EWTN Releases New Statement Regarding Fr. Corapi’s Programs
March 23, 2011 by Patrick Madrid
Filed under Patrick's Blog
This announcement was just sent out from EWTN and is published here with their permission:
To all EWTN Radio programming partners and hosts:
We are aware that many of our supporters are disappointed in EWTN’s decision to remove Father John Corapi’s programs from the Network during his administrative leave. We too are greatly disappointed that EWTN had to make this difficult decision. We can assure you that it was made with much prayer and careful discernment.
The fact is that Father John’s own religious community has placed him on administrative leave and his capacity to function publicly as a priest has been suspended during the investigation of the charges against him. This was officially communicated to all of the bishops of the country in a statement saying that, “…Fr. Corapi has been placed on administrative leave and has had all of his priestly faculties removed.”
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.
It is also our prayer that this matter will be brought to a speedy resolution so that Father John’s programs can be returned to the airwaves.
Thank you for your understanding. May God bless you.
EWTN Global Catholic Network
Shame to all those who have doubt! I see many casting stones to this man of God. Fr. Corapi said he did not commit any of these malicious lies and I believe him. No one can penetrate the soul with such words of wisdom, love and goodness and then live a secret life of evil. The strength behind Fr.’s words could not stand. And every sermon was filled with true devotion to God and his people. Satan is out to destroy the church and Fr. Corapi being the strong warrior for Christ that he always was, became a CHALLENGE against satan. Satan’s goal has always been to eliminate faith in God. Take away God’s warriors and our church looks weak and unstable. And our church is! Satan has proven he has a lot of pull in the church because their are so many weak in the faith. This explains why O’bama got to Notre Dame, the filth! Evil was welcomed in and GOOD was taken out. I will never leave the faith because My Catholic Faith is rooted and to forgive my neighbors, well you’ve just added dirt to your own grave, not mine. May God forgive EWTN and all those false proclaimers of good. To turn your back on your brother just proves how two faced you really were.
This case just goes to show that there will always be Judases- hopefully some day the former Fr. Corapi will come to repentance and conversion.
Judi,
While I admire your passion for truth and your defense of Fr. Corapi, EWTN is correct in being obedient to the church. Even St. Padre Pio was falsely accused and persecuted by the church. Our Lord uses this for our good. Keep Fr. Corapi in your prayers as well as EWTN and all involved. I agree that evil has taken over much of our country, Our Lord has warriors in place to defend him and we all know that according to the book of Revelation, we win in the end. So hang in there.
As Jesus hung on the cross, He was not condemning. Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do. ALL our priests are under attack, some more than others. They all need our prayers. Some priests who have not been half the priest that Fr. Corapi is need to examine their own consciences.
I am deeply saddened by Father Corapi being stripped of his priestly power and for EWTN taking him off the air.
If not for Father Corapi, I would, more than likely, still be living in mortal sin. Father Corapi convicted me of living with a man I was not married to. I thank Father Corapi for bringing me back to the Catholic church and saving my soul. No other priest or person I have ever listened to on EWTN or other religious programs ever caused me to understand the grave sin I was in. The Catholic Church has lost an extremely strong advocate for the Catholic Church, and I am sure that satan is very relieved and ecstatic. While many priests I have heard speak in church, speak so politically correct that they come across to me as cowardly and about as strong as milk toast,”so as not to “offend” anyone, Father Corapi bravely preached the Gospel as it is written in the Bible.
I would say that the demise of the Catholic Church in this Country is in great part to priests being so worried about losing money, that they won’t preach the gospel as Jesus taught his disciples. I have great admiration and respect for Father Corpai, as he has a backbone, and spoke the truth as Jesus did.
I give all my hopes and prayers for him in this matter.
I believe that Father Corapi failed in his vow of poverty and of his vow of docility to his church and superiors.
I, too, was aided in my return to the church through Father Corapi, none the less, he is a servant of God and he has become a disappointment to me. He has a great gift, but has chosen a different path. May God have mercy on us all!
Fr. Corapi is human he failed, and what he requires is our prayers and allow God, and only God to judge him. The enemy is manipulative, vicious and evil. We have to be in constant vigilance or we are all going to fall in disgrace, mortal sin. None of us are good only God is good, and we have to pray and fight a good fight. Help us Jesus.
On July 5, Fr. Gerald Sheehan, Corapi’s religious superior in the Society of Our Lady of the Trinity, released a press statement through the order’s news blog which accused Corapi of drug and alcohol abuse, “sexting”, having an affair with a former prostitute and violating his promise of poverty as a perpetually professed member of the Society by owning over $1 million in real estate, numerous luxury vehicles, motorcycles, an ATV, a boat dock, and several motor boats. It ended by stating that “SOLT’s prior direction to Fr. John Corapi not to engage in any preaching or teaching, the celebration of the sacraments or other public ministry continues. Catholics should understand that SOLT does not consider Fr. John Corapi as fit for ministry.”[18]
On July 7th, Corapi announced on his website that he would not obey the order of his religious superior to leave his home in Montana to live in community with his fellow priests. He said he would not return to the order because he resigned from the priesthood June 17, two days short of the 20th anniversary of his ordination.[
Not every religious superior is holy themselves. Some are outright evil. I have never met Fr. Sheehan, so I cannot even begin to judge whether what he is saying is true or not, or what evidence he is using to make his judgments against Fr. Corapi. I know personally of several religious superiors who have maligned very holy men in their communities, men who I knew personally and very well. Clearly, in those cases, like Bishop Sheen has said, “where holiness is, Satan is right on its heels looking for a way to destroy it.” Such is a principle of spirituality. This is why priests whose influence is public must be on their guard against all impropriety, especially in prayer. The point here is one should not believe Fr. Sheehan’s accusations solely because he is a religious superior.
