE – July 5, 2011
HOW IT STARTED
Father Corapi made his first announcement in March 2011:
On Ash Wednesday I learned that a former employee sent a three-page letter to several bishops accusing me of everything from drug addiction to multiple sexual exploits with her and several other adult women. I have been placed on “administrative leave” as the result of this… All of the allegations in the complaint are false, and I ask you to pray for all concerned.
EWTN removed his programs from the cable network:
In EWTN’s thirty years of existence, the Network has never knowingly aired programming featuring any priest whose priestly faculties have been suspended. The Network has always responded consistently and immediately in such situations by removing such programs from the air. We are obliged to do so in obedience to the discipline of the Church. Father John has long been a friend of EWTN and many of us have worked closely with him throughout the years. He is a tremendously gifted preacher who has led many souls to Christ. We are doing exactly as he has asked and supporting him and everyone involved in the situation in the best way possible, through our prayers.
Many of us were unfamiliar with the nature of his SOLT religious community:
The Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity is a community of disciples of Jesus and Mary composed of all vocations: priests, deacons, brothers, sisters and single and married laity. The Society was founded in 1958 and has been approved by Rome as a Society of Apostolic Life. Ecclesial Teams are the basis of our community life as well as the means by which our missions are staffed. A complete Ecclesial Team is composed of at least one priest, religious and lay person or married couple. At the present, the International Headquarters of Our Lady’s Society is located in the United States, in the city of Robstown, Texas under the Diocesan jurisdiction of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas. In looking forward to when The Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity achieves Pontifical Status within the Church, the International Offices will be transferred at that time to Rome, Italy.
There was a clarification from the lucrative company, Santa Cruz Media, over which Fr. Corapi was identified as the CEO:
Santa Cruz Media, Inc. is the owner of all of Fr. John Corapi’s intellectual property and the DVDs, CDs, and books that flow from it. We are a secular corporation and not affiliated with the Catholic Church in any way. As such, we are not under the jurisdiction of any bishop or other official in the Catholic Church, although we have the utmost respect for Church authority.
Here is my FACEBOOK comment from March 2011:
FATHER JOE: Priests are men under authority. Fr. Corapi, himself, says that they cannot play games with their promise of obedience and others should respect this. If Father Corapi’s faculties have been removed and his ministry suspended, then EWTN was morally required to take the action they did. Hopefully the matter will be resolved and he will be restored to his place on television and radio. Having said this, the sale of media (audio, video, web and print) would also fall under “ministry.” Given the situation, Fr. Corapi could certainly require Santa Cruz Media, Inc. (an extension of his ministry) to suspend sales and distribution of his materials. I suspect that the good priest is innocent, but there is much to which we are not privy. Prayer is our proper posture at this time, not ridicule of episcopal jurisdiction in the Catholic Church.
WHERE IT STANDS NOW
ON JUNE 17, 2011 AN ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE BY FATHER CORAPI THAT HE WOULD CONTINUE MINISTRY BUT NOT AS A PRIEST IN GOOD STANDING. IT IS A VERY SAD DAY.
FATHER JOE:
(June 2011) I have not blogged about this matter until now and I am not comfortable about posting on it. This issue has gone beyond Father Corapi and could harm the very souls for whom he has confessed concern. Already on the social network sites, his fans are taking sides with him and attacking the Church. This has quickly become a very dangerous situation, another reason why cult worship of religious media personalities should be discouraged. Our faith is in Jesus and the Church, not in preachers with impressive rhetoric and militant attitudes.
This business has gone sour and Father Corapi, as much as I hate to say it, is duplicitous in saying (on one hand) that the bishops have a right to do what they are doing and then (on the other) to malign them for violating his rights and daring to impose discipline upon him. He is a priest and cannot pretend to be anything else, as with this pathetic “black sheep dog” foolishness. His failure to shut down his multimillion dollar business was an early sign that he would not obey the demand of the bishops to suspend public ministry. Now he is taking it to the next level. Faithful Catholics have no choice; in tears and anguish, we must leave Father Corapi. Pray for him but do not participate in his pretense of obedience while he is actually disobedient. True humility would have him submit and accept the Cross. His obstinacy insists that no one will tell him what to do– that was the trouble with his independence all along. More grievous than any genuine or false indiscretion with a woman, the skirting or outright violation of obedience is the greatest possible failing for any priest. Everything from his assignments to the moral life is covered in his fidelity to the Church and Christ. He is to discern God’s will in his obedience to the bishop and his superiors. Evidently, he has become a dissenter on the nature of priesthood and its obligations, as well as upon Catholic ecclesiology. While on “administrative leave,” a suspended priest can neither preach nor teach religion; his intention to do so anyway would be a movement toward the Protestant camp, no matter what the message.
REMARKS ON HIS STATEMENT
FATHER CORAPI: All things change, only God stays the same, so I have to tell you about a major change in my life. I am not going to be involved in public ministry as a priest any longer. There are certain persons in authority in the Church that want me gone, and I shall be gone. I have been guilty of many things in the course of my life, and could easily and justifiably be considered unfit to engage in public ministry as a priest.