So disappointed in Fr. Corapi. I watched him and marveled at his journey through life to priesthood.
I realize we are all human and prone to fall but I am so disappointed in his dishonesty of living a priestly life.
Bad times for our church and those of us who keep clinging to it for hope and truth.
Chuck Carnell
Living a lie is a bad bad thing
I’v follow fr corapi wit great affection since 2008, i luv his messages it’s sad dat we are probably goin 2 lost such an icon, my prayer is that weda he’s found not guilty or not, he returns to the church. On the other hand fr corapi should not become a hypocryt 2 him self by now condeming the same faith he spent the last 20yrs promoting.
And right he is to stop Church investigations of purported crimes, and invite in the Courts and police! How else do you think the shameful corruption in your civil and criminal laws, can be exposed?
God bless Father Corapi, and God forgive him for breaking the vows he took on his ordination – and for furthering division in the Church.
Thank God for all of the faithful priests who welcome persecution and suffering. Thank God for all of those priests throughout the world who are asked to suffer terrible injustices yet still remain faithful to their vows and use their suffering to save souls.
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
(Prov. 16:18)
Elizabeth – what right have you to contend that Fr. Corapi is guilty of breaking vows he took upon his ordination, or for furthering division in the Church. If you have allegations, reveal who you really are to everyone, and provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt!
Elizabeth,
You seem to talk with authority.
Are you one of women whom Fr Corapi allegedly have sexual relations?
If you are not, you are guilty of calumny.
May the merciful Jesus have mercy on you if you are talking through your hat.
My heart weeps.
My blvd Elizabeth, Christ has asked us to love His Priests and Mary has asked us not to judge or condemn them, what they require is our love and prayers. know that the final battle would be against the Church and her followers, Elizabeth we are all members of one body and if one falls or is sick, all others should rally round. I want to implore everyone who believes in the Church and in the holy Priests of God to please offer a fervent Hail Mary, praying that our Lady of Light comes and enlightens, consoles and strenghtens Rev Fr John Corapi as the angel of God strenghtened Elijah.
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
1 Cor 10:12
My God, My God why have you forsaken me?
Certain things about the Corapi issue are strangely reminiscent with Archbishop Lefebvre’s circumstances. And most if not all Novies (here and elsewhere)still don’t get it. It’s clear that the Church hierarchy feels threatened or uncomfortable with Father Corapi because much of what he says is a virtual exposé….. the accusation against him is their excuse to make him gone. However the unfortunate difference between Corapi and Lefebvre is that Lefebvre obeyed Christ (i.e. his vows and ALL Canon law) while Corapi (and EWTN) still obey(s) their “superiors” who are at best in error and at worst corrupt. Obviously no priest or religious must obey a command to do wrong, to sin or to deny the Faith in any way. This is the fallacy of “obedience” that novus ordo Vatican II adherents cling to. The sooner that the Pope admits the truth about Vatican II and Archbishop Lefebvre, and consecrates Russia as out lady asked, the sooner we will have peace and our Church back.
I feel our Church is making a grave mistake in relationship to Fr. Corapi. How many more priests, nuns and lay people must suffer the consequences of false and/or inaccurate accusations, without a thorough investigation of the facts? Did not Christ himself, stand up for the young women who was to be stoned, only to draw in the sand the sins of the accusers?, and if, that was indeed what he wrote. What did he write in the sand? What did Christ know about this women that no one else did? Why would he defend her? Why shouldn’t the Catholic church defend Fr. Corapi? Are we now so concerned about “Public Opinion” that we are frozen to defend our faith in a way that defends our good soldiers? How weak the Catholic Church appears in allowing one person to attack us…yes “Us”, as that is who Fr. Corapi represents. We have taken a beating regarding our priests who have made grave errors, but we should not let that experience, or those priests, represent all priests. By not defending Fr. Corapi, the Catholic Church is opening herself up for more and more unjustified accusations in the future. I would like to think that one person, does not have so much power over the Catholic Church, and if we give one person that much power, we must be encouraging others to do the same, or ….might it be that our Church Leaders are afraid, jealous, or in opposition to the teachings of Fr. Corapi and are finding a cowards way to denounce him.
The church was looking into it, HE stopped the investigation and wanted to leave.
The reality is many good people are accused of bad things and in this Fr.Corapi is no different. There is a process in place within the Church to deal with all of this. Some people suffer for years under these accusations, not months.
Fr. Corapi has become a symbol of what happens when the messenger becomes more important than the message! There are many excellent priests and religious and laity who are teaching the truths of our faith. By his actions Fr. Corapi has shifted the attention away from the teachings onto himself! That in itself is very unfortunate.
This weekend we should hear something..the timing is his ordination aniv I think:
From a newsletter from FB
We understand many of you would like an update–any update–on the status of Fr. John Corapi. Please be assured that as soon as Fr. Corapi updates us with the status of these events, we will utilize all avenues of communications to update you, h…is fans, and followers. Recently, Fr. Corapi held an internal office meeting and informed us that he is “not extinguished!” He expressed his continued desire to help deliver a message of hope to those who seek it and he informed us that by this weekend he will have a “very inportant announcement” that he plans on delivering on YouTube, Facebook, and through email.
We ask that you continue to lift him up in prayer and are encouraged for what lies ahead.
The real reason no one can penalized EWTN is because EWTN has no choice. EWTN has to be obedient to it’s superiors. The superiors said “EWTN” could not in anyway televise Fr Corapi. One person stated that if something doesn’t come to light by June then many will come to their own conclusions. It’s not likely that a negative announcement will be made. But for sure if our prayers are answered a statement will be mad. From the world I expect and accept that not much is fair. However, in my Church I do expect fairness.
I feel the silience will start to look like he’s guilty but “how do we approach it?” The support cuts both ways, some will continue to support him as a good christian, some will be heartbroken and it might cause someone who put a lot of faith in him and not Jesus and the church, a crisis of faith.
It will also cause a drop in sales of his DVD’s and books.
On the other hand, I think they fact that everyone on both sides have been quiet is nice, no “leaks” like we have all the time on TV, no people talking before it ends. I commend everyone on that.
I hope he’s innocent and can add an interesting twist in his life to his upcoming authobiography. If not, I hope whatever he feels his followers should know, is told, and Catholics don’t feel there is another coverup.
Since I can’t reply to the initial statement I guess this will have to do. As a Catholic I am very disappointed in the those in authority in the Church just seem to be dragging their feet. At this point I hardly think this is a privacy issue. With so many people behind Father Corapi, i think it makes the Church look bad. We need to know that those who are supposedly handling Fathers situation are actually doing something. I don’t think they are. Murder trials don’t take this long. Every day that passes feels like those who are supposedly investigation are slowly but surely committing a type of murder. I love my church and I love my faith.. but there are are some I would like to just kick out with no explanation. Enough time has passed for any competent Bishop or whoever to have solved this. I think this investigation is becoming a bogus joke. And that is how I feel.
“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.”
— G.K. Chesterton
The presenter of the Battle at Lepanto, at a CMF meeting, quoted Chesterton to illustrate the character of Don Giovanni d’Austria. I think Chesterton’s statement illustrates Fr. Corapi’s character as well.
Unfortunately we are living at a time when the Catholic Church is the butt of crude jokes and comments that are vicious. But the Church will survive.
Unfortunately also we are living in a time when anyone can attack a priest and destroy his reputation with the mere accusation. “Proof” is not necessary for a priest to be removed from ministry no matter how effective he may be. Perhaps the more effective he may be, the more the evil one through accusations is determined to destroy the priest and damage the Church.
We pray for Fr. Corapi for the strength he needs. Even Jesus was betrayed by one of His own. He is in good company.
I watched Fr. Corapi faithfully on Saturday night and really miss his program. We need more priests like him. Father, know that I am praying for you and for this investigation to be over so that you will be back on tv. I feel so bad that this happened to you. PLEASE bring him back soon – in the meantime, I guess we can purchase his tapes but its not the same.
If there is no word by the end of June, I fear assumptions will be made. Sometimes time makes others forget, sometimes it makes it worse.
Father deserves his privacy, whatever he is doing or not doing, but being in the public eye, does make it seem like they owe you something, a downside to being on TV and in the news.
I am praying for you, Fr Corapi. I hope you come back real soon to us. Regards Mary
I don’t blame EWTN, they have been through similar things before and they are being prudent. They also don’t have to tell you any more than they have, we don’t have a right to know anything just because we knew Father Corapi in a superficial way on TV. No one really knows him anymore than anyone else on TV. No one really knows anyone else involved and to believe gossip about a woman and other women involved is just as bad as gossiping about Father. You don’t know who she is, you don’t really know who else is mentioned in the letter and if it was just a lunatic and they had him out all this time, I really think that something should be done in the future with this type of reaction.
I know it’s his TV presence and company that has them over-react, I can’t remember reading about any priest who didn’t commit a criminal act being treated this way, but that is between him and his superiors.
I have been away from the church and back again, EWTN helped me, I watched Father Corapi a little, other shows/priests, but I don’t put anyone on a pedestal or think they are like Jesus on earth. They are human and sin, whether you blame the devil or human weakness. I hope if he isn’t completely innocent, it doesn’t hurt anyone who would know feel they can’t trust anyone…you can always trust Jesus and Mary.
EWTN, you have penalized a person before he has received the opportunity of a investigation or of defending himself. This is neither moral, Christian, or American. You need to begin practicing those virtues that you preach and program, even when it is not convenient or confortable for you. That’s what it’s all about folks: faith and courage.
Don’t blame EWTN. They are trying to avert further scandal, which the Church tells us to avoid. It may not be Fr. Corapi’s fault, but until this is all over, EWTN has to do this. And besides, if you read their statement, Fr. asked them to do this as well. And if you read further into it, they want to start airing his shows again as much as we want to keep seeing them. Please re-think your harsh statement.
IMHO, I don’t believe the allegations, but neither do I want another scandal by having EWTN ignore what’s happening and be disobedient.
They’re doing the right thing, even if we don’t like what’s going on.
On another note, it’s a good thing I recorded some of his shows!