FATHER JOE: The problem is that priesthood is not merely a job we can change or a hat we can trade for another. Even if the priest is laicized, he is configured to Christ as a priest, forever. If he cannot engage in public ministry, then he cannot do so in any fashion, even if he drops his priestly title or goes under a pseudonym as in a superhero’s secret identity. [It is rarely permitted, but sometimes a laicized priest can give religious instructions with permission of the bishop if it is generally not known that he was a priest and no scandal would result. Fr. Corapi is too well known for this exception ever to apply.] The label “Black Sheep Dog” is a literary fiction without meaning. It says nothing that would grant him an escape from Church censure. He is a suspended priest who has no faculties for preaching or publicly teaching the faith. That means he cannot do it— even on the Internet or with books or with audio/visual media. If the Church authorities want him gone, and it is uncertain who he really means, then he should pursue his canonical rights in private. He has opted not to do this. Suspensions can take a year or more to resolve. He did not last three months! That is hardly the image of a tough former Special Forces military man. (But wait, we found that this part of his biography was a fabrication. We will let that fact check go given his more serious troubles.) Of course, he may acknowledge one important grain of truth; he may indeed be “unfit to engage in public ministry as a priest.” It should be said that all priests are unworthy. The best of priests fall short. If he were sincere then he should fight for his priesthood, no matter how much time it might take to be restored to ministry or good standing. However, such must be done within the system and among the fraternity of his brother priests. He should hold his tongue about how he feels about the process and treat the bishop, his superiors and the Church with trusting respect. A priest who caricaturizes the Church as the enemy is burning his bridges. These latest remarks have ignited a fiery inferno. Fame and fortune should mean nothing to a good and humble priest. He might argue that the Church has forced his hand, but every faithful priest knows this not true. The laity may not clearly understand this situation. Our lives and obligations are very different. He may want to step away from his priesthood, but a priest he is, and that means that any public ministry without ecclesial approbation will be PROTESTANT ministry, not Catholic.
FATHER CORAPI: I did not start this process, the Bishop of Corpus Christi, Texas ordered my superiors, against their will and better judgment, to do it. He in fact threatened to release a reprehensible and libelous letter to all of the bishops if they did not suspend me.
FATHER JOE: Notice how quickly Fr. Corapi uses the word libelous. Would he resort to the civil courts to punish any in the hierarchy who would dare challenge him, his importance and his resources? He says that he loves the Church and so I am hoping that he will not. Nevertheless, are the assets of his “for profit” company fully his or do they belong to the Church? I suspect they are in his name. We might see a fight about this yet. In his own mind, he is the Church’s great defender. He is Superman, Batman and the Green Lantern all rolled up into one. His fans echo his own conviction— “Oh how will the Church survive without him?” In truth, the Church will fare perfectly well without him. But, if he decides to pursue this BLACK SHEEP DOG nonsense, it is possible that he could inflict great harm upon the Church and cost good people their salvation. As for the bishop’s actions, it confirms what I suspected, that SOLT was impotent in reigning in this isolated Lone Ranger priest who had made religion into his own personal big business. Let me be fair, he may not have started out expecting this happen. But the media can make celebrities of anyone, even religious leaders. When fans tell you that you are wonderful, their praise can be seductive and the person can become addicted to adulation. This is deadly for the minister of God. Everything we have is gift. Every priest should be the poor man– the sinner who seeks to bring God’s mercy to other sinners. Fr. Corapi did some incredible work. My fear is that everything might now be undone.
FATHER CORAPI: My canon lawyer and my civil lawyers have concluded that I cannot receive a fair and just hearing under the Church’s present process. The Church will conclude that I am not cooperating with the process because I refuse to give up all of my civil and human rights in order to hold harmless anyone who chooses to say defamatory and actionable things against me with no downside to them. The case may be on hold indefinitely, but my life cannot be.
FATHER JOE: And who are these canon and civil lawyers? Was there an appeal to the Congregation for the Clergy in Rome? No, I doubt it. My suspicion is that Fr. Corapi refused to cooperate with the process. Maybe he never understood what the Catholic priesthood was really about? His promise of obedience was not selective and he had indeed surrendered certain rights. He promised celibacy and gave up an important natural right to marry. His overall promise of obedience meant that he would speak for the Church and not for himself on matters of faith and morals. In a negative way, it also meant that he would not speak if the Church so deemed. His faculties to say Mass, to hear Confessions, to preach and to publicly teach, all fell under lawful authority. He was to function as an extension of the Church and his bishop. Now he is claiming that such a promise of obedience conflicts with his “civil and human rights.” He should reflect more intensely upon the biblical scene where Jesus washed the feet of his apostles. The first must be last. He was called to be a servant, not the Master. Demanding large audiences and tens of thousands of dollars for talks is not the way of humble priests. The Pope could give him a lesson. We call the Holy Father the “Servant of the Servants of God.” This word “servant” can be translated as SLAVE. In any case, I guess Fr. Corapi wants his own version of freedom, but he will pay a terrible price for his alienation from the true Church.