“You are a priest forever, according to the Order of Melchizedek”
EWTN is such a blessing to us Catholics and are not responsible for Fr. Corapi’s current problem. They had no option than to postpone his programming a this time. EWTN will continue to remain between my gas & electric bills.
Father Corapi: I love and support you with my prayers. May Our Blessed Mother keep you under Her mantel until you return to your ministry and into our homes.
I miss hearing Father,especially during lent. whenever i don’t feel like praying I can him say”just do it” Hang in there Father.everyone is praying for you.
Proverbs tells us “a fool is known by a multitude of words.” How sad so many fools chose to become public. All the words did nothing to improve the situation, but did indeed put fuel on the fire. None of us have the TRUTH and simply creating things in our imaginations. We are not judge and jury, nor should we want to be. There but for the grace of God, go you and I. As a woman who worked in the corporate world for many years, I know that most women have an unfulfilled emotional need and their biggest enemy is other women. You have all seen it. With that in mind, do you really want female priests? We would have 1000 percent more problems then we have today. Please – shut your mouths, except for prayers on behalf of Fr Corapi and the accuser.
I miss Fr Corapi and this will be the first easter that i won’t be hearing his easter triduum….how long before this investigation will be over? we need him back. god bless you fr. corapi.
Amen…Father Corapi has had a impact so strong in my life…I pray that he returns quickly..<3
Father Corapi on Administrative Leave – An Update from Rev. Michael Sullivan, J.C.L.
Fr. John Corapi has been suspended from priestly functions because of an accusation against him from a former employee. There seems to be a great deal of speculation and confusion regarding what this entails.
When an accusation arrives at the desk of a Religious Superior or a bishop, the procedure calls for a quick, confidential assessment as to the veracity of the accusation. With the advent of the Dallas Procedural Norms the necessary pieces of information required before imposing administrative leave varies from diocese to diocese and Order to Order. In most cases, if an accuser knows the name of the priest, the location at the time of the alleged incident and the year the priest was serving, the accusation is considered “credible.” The accused is supposed to be provided with the opportunity to respond to the accusations in a face-to-face meeting with his Superior prior to the imposition of suspension or administrative leave. In Father Corapi’s case, this never happened.
When a priest is on administrative leave he is to refrain from any public actions as a priest, such as offering Mass or hearing confessions, or from dressing as a priest in any public forum. The decree from his superiors clearly spells out limitations upon Fr. Corapi, but does not preclude him from speaking publicly provided he does not dress as a cleric and does not offer Mass publicly. Fr. John Corapi has observed these directives. Church bodies are to observe these limitations, though the order does not apply to lay organizations or Church organizations beyond the scope of what has been decreed.
Several Catholic media sources have removed Fr. Corapi from their outlets. This is over and above what is required by canon law and the Dallas Norms. Nothing in the order placing Father Corapi on administrative leave precludes distribution of previously recorded materials. Santa Cruz Media is in full compliance with Canon Law and the administrative leave under which Fr. Corapi is functioning.
Fr. Corapi is doing all in his power to cooperate and work with his Religious Society to see that this allegation is quickly cleared up and he is allowed to return to full ministry. The length of this administrative leave is strictly up to the Society and their process of inquiry before a decision is rendered.
We continue to ask everyone to pray for Fr. Corapi, for the accuser and for a quick resolution to this matter.
God bless you,
Rev. Michael Sullivan, J.C.L.
“Fr. Corapi is doing all in his power to cooperate and work with his Religious Society to see that this allegation is quickly cleared up and he is allowed to return to full ministry. ”
I hope that means he is staying in the community to facilitate having face-to-face meetings. Considering that he’s been living outside the community and nowhere near any SOLT establishment, it might have been difficult to have a face-to-face before Father Corapi broke the news of his suspension.
I think there is alot being said about Father John Corapi, that is just not true, Firstly a women stated that he changed the story about a girl in the dumpster actually that is not true I have the video, and on all occasions he has stuck to the same story. Did his ministry change? His appearance change? Yes, that does not mean he is guilty. His living arrangements were made by SOLT if you read the article pertaining to that you will see that. Many people are alluding to things based on very flimsy evidence and some lies. Father Corapi suffers from an illness that prevents his body from absorbing Vitamin D the sun treatments were prescribed for that. EWTN must collect tons of money for the work they do in promoting the Gospel, They need the money for the Work hiring employees etc. expenses. Father John Corapi has expenses also, and he has donated his profits from speaking engagements to various charities. I am very surprised at the Un-Christian behaviour of many on this board. The Catechism of the Church is quite clear about the reputation of another, gossip and slander are sins. I would advise some to reflect on their own sinful nature and not spend so much time gossiping about Father Corapi, who has done so much good. I pray For Father Corapi who I know is a very fine Priest
His living arrangements made with the founder might be considered irregular to the constitution that established SOLT as a Society of Apostolic Life back in 1994, and seems to violate canon law as far as members of such Societies. Even if he resolves the issues of sex and drugs (which it seems he’d like to limit the discussion to), there could still be a problem of who provides him with priestly faculties. Can SOLT grant faculties as a Diocesan Right Society to a “member” who is not in compliance with their current constitution? If he withdraws from SOLT rather than bring himself into compliance, would he be willing to become subject to his local ordinary whom might assign him to parish work requiring him to live in a rectory?