FATHER CORAPI: I shall continue, black sheep that I am, to speak; and sheep dog that I am, to guard the sheep—this time around not just in the Church, but also in the entire world. I am, indeed, not ready to be extinguished. Under the name “The Black Sheep Dog,” I shall be with you through radio broadcasts and writing.
FATHER JOE: The sheep dog has no occupation separated from the chief shepherd or bishop. A dog that runs after the sheep on its own is not a true sheep dog, but rather we use another name for that canine… we call him a wolf. If people leave the Church or attack our bishops over this scandal then I would suggest that Fr. Corapi change the name of his blog and new label to BLACK WOLF.
FATHER CORAPI: I hope you stay with us and follow us into our new domain and name of “The Black Sheep Dog.” Through writing and broadcasting we hope to continue to dispense truth and hope to a world so much in need of it.
FATHER JOE: Those who collaborate, defend and buy his products will be offering material support to a suspended priest. In other words, he will be making his sin, their own.
Dear Fr. Corapi, reconsider what you are planning to do. Speaking as a brother priest, (if I were in your shoes), before bringing spiritual harm to others and scandal to the Church, I would have preferred to “quietly lie down and die.” But in actuality, the Church is not asking you to do this. We want you to live and to offer oblations for God’s people. You are a priest and your prayers to heaven have power even if they are said from a lonely monastic cell. You do not have to shout from the housetops to be a good priest. I know my words are critical and I might sound harsh, but I am thinking both of you and of your followers. We all make mistakes. We are all sinners. Sometimes we speak out of turn. We become frustrated and afraid. Old demons try to reclaim us under new guises. Be strong! Be a man! Be a priest! Be a faithful son of the Church, no matter what the personal cost.
The complete statement by Father Corapi is available on THE BLACK SHEEP DOG site.
CALLING BLACK SHEEP DOG BACK HOME
UPDATE
Joan Frawley Desmond writes a masterful and eye-opening article for the National Catholic Register (June 19) on the Fr. John Corapi scandal. Not only his fans, but his dear friend retired Bishop Rene Gracida were apparently duped by the famous media priest. Incardinated into the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT), Fr. Gerard Sheehan, his religious superior, revealed that the process and investigation into possible misconduct was complicated by Fr. Corapi, himself. The priest had gone ahead and filed a civil suit against the former employee who accused him of sexual misconduct.
“When she left the company, she signed a contract that she would not reveal anything that happened to her while she was at Santa Cruz Media. Fr. Corapi paid her for this. Father was suing her for a breach of contract. In canon law, there can’t be any pressure on witnesses; they have to be completely free to speak. The investigation was compromised because of the pressure on the witnesses. There were other witnesses that also had signed non-disclosure agreements. The canon lawyers were in a difficult situation, and Father does have his civil rights and he decided to follow his legal counsel, which he had a right to do. We tried to continue the investigation without speaking to the principal witnesses.”
If innocent of wrongdoing, why did Fr. Corapi pay employees to sign a non-disclosure agreement? About what were they not supposed to speak? Evidently he did not like where things were going and so he sent SOLT in writing his resignation from “active ministry and religious life.” This brought the investigation to an end. This insures that no report will be published. Fr. Sheehan noted that he sent him a letter in return asking for confirmation.
As I suspected, the society was offering him ways to save his priesthood and he decided not to do so. He refused to leave Montana and live within a SOLT community. He refused to meet or talk with his superior. He refused to live according to their rule of life and the changes approved by the Holy Father. It seems that his failure at obedience went far deeper than anyone could have imagined. He maligned a Church that was very patient and fair with him. He cast himself as the victim while orchestrating something entirely different behind the scenes. It makes me want to weep and weep and weep.
His superior stated:
“We wanted him to come back to the community, and that would have meant leaving everything he has. It would have been a drastic change for him. We will continue to move pastorally and charitably, taking steps to protect his good name.”
His autobiography, BLACK SHEEP DOG, was in the works for some time which indicates that this break from ministry as a priest was planned all along.
I mentioned earlier that this business brings into question the oversight or lack therefore over members by such societies. Why was Fr. Corapi not living in conformity with SOLT’s 1994 constitution? There is no good answer, except that the society looked the other way. Fr. Sheehan assures us that the rules will be enforced in the future:
“The founder’s arrangement with Father Corapi was established before that time, when Father Flanagan believed that every mission should take care of its own needs. Now, according to our constitution, a different way of life has been established for members. All the money we make is turned over to the society, which gives us an allowance.”
I also mentioned months ago on FACEBOOK that while his home and operations were in the Helena diocese, he had no faculties from the bishop to engage in ministry there. This shows the depth of his free reign and lack of ecclesial supervision. All the Church is insisting upon now is what should have been in place initially. Despite what Fr. Corapi says against the bishop of Corpus Christi, the official diocesan news release stated “that SOLT authorities had initiated the action to temporarily remove him from active ministry.”