I feel so disappointed by many, whose comments are very destructive and lack of tact. This is Lent and all of us Christians are supposed to be making some reflections and penance. I agree to what you have said and it is really best for us to pray for Fr. Corapi to be cleared. John Paul’s beatification is coming so seriously we need to get down on our knees instead of spending time on worthless talking. He is an INSTRUMENT of GOD to preach to us as a priest, not an idol or someone’s favorite priest. It sounds like that he is no longer “En persona Cristi”. Remember the book of Fulton Sheen “THE PRIEST IS NOT HIS OWN”? If you anyone knows the meaning of this can get the whole point.God knows what is best for Him so we just have to leave it to HIM and TRUST. I also like his preaching because I know that the Holy Spirit is guiding Him. So why not PRAY more and talk less or listen more to our Lord Jesus. I pray for Fr, Corapi to serve God again. Peace to all. Thanks to you JOLIE.
I “loved” Fr. Corapi. I got a CD of his conversion story for free from that site that gave away rosary CDs. It used to be run by a couple until the husband divorced his wife. I can’t think of its name. The fact that an orthodox Catholic husband and father would divorce his wife boggled my mind. But I am enduring a lot of mind boggling right now with the Fr. Eutheneur and Fr. Corapi accusations.
Fr. Copapi’s preaching was a comfort to me when all I was hearing in the churches was bad preaching that hardly ever conveyed the truths of the Catholic faith. During Masses, I even heard off color jokes and reviews of R rated movies as the homilist wandered around among the congregation and played to the “audience.”I “loved” Fr. Corapi because he preached the doctrine of the Catholic Church as I had learned it as a child before I lapsed. I would get so enthusiast about him when I would hear him speak on Immaculate Heart radio on my way home from work, I started to have second thoughts. Be careful. What if he is not what he seems?
A few discrepancies in his stories started to bother me. He had a friend, one story went,who came out to LA, and he was called by her friends after she had died of an overdose and found her body in a dumpster. In another story, he said he used to drive around with the police and was present when they found a young girl in a dumpster. He used to claim to be a Green Beret, which was challenged. Changing the facts is all well and good for an entertainer, not for a priest who is supposed to be another Christ.
Also very troubling to me is that he does not live in community. A priest who is not under obedience and who does not share his life with other priests does not seem to be doing the right thing. He seems to be a rugged individualist who lives alone on a ranch, hunts and fishes and raises dogs. His connection with SOLT seems minimal at best. One time I searched their website and couldn’t find his name mentioned. And how did he get ordained by the pope? I read that he was a member of opus dei at the time. What happened to that connection?
When you go to his website, it’s all about selling you Fr. Corapi materials. The epistles talk against those who preach for gain.
Once the suspicions came to me, every once in a while I would browse for “Fr. Corapi” and “scandal.” Well here it is.
I mustn’t have loved him, because I don’t “love” him any more. His faults are glaring at me. His notice on his website seems to me to be an example of the guy thing of trying to make a woman look crazy if she says anything about him. Why was she fired? Why was she so upset? What exactly were her accusations?
What about him embracing the saving power of suffering, if the accusations are untrue? Did you see the youtube video of him preaching about suffering? It has been edited with over the top color shifts and special effects to enhance the drama of his “powerful” preaching. I’m starting to wonder where he gets his power from.
The most bizarre thing to me was the notice from his Santa Cruz media corporation, the gist of which is “we are not under anyone’s authority so you can still buy Fr. Corapi materials from us.”
I am trying to pray for him. And for Fr. Eutheneur. Someone said that Fr. Corapi was Fr. Eutheneur’s spirtual director. May God help us all.
I want to find some real holiness in the clergy in the Catholic Church. Is that asking too much?
If he sinned, then he is in good company. Peter and the other 11 apostles sinned the very night Jesus began the church by running away and denying Christ. There are no perfect priest. The Church is made up of sinners, hopefully those who repent, but not always.
I don’t want to listen to a priest who has never sinned. He does not exist.
No question that he has sinned, he’s admitted to that over and over while telling how he has converted. The question is whether he continues to engage in grave sin, while he preaches against it. If so, should he repent and “sin no more” or does that not matter?
Looking back at Father Corapi’s original statement on the matter, I can’t find that the accuser suggested that she had sex with Father Corapi. Neither does the follow-up statement by the Vice-President of Operations. The original statement actually read “accusing me of everything from drug addiction to multiple sexual exploits with her and several other adult women”. I’m not sure how carefully chosen the wording was, but “sexual exploits” with her could simply mean that he had tried to grope her and perhaps other female employees. It could be that she had also reported having caught Father having sex with another of the female employees. Other than Father’s fuzzy wording on the charges, the only charges otherwise stated are conduct unbecoming to a priest. It seems that there is nearly a universal expectation that the charges as related by Father Corapi are that the woman was claiming to have sex with Father Corapi. Since even he didn’t say that, if people were to eliminate the assumption of the complicity of the woman in her charges, would that not explain why she is a “disgruntled former employee” and why she had a confrontation with another employee? Very few people know the actual charges, but it seems a lot of people have made an interpretation of Father’s wording that put the accuser in a bad light.