I suspect that Father (Mister?) Corapi will have a spin on these new revelations, with an appropriate marketing pitch for his media products and books. This tragedy may make a cynic of me yet. But I hope not, such is also not befitting a priest.
A PRAYER FOR FR. CORAPI
I have offered Mass and prayed for Father. There is a frenzy about this subject that I did not really anticipate and which makes me uncomfortable. We really need to love him. If he has disappointed us, we need to forgive him, too. Below is a prayer I will share with you. I sometimes compose my prayers and will be saying this regularly on his behalf. God bless you all!
Dear Heavenly Father,
We want to bring to you in prayer our beloved priest, Father John Corapi. It is hard to know what is going on and our trust has been sorely tried.
He has inspired us with his example of reform and instructed us with his sound Catholic teaching. He has proclaimed the Gospel without equivocation or apology. He quickly became a rock of truth in a world filled with compromise and deception. He defended the rights of the unborn when so many were silent. While the Church was rocked with scandals involving the clergy, here was a towering figure that seemed to epitomize both real manhood and priestly courage. We listened to him on the radio and watched him on television. While a few saw him in person, most of us came to know and to love him through the modern communications media. Millions had the opportunity to encounter him, and through him, the Christ whose kingdom is breaking into the world.
We desperately wanted him to be a saint and yet he himself reminded us again and again that like all the rest of us, he was a sinner. We all fall short of the glory of God. Today, however, he faces a serious personal trial and perilous choices. Many of his friends have abandoned him. Others deride him with no regard for his priestly dignity and all the good work he accomplished in your name. Still others seek to defend him by defaming the Church he has always loved.
The facts are becoming clearer, but we do not know what is going though his heart and mind. If he is angry, please Lord— grant him the gift of a tranquil heart and the patience to endure all things for Christ Crucified. If he is fearful, please Lord— let him know that you are with him and that he need not be afraid. Many temptations face us all, but priests in particular face the worse assaults of the devil. If he has fallen, pick him up. If he remains standing, then give him the courage to embrace humility and truth in the coming storm. Even brave men sometimes need a greater share of courage. Do not allow him to run away from his high calling. He participates in the high priesthood of Christ; there is no more crucial vocation. Let him know that even if he should be reduced to poverty and have to minister alone in prayer or to the smallest congregation, that the oblations of such a priest still have infinite meaning and power.
Promises are made to be kept. Father often spoke about this in regard to the sanctity and dignity of the marriage covenant. He made promises as well— to be a servant of all by embracing a life of celibate love and of obedience to the voice of Jesus in the bishops and his superiors. Preserve him in your grace and defend him against the sins that afflict him, particularly that of pride and of despair. As long as there is the breath of life, there is hope. Let him embrace this hope and put on the mind and the heart of Christ in the Church.
When it seems that a great defender of the Church is suddenly in an adversarial relationship with her, it is easy to see that something has gone terribly wrong. It is our prayer that this beloved priest will surrender his life and his work, all that he is and all that he has done, into the loving arms of the Church over which the Blessed Mother gives the protection of her mantel of mercy. Dear Lord, we know you are not finished with him yet; but we also know that no service to you can be authentic and fruitful if there is a denial of his priestly office. Help him to see this and to know the graces that will testify to your truth and glory.
Amen.
Filed under: Bishops, Catholic, Church, Corapi, Evangelization, Faith, Priests |
Blogger Priest 
Father, I found your words thoughtful, faithful, and charitable. I appreciate your reminder to pray for (Father) Corapi–and the souls he will now be leading astray. I am reminded of Paul telling the early Christians that they must not say that they follow Paul or Apollo, but only Jesus Christ.
Our faith must be in Christ and in His Church, never totally focused on the man who is only an instrument to lead us to Christ.
Mostly, I’d like to point out that it is a double standard of many of us to quickly jump to defend every action of (Father) Corapi in this scandal, but so often in the past, we have been quick to condemn priests who are not famous or well-known but who have also been accused of scandal. We don’t really know anything about any of them, and some of the holiest priests are probably ones whose names we will never know until Heaven.
Excellent article and insight Father Joe!… You shed ALOT of light on an otherwise dark place… Thank You Jesus, YOU never left me alone in that dark place for longer than I ever needed to be… all I had to do was search and I would find, knock and it would be opened to me, and ask and I would receive…. ALL Fr Joe speaks of this is the TRUTH upon which I choose to stand!!!
Thank You and may God in Heaven hear my prayers for you Fr Joe, our Catholic Church and all of her Holy Priests, Brothers and Sisters… including for Fr Corapi.
God Bless you and Thank You for helping me to keep my eyes on Heaven all for the Glory of God the Divine Father from whom all good things come.
Anyone who achieves any kind of fame be it in Catholic circles or not should be doing intense penance so as not to love the fame. JPII gave us this example.
Also red flags were that Fr. Corapi would glamorize the Hollywood personalities he hung out with. I was told when I left Hollywood famous circle never to tell the insider stories of the celebs life. When he did this he should have repented but still he enjoyed going on and on about partying with this celeb and that one. Any Catholic going through a serious conversion should spend more time on the post conversion than the preconversion.
Our Lady please be with him that he may come back!
Personally I do not care if FATHER Corapi is guilty or not guilty, if he is and is sorry then he should be forgiven…that is what the church teaches, right? Father Corapi has a right to make a living anyway he chooses and for you or the church to say otherwise is WRONG! I am beginning to evaluate my relationship with the church as I find myself wondering how can I support an organization who kicks the men who have given up everything to unselfishly give his all to God. Just recently my bishop tried to get rid of the priest in residence at our parrish because he is old and can’t contribute his “fair share” and that is just one example of many first hand that I can provide how the church loves it her priest as Christ has loved us. It is becoming clear that the church does not practice what she preaches.
The more news that comes out just makes this even more heartbreaking. Its getting harder to not think something shady was going on since evidently these changes were in the works for a while. Most distubing though, is the amount of division that’s been caused. The devil wants that and has been handed a victory.
Thank you, Father Joe, for being a true shepherd in this sad situation.
My mother was just reading the ‘Divine Mercy in My Soul’ – the diary of St. Faustina Kowalska and showed me entry #28 … Jesus said, “I was here during your conversation with the Superior and know everything. I don’t demand mortification from you, but obedience. By obedience you give great glory to Me and gain merit for yourself.”
A Prayer for Priests
(for Fr. Corapi in particular at this time – that he would not give up the great gift of his vocation to the priesthood)
Divine Savior Jesus Christ, Thou are the Good Shepherd who gives His life for His sheep. Oh, be in a very special way the Good Shepherd of those poor lost priests who are also appointed by Thee to be leaders of Thy people, but who have broken the oath of their holy ordination and have become unfaithful to their exalted calling. Bestow upon these poorest of the poor the very fullness of that pastoral solicitude with which Thou dost so faithfully seek the sheep that are lost! Touch their hearts with the irresistible ray of grace which emanates from Thine all-merciful love! Enlighten their minds and strengthen their wills, that they may turn away from all sin and error and come back to Thy holy altar and to Thy people. Amen.
Even though the ‘Year of the Priest’ is over, we must never stop praying and offering sacrifices for our priests – without whom we would have no life, No Eucharist – or any other Sacrament!
“In the Sacraments, it is God himself who comes to annihilate our enemy. The Devil, seeing Him in our heart, throws himself despairingly into the bottomless pit; which explains why he does all he can to draw us away from them, or to make us receive them badly.” ~ by St. John Vianney
“The priesthood is the love of the Heart of Jesus. When you see the priest, think of our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~by St. John Vianney
Saint John Vianney, pray for us!
Fr Joe,
Thank you. Your words really helped me in how to process this mess. At first, I was becoming very cynical and began to wonder if, I can barely say it, everything is a lie, not even realizing how I was basically opening the front door and inviting Satan in. Then when my heart returned to God’s grace, read a few blogs, read yours, and then found myself wanting to respond to the comments attacking you for these “Corapi could do no wrong” devotees had lost touch with reality. My responses would probably have been just as uncharitable as the very comments I would be condeming! Such I fear, the scandal caused by this has just begun. I wish Corapi could see the harm this could do to so many. I look forward to my time in front of Our Lord during Eucharistic Holy Hour at St. Michael’s Abbey with all the devoted Norbertines and will pray for Corapi, all religious, and the laity.
Celebrity Preachers are best left to MegaChurches! The true celebrities of our Church should be reserved for our Saints, and the future Saints that only used their celebrity to cast nets and Glorify God. examples ArchBishop Fulton J Sheen, Mother Angelica, Mother Teresa, Pope Benedict XVI, and Blessed Pope John Paul II.
The behavior of the “Black Sheep Dog” makes me sick. It really seems as though this was planned for a long time. The “unfair” investigation is being impeded by the “Black Sheep Dog” himself.
The “Black Sheep Dog” treats the vocation of the priesthood like a bone to be discarded when ever it is convenient.
Is the motto of the new media company “$ale$ before souls!”
He may retain some “fans,” but he is crushing the faithful that can see through this wolf’s deception more than any accusation (even if true) would have.
Father Corapi update. suit is a defamation suit fyi. two employees were assaulted and the police were called in by the person who accused Father Corapi. A Bishop advised Father Corapi to file lawsuit. person was trying to extort money from Father
http://www.theblacksheepdog.us/
Father Joe, Thanks for allowing me to voice my opinion. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know the process that goes on behind the scenes . It just appears to be very flawed now from a lifelong Catholic perspective due to the problems of the 90’s. Father Corapi has tried to never take any money from the church and once you’re reputation as a priest has been damaged it is very understandable why Father Corapi is doing what he can in this spiritual war . especially if you look at the precedents that have been set now since the 90’s. guilty until proving innocent.