I was appalled by the post John 2, I see you know all and that your hate has blinded you. Father Corapi is a wonderful Preacher, is he human?
of-course. Is he subject to the same temptations you and I are? yes, or even more so. I would still love Father Corapi no matter what, I am not blind, I just know from personal experience that people are mmore complex then you realize. To be so cruel and judgemental is more frightening to me, then any of the accusations you have thrown at Father Corapi. No matter what the outcome, I will always love father Corapi, and pray for him, I know he has done enourmous good. In my own Family, I have experienced the tragedy of where Sin can lead you, I still love my Family. Love the sinner, hate the Sin. We all fall short of human compliance. Marcial was a pederast, Father Corapi has not been charged with being a child molestor also. Marcial had a history of criminal behaviour from the beginning Father Corapi had no such history in his Priesthood. They are very different in nature. I will pray that you stop hating and use your time more productively, in prayer.
I have no idea what Fr. Corapi did, or did not do. However, I know Fr. Sheehan, SOLT Superior. He is a reasonable man, and would not behave in an irresponsible manner. Fr. will be treated fairly by him.
It’s equally unjust to blindly defend Corapi, while at the same time being critical of Sheehan, and EWTN. Most of use do not know the facts regarding this situation.
Poor people of America ! Cast your so deeply embedded naivete aside !
Though your collective naivete is pitiable, it borders on folly, and thus unpardonable.
The posts on this and other sites reporting this story are truly frightening. They go to the very heart of what is wrong with the church in America. Any independent observer, upon reading the comments here, or upon visiting the man’s website, will immediately be struck by the combination of: 1. an unhealthy cult of the individual the man has cultivated amongst his naive followers, combined with 2. naked self-promotion, buttressed by the powerful marketing machinery behind the Corapi “brand” (i.e. Santa Cruz media) 3. A murky “credibility” which has been established by his “touching” story of personal “conversion”.
How so many of you fail to see the evident and deeply-rooted character flaws of the man, how you blindly place so much trust in “servants of God” who so evidently use the gospel as a vehicle for personal advancement and enrichment is incomprehensible. One needs but visit the man’s website, look at his videos and “products” to see that he is a shameless self-promoter, a peddler of cheap and poor taste spiritual wares, all designed for vainglorious and economic puposes, though wrapped in a cute little spiritual wrapper, which sadly, albeit predictably, the vast majority of Americans fail to see through. One need only watch his videos to shudder at the strange voice, the brazen self-confidence, the evident lack of prayer life and absence of holiness that are so immediately apparent. How so many of you fail to see this is beyond me.
People, I make an appeal to you: read the statement by a certain Bobbi Ruffato, Vice President of Santa Cruz Media, Fr Corapi’s marketing engine, and see therein the number of red flags, which should alarm you. Do not be like the SEC which was blind to all the red flags surrounding Madoff ! Mr Ruffato writes:
1. “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.” FASCINATING ! Let’s pick this statement apart, dear people. So the marketing engine of a Roman Catholic priest’s cheap spiritual wares is a “secular corporation” which is not affiliated with the Catholic Church in any way? Since when has the Church’s message, her truth and her ministry been funnelled through “secular corporations”? People, does that not strike you as odd? Does it not equally strike you as odd that the Vice President of this “secular corporation” deems it within his remit to criticise the procedures of the church – as the corporation is not deemed to be an organ of the church – and mix into a letter of legalese some vague statements which have spiritual connotations, like signing off “yours sincerely in Christ”, even though Santa Cruz Media has no affiliation with the Catholic Church? Finally, are you people not alarmed by the fact that the marketing engine of this “priest” claims it does not come “under the jurisdiction of any bishop or other official in the Catholic Church”? Is it not deeply frightening that the way a “priest” should “evangelise” his people is through the medium of a “secular organisation” which claims to be free of any ecclesiastical authority, in other words, giving the charlatan total free reign?
Poor people of America ! When will you understand that ANY priest who draws attention to himself (Fr Corapi being a prime example), and who makes a cult figure of himself, is, in all likelihood, a fraud, a charlatan, and an instrument of Satan?
2. According to the Montana Electoral Commission, John Corapi is listed as CEO of Santa Cruz Media, Inc, a company incorporated in Nevada (where Fr Corapi used to have business interests) but with its primary address in Montana (where Fr Corapi is known to live), with John Corapi being listed as Agent for Santa Cruz Media, Inc, with a registered address in Whitefish, Montana. Property tax records also show that Fr Corapi owns numerous real estate properties in addition to Santa Cruz Media Inc., including a $70,000 dock at Eagle Bend Yacht Harbor, a large 10 acre home, several Tamarack Center Condos.
Open your eyes America ! Remember Marcial Maciel and the Legionaries of Christ saga. Maciel was only able to achieve what he did because of his legions – no pun intended – of blind followers, who sought the stardom of their cult figure before they sought an inner life guided by the Holy Spirit.
Stop praying for the accuser to repent, as the likelihood of her accusations being real is nigh on 100% – pray rather for yourselves and for those whose faith will be profoundly if not irreparably shaken when these allegations are very likely to be proven true, because, like some of the respondents, who claim to have been “saved” by Fr Corapi (as opposed to through Christ’s grace), they put their faith in their cult figure, rather than in Jesus…Dear people, for all the “due process” which you think the man has been denied, you do not even consider the remote possibility that very few people, in their right mind, want to go through the type of process that accompanies the gravity of these kinds of accusations. If Mr Ruffato deems it fair to call these allegations “malicious” in his post – though he has no right to do so unless he possesses proof the accuser is lying – which he inevitably is not in a position to do, then it is equally fair to bring some balance back to the discussion.