Father Corapi has many times said that God allows suffering to bring a better good. So maybe this will be the beginning to improve the process. I think the Priests and Bishops need to address the situation asap. society is becoming very sue happy and they know that the church has settled cases even when there was no wrong doing on behalf of the priest or bishop and in some areas had to bankrupt the church in some areas of the us
From what I’ve read what worse of a thing could happen to a Priest.to be wrongly accused and be suspended indefinitely when you are innocent. I could see where this could lead to sadness, depression or if you are even fortunate enough to be vindicated the damage has already been done because the seed of doubt has already been placed,in people hearts and minds
I think this is a major issue that Priests, Bishops, Cardinals and the Pope should make a major priority especially when you see there is already a shortage of Priests. Go on the aggressive not defensive. Because there is a spiritual war for souls going on as we speak. I ask that you try and initiate that the time has come for this process when concerning adults be revised so a Priest at leasts has a fair chance to defend his honor and mission
Look at what happen to this other Priest. God Bless
http://articles.boston.com/2011-06-15/news/29661744_1_priest-mitchell-garabedian-father-murphy
[…] Fr. Joseph Jenkins asks, Black Sheep Dog or Black Wolf? […]
Father, I appreciate your guidance on this troubling matter. Thank you very much for your help in my decision-making process.
Even here we have people siding injudiciously with Corapi and maligning anyone who points out – not what a rotten person he is, but how dangerous his actions are.
Look. I’m a lit major. We do a little thing called “character analysis” where we look at the fundamental nature of a character by his ACTIONS, and to a somewhat lesser degree, his words. It’s a useful exercise to apply to real people as well.
There’s something diabolical about automatically blaming the bishops in this or other grievances. The bishops are the administrators under Rome for the safeguarding of the Church. We owe them common courtesy and common respect – a priest owes them, by virtue of his ordination vows, OBEDIENCE.
The NC Register has an article out, last night, in which the Superior for SOLT says the case HAD to be dropped because Fr Corapi has sent in a letter of resignation – and that the order will help him with the filing for his laicization. Prior to that, Corapi had filed a civil lawsuit against the woman accusing him, citing violation of an employment non-disclosure agreement.
These two details of Corapi’s ACTIONS show us something very specific: Corapi has thwarted his own search for ecclesial justice. (They also show us that he talks out of both sides of his mouth – because one of his complaints against the superiors is that they wouldn’t tell him who his accuser is – but he did know who she is because he said he’d done more to help her than any other human being… and he was able to file the civil lawsuit against her – you have to have a Defendant’s name and last known address in order to file a civil action.
The actions – he filed a lawsuit which sabotaged his ecclesial defense, then he QUIT – held up against his words (which amount to, they’re selfish powerlords who want me silenced) demonstrate something alarming: a man blaming others for the consequences of his own volitional choices.
Moreover – THREE MONTHS IS NOTHIN’. In civil terms, three months MIGHT see the suit initiated, filed in the court and served (sometimes service can be delayed but never indefinitely) and Answered (in my state a Defendant has 30 days in which to Answer a Complaint). After three months you’re just BEGINNING to get into what is called the Discovery process.
Corapi is ranting, raving, and – I have to say this, he’s whining when the process has barely had time to begin. What makes him so precious that he thinks he’s supposed to get a pass?
I’m sorry – I’ve always appreciated Corapi’s teaching ministry and the man – without being a member of the fan club, if you can understand the distinction. But this present action reveals a deeply disturbed man who has chosen to become a rogue rather than an obedient servant. He has become, indisputably, truly dangerous.
St. Michael the Archangel, Defend us in Battle.
Dear Fr. Joe,
Thank you for your insight. I pray for Fr. Corapi. He always spoke about having a “bulls eye” on his “you know what”. Sadly, I think Satan nailed one right on center. I am a simple person, and speak simply about my Faith. Jesus Christ is the Truth and He established His Church to spread and protect the Truth. Any fragmenting from Church, fragments us for Jesus Christ. As far as Fr. Corapi is concerned, Satan saw a way to cause a “fragmenting” among its members with a very well known priest and respected speaker and teacher of the Catholic Faith. Sadly, Fr. Corapi wasn’t ready to take on Satan or, perhaps, wasn’t even aware he was under attack. I believe it is possible that Fr. Corapi let the sin of resentment and his attachment to this world blind him from all of this. God’s grace is his only hope. As you and many commenters expressed, patience and humility is what Fr. Corapi needs to exercise now more than ever (as we all do). I end my comments with a beautiful quote from St. Anthony of Padua (Feast Day June 13) which I think gets to the very essence of Fr. Corapi’s problem and many of our own! God Bless.
St. Anthony of Padua:
“Practically, we are required to be patient in many way: for there are some things, trials and crosses, which come to us from God: others, temptations and enticements, that come to us from our old adversary the devil; still other difficulties that arise from our neighbor: persecution, complaints, unjust accusations. Against all these we must be ever on our guard lest we give way to complaining against the trials our maker sends us; lest again we be led astray into sin, which is what the devil wants; or to be overly disturbed by the thoughtlessness or unkindness of others. For if we want to have our own way always, aren’t we really seeking our reward here below in the things of this life? Let us couple patience and long-suffering in the spirit of meekness and faith and so bring forth fruit in patience!”
[…] I bring you a message from Father Joe on this situation. Black Sheep Dog or BLACK WOLF? Please read this! I WILL NOT follow the man, Father Corapi, I will follow the word Of Christ Jesus […]
common sense tells me that this person was out to harm father corapi and the catholic church and the Bishop should have stood up and defended father corapi based on what i have read. this accusation from what i’ve read did not pass the smell test. if it was true why is there only one accuser and why didn’t the Bishop consult with the other employees who were assaulted by this person? it smells of being a wrong decision or bad policy. father corapi is being punished because of the past Priest and Bishops sins that came out in the 90’s in the US
The Bishop of Corpus Christi should have stood up for Father Corapi but instead the Bishop or the process has failed another good priest. The Catholic church needs to reevaluate the process and go on the offensive not defensive when it comes to good priests and adults making accusations. adults should not be able to make a claim without some sort of fair process to the priest. i understand that we should protect children if something happens but this was an adult who started this when lent started this year
My mom is a very devout catholic for all of her life. She was in shock when I told her what had happened and new this is not right. Father Corapi is one of the most popular priests in the us and I hope this is not about the Bishop of Corpus Christi trying to make a name for himself instead of protecting the Priests who are being falsely accused. I live in Birmingham and this decision is an unfortunate decision by the Bishop based on what we know and EWTN has lost a good Priest who was brought into the church and ordained by Pope John Paul II
[…] Corapi says on one side of his mouth, he contradicts out of the other side of his mouth. As this blogger priest observes:as much as I hate to say it, is duplicitous in saying (on one hand) that the bishops have […]
Thank you, Father Joe, for your balanced and prayerful response. As of last night, some of the many remaining questions concerning this case have been answered. Please see Joan Frawley Diamond’s NCRegister piece http://www.ncregister.com/father-corapis-bombshell.html, which contains a statement from John Corapi’s superior. He has refused to cooperate with SOLT’s request that he conform his manner of life to the Society’s constitutions (now revised to enable the Society to be reconstituted as a society of pontifical right) and has submitted his resignation from the Society. By that action, he renounces his public ministry, as the only place he has ever been incardinated is within the Society. (No one has ever provided evidence that he has ever had legitimate faculties from any Ordinary.) The lawsuit to which Bishop Gracida refers was brought by Corapi against the former employee he accuses of being his accuser, in a process that dates back to her leaving his employ in 2009 and his subsequent attempt to vilify her in the public forum, telling his followers beginning two years ago that they should expect to hear false allegations against him “any day.” The changes in his appearance, message, and methods also date from 2009, and as others have noted, he trademarked the Black Sheep Dog identity in early 2010. He has been planning this transition for some time, and the “accusations” were a smokescreen to shift attention to others and build sympathy among his “fan base”–sympathy he hopes to carry into his new life as a political commentator. Prayers, please, for all those led astray by this very sad man.
I think what is being missed is the fact that there is a spiritual war going on in this world. When an adult who is a disgruntled employee and who it is claimed assaulted people and threatened to destroy father corapi. Then the church should stand up and protect there own unless they are proven guilty when it comes to adults being able to make charges and hide there identity. My grandparents grew up watching and listening to bishop sheen and now because of the past problems in the us catholic church you are guilty until proven innocent and if you have evil spirits trying to ruin priests missions then we have allowed a major flaw to come into play. All priests and bishops missions are in jeopardy. What if someone made a false claim against the pope from when he was a bishop. My grandparents who have recently died also enjoyed listening to father corapi and were catholics for 90 years. This is a sad day for the church. The bishop of corpus christi should at the very least have talked with the other parties who were assaulted by this person from what I have read. If there isn’t an adjustment to this policy of guilty till proven innocent Then any priest or bishop could be shut down at any time.if a war of accusations is imposed against the chuch at the same time then what? Even the pope’s mission could be in theory shut down till proven innocent if a false accusation was made against the pope
Father, You seem to think that some are engaged in a type of cult worship here. You are casting a broad net. Perhaps you would also lasso Card. Dulles with that rope. Could it be that a prominent case merely arouses the doubts about the fairness of the process that was already there? People hurt. We would hurt if it involved the pastor of our own parish. We both know priests that believe the current process doesn’t protect their rights under canon law.