Oh, and Mr Ruffato, I suggest you start looking for another job, as Santa Cruz Media is not likely to be around for long…If it were a listed company, I think short-selling it would not be a bad idea, for when the man is unmasked, the whole artifice will collapse, rather like the LLC (Legionaries of Christ, Incorporated)
John2’s post is too brutal for my tastes. I do think that there are a number of issues that Father Corapi should address, but this post concludes that there isn’t the possibility of a reasonable explanation.
Due in part to EWTN’s tax-exempt status, they file an annual information return with a list of officers, their compensation and a good deal of other information. It is posted for anyone to review on the non-profit resource http://www.guidestar.org . Father Corapi has claimed that he does not want tax exempt status so that the government won’t try to control his political speech. That sounds heroic, but it also gets him out of being required by law to have the same extent of public disclosure. While he may not be required by law to disclose his finances, he can certainly do so on a voluntary basis much like political candidates often do.
I’ve seen a lot of Father’s followers that are under the impression that he is under a vow of poverty and keeps nothing for himself,while others say he needs to make a profit since he receives no stipend from the Church. Neither explanation seems entirely correct, but Father (and S.O.L.T.) could certainly explain things.
Sadly, you are right on. I am a regular
watcher of EWTN and watched the repeats for years of Fr. Corapi; I believe it did do good but after reading the blogs for the last couple days…it is so apparent that there is a cult following which is so very dangerous and insulting to Our Lord. He may have had good intentions in the very beginning but like all men and women who become “Powerful” and give in to pride, etc. there cometh the fall. I still will pray for him but like you said there is going to come a huge “crash” of sadness and disallutiionment (sp?) very soon. God Bless.
If you are refering to yourself as the definition of an “independent observer”, you are certainly not an “unbiased observer”. In fact, I would like to know if you are even Catholic (and yes, it does matter). You are obviously grossly misinformed on the details of catholicism and if I were to look at how you disected the letter from Santa Cruz Media – including missing the fact that Bobbi Ruffatto is a WOMEN, shows that your english comprehension skills are lacking. Consider, for example, your statement regading “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.” This means SIMPLY, that this company does not come under the jurisdiction of the church. Furthermore, if you had really researched “this cult”, you would have found that many orders of the priesthood do not take a vow of poverty. In terms of the personal assaults that you have lobbied against Fr. Corapi’s supporters, your debate doesn’t work for lack of knowledge and lack of basic logic. BTW, Bobbi doesn’t need another job because Fr. Corapi will be vindicated, hopefully the accuser will be prosecuted (please note, that Bobbi Ruffato and her associate didn’t mention taking such action at the time of the incident of the accuser assaulting them), and Santa Cruz Media will make more money to further the faith than ever before.:)
Good words John2 and thanks for the info.
When this is over I would encourage all on this board as well, relay the message to EWTN et al. to ENCOURAGE Fr. Corapi to continue his speaking tour.
Support him like never before.
May I suggest too if there is a defense fund set up for Fr. C – DONATE !!
(l)ucifer is drooling, but (l)ucifer picked the wrong subject.
Priests are men under authority. 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. Indeed, in the case of another priest, Fr. Ken Roberts, such was clarified by his bishop as a lawful demand. 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.
Father Joe,
While I agree that ridicule is entirely inappropriate, I can only comment that unlike the days of even the not-too-distant past,when people such as Sts.Pio and Faustina were silenced,and investigated,I find it difficult to muster confidence that,in the end,the bishop(s)will do the right thing in this case.There have been so many cases in recent years where the American bishops have failed to do their duty,both in actions they’ve taken,and actions they’ve failed to take,particularly on issues involving abortion,gay lifestyles,and the priest scandals.It seems that decisions are often rendered based on monetary or publicity concerns.I simply hope that Fr.Corapi will not become a victim of the political expediency that mars so much of the current landscape.
Cee, I agree with your reply for you seem to be honest about the way the heirarchy works. Priests and dedicated catholics like myself always defend the church and its heirarchy because we have been trained to see it in a positive divine way no matter how wrong it sounds. Also, priests are frightened to go against the church because of the grave consequences. All priests value their priesthood over any moral value when the cost is high. If it came to protesting the corruption in the church and also losing their priesthood in the end, they would make the excuse that you have to choose your battles and they would remain silent. The bishops have so much power and feel invincible since they have so much autonomy even from Rome for the church protects them and hides thier misdeeds unless it is too public. They know the priests fear them because of thier power. I have found that money is the highest priority in so many diocesan meetings and often the poor are greatly neglected. Fr. Corapi though is also part of the problem for he is like the church in that he looks at his ministry through the lens of dollars.
Praying for the truth, the whole truth to emerge through the prayers of all, re this not surprising news.
My estimation is that the Church handles accusations too gently regarding the so-called “victim”. What are their names ? We have a right to know who it is. Father Corapi is above reproach and the accusers are given too much credence. It is not surprising that Satan is using people to silence him.
Father Corapi preaches the WORD and the TRUTH and has no fear about it as many priests do because they do not want to upset Catholics who don’t agree with all the Church’s teachings and the Magisterium.
The accused knows the name of the accuser, as do any involved in an investigation. I don’t see how anyone else has a “right to know who it is”.