Fr. Joe, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Rene Henry Gracida, says that “As a suspended priest he cannot function publicly as a priest, but he can continue to evangelize as long as he does not present himself to the public as a priest.” (see http://abyssum.wordpress.com/2011/06/18/a-few-thoughts-on-father-corapis-announcement-yesterday/) You say that Fr. Corapi can do nothing. So who is right?
Thank you for proving guidance on how we should go forward from here. You words are wise and helpful.
Thanks for writing this. It’s helpful to me.
I would like to remind everyone that everything we know about this whole affair has been brought to us courtesy of Fr. Corapi. His accuser has used the correct channels. He broadcast the scandal on the Internet. He and his company’s official spokesperson maligned this woman. You know who I feel bad for? The people he has maligned without proof: his accuser, his Bishop, his superiors.
Wonderful comments, Father. I am an OCDS, and on the “We Support Father Corapi” FB page this weekend, some people attacked me, saying, “How can you criticize a priest as a Carmelite?” (Ignoring the obvious contradiction that, in supporting Fr. Corapi so unconditionally, they were also criticizing priests). Well, what he did on Friday goes against everything I’ve been taught as a Carmelite, that’s why.
The process may be flawed, but that doesn’t justify a priest in rebelling against the process. Many good priests who have been falsely accused are living in obscurity, preferring to maintain their priesthood at least in private rather than give up the priesthood or obedience.
Fr. Christopher Buckner, suspended 4 years ago over a vague allegation from 1994, a powerful preacher comparable to Fr. Corapi though not as famous, is working in a soup kitchen. Fr. James Haley, suspended for reporting on other priests’ corruption (and all but one of his accusations were proven true), tried 7 years ago with the verdict suspended and awaiting Vatican review, is living in total obscurity on a diocesan stipend because he’d rather live in poverty than give up being a priest.
Both of these men were silenced because of preaching just as powerful as Fr. Corapi’s. Both have lay supporters, myself included, waving their banners and begging the Church to exonerate them. Neither one has made a public statement about his case (Fr. Haley has made oblique statements but stayed within his “gag order”). Neither has actively fought for his own defense.
I have offered Mass and prayed for Father. There is a frenzy about this subject that I did not really anticipate and which makes me uncomfortable. We really need to love him. If he has disappointed us, we need to forgive him, too. Below is a prayer I will share with you. I sometimes compose my prayers and will be saying this one again tonight. God bless you all!
Dear Heavenly Father,
We want to bring to you in prayer our beloved priest, Father John Corapi. It is hard to know what is going on and our trust has been sorely tried.
He has inspired us with his example of reform and instructed us with his sound Catholic teaching. He has proclaimed the Gospel without equivocation or apology. He quickly became a rock of truth in a world filled with compromise and deception. He defended the rights of the unborn when so many were silent. While the Church was rocked with scandals involving the clergy, here was a towering figure that seemed to epitomize both real manhood and priestly courage. We listened to him on the radio and watched him on television. While a few saw him in person, most of us came to know and to love him through the modern communications media. Millions had the opportunity to encounter him, and through him, the Christ whose kingdom is breaking into the world.
We desperately wanted him to be a saint and yet he himself reminded us again and again that like all the rest of us, he was a sinner. We all fall short of the glory of God. Today, however, he faces a serious personal trial and perilous choices. Many of his friends have abandoned him. Others deride him with no regard for his priestly dignity and all the good work he accomplished in your name. Still others seek to defend him by defaming the Church he has always loved.
The facts are becoming clearer, but we do not know what is going though his heart and mind. If he is angry, please Lord— grant him the gift of a tranquil heart and the patience to endure all things for Christ Crucified. If he is fearful, please Lord— let him know that you are with him and that he need not be afraid. Many temptations face us all, but priests in particular face the worse assaults of the devil. If he has fallen, pick him up. If he remains standing, then give him the courage to embrace humility and truth in the coming storm. Even brave men sometimes need a greater share of courage. Do not allow him to run away from his high calling. He participates in the high priesthood of Christ; there is no more crucial vocation. Let him know that even if he should be reduced to poverty and have to minister alone in prayer or to the smallest congregation, that the oblations of such a priest still have infinite meaning and power.
Promises are made to be kept. Father often spoke about this in regard to the sanctity and dignity of the marriage covenant. He made promises as well— to be a servant of all by embracing a life of celibate love and of obedience to the voice of Jesus in the bishops and his superiors. Preserve him in your grace and defend him against the sins that afflict him, particularly that of pride and of despair. As long as there is the breath of life, there is hope. Let him embrace this hope and put on the mind and the heart of Christ in the Church.
When it seems that a great defender of the Church is suddenly in an adversarial relationship with her, it is easy to see that something has gone terribly wrong. It is our prayer that this beloved priest will surrender his life and his work, all that he is and all that he has done, into the loving arms of the Church over which the Blessed Mother gives the protection of her mantel of mercy. Dear Lord, we know you are not finished with him yet; but we also know that no service to you can be authentic and fruitful if there is a denial of his priestly office. Help him to see this and to know the graces that will testify to your truth and glory.
Amen.