Have you ever visited Father at his private home? Been employed by him for a considerable period of time? Know much at all about him when he is not in the public spotlight? If not, I don’t see how you could know for sure that he is above reproach.
It does seem if Father had been so inclined, he might feel that he could get away with anything he does out of the public spotlight since who would believe it.
I believe Fr. Corapi is innocent and the accusation against him isn’t criminal but only something which would question his priestly duties. I don’t think victims should have to reveal their names, however, I DO think Satan is using the abuse scandal and media to ruin the reputation of innocent priests and other Church personnel. I do think there are people who would lie about such things because they either hate the Church or wish to harm it. Those who seek lots of money from the Church are taking money from good people who donated tithes for charity and sustaining the parish for their community, so it’s immoral to me that victims would seek financial gain in the millions. I’m a victim of s..x abuse (offender was a non-practicing Protestant by the way) so I do understand what a victim would go through regarding abuse issues. But the Fr. Corapi case has NOTHING to do with abuse and hopefully the investigation will be done soon and he can continue his good work for the Church. May our Lord protect him from the evil one.
What would Mother say?
Statement of Santa Cruz Media, Inc. Relative to Fr. Corapi’s Suspension
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.
We fully support Rev. John Corapi in this terrible trial, not surprisingly having begun on Ash Wednesday. Through the sacrifice and struggle of the desert and all of the dark moments that this entails, we are confident that the glory of the risen Lord will shine forth from the power of the Resurrection and Easter.
We have consulted with a number of canon lawyers. They have assured us that the actions of the Bishop of Corpus Christi, Texas are, on several points of canon law, illicit. It is our fervent hope that The Dallas Charter will be changed because of false accusations like this. There is no evidence at this time that Fr. Corapi did anything wrong, only the unsubstantiated rant of a former employee, who, after losing her job with this office, physically assaulted me and another employee and promised to “destroy” Father Corapi. We all continue to pray for this person, and we ask you to do the same.
We sincerely believe that the work Fr. Corapi has done is of greatest value to the Church, hence hated by the devil. We fully intend to make Fr. Corapi’s material available as a service to the Church and the world for as long as we possibly can.
The Church provides no financial support to Fr. Corapi. He has to pay for his own legal representation, medical costs, food, housing, etc. We have never accepted donations or charitable contributions of any kind. We are supporting Father’s efforts to defend himself. Your purchase of products from Santa Cruz Media helps provide the funding for Father’s continued work as well as the legal expenses he continues to incur as a result of these malicious allegations.
Father Corapi and all of us here at Santa Cruz Media, Inc. greatly appreciate your kindness, support, and prayers. Please continue to pray for Father Corapi and his accuser, as well as all priests who find themselves in this unfortunate situation.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Bobbi Ruffatto
Vice President of Operations
Santa Cruz Media, Inc.
Thank you so much for posting this and thank you so much to Bobbi Ruffatto.
“There is no evidence at this time that Fr. Corapi did anything wrong, only the unsubstantiated rant of a former employee, who, after losing her job with this office, physically assaulted me and another employee and promised to “destroy” Father Corapi.”
This letter should be forwarded to every bishop, EWTN, and the S.O.L.T. priests (esp. Fr. Sheehan, Superior)
Rejoice and be glad. God has already brought triumph out of disaster. Fr. Corapi has said “it is rotten out there because it is rotten in here”. By the despicable actions of the bishops, EWTN, and Fr. Sheehan, S.O.L.T. God has taken that and proven that Fr. Corapi is right. The letter from Bobbi Ruffatto, V.P. of Santa Cruz Media, clearly states that Fr. Corapi’s accuser is a woman who was fired from Santa Cruz Media and as a result attacked two people, including Bobbi, and vowed to destroy Fr. Corapi. Now you know the truth. All of Fr.’s teaching has been clearly proven in this one incident. For those of you who would like to keep your heads in the sand, this is your wake-up call. Just like Pope John Paul II when he was wounded he became a saint in many people’s eyes, Fr. Corapi is wounded but instead of being killed God raises him up as a living saint. Those who were so willing to trash him have shown their true colors. Pray but be alert, stay active, and defend our True Faith. Perhaps this incident will do more to get rid of all the evils in our Church than all of Fr. Corapi’s sermons combined. To support him, buy something from Santa Cruz Media and tell them you’re buying it because you support him. Withhold your money from the bishops and let them know how disgusted you are with them.
John, your last name isn’t Corapi by chance?
Couldn’t agree with you more, but, the question still remains and is probably worth answering: Father Corapi, has your conduct with your employees (or Santa Cruz Media’s employees) been above reproach? Yes or no. It would probably be wise for Santa Cruz Media to answer the same question about their employees. I think its important.
Santa Cruz Media Incorporated is a secular corporation not under the control of the Church that is the owner of all of Father’s intellectual property. Is Father Corapi not the owner of the majority (if not all) of the stock in Santa Cruz Media Inc.? This basically amounts to an additional denial by Father through one of his employees.
As a fully professed member of S.O.L.T., I expect Father could live in one of their communities and not have a number of the expenses they talk about. I’m not sure if he has ever offered a reason why he does not live in community as would be the norm for a member of a Society of Apostolic Life such as S.O.L.T. Something to do with protecting his privacy?
“Is the servant greater than the Master?” Look at what Our Lord suffered. Fr Corapi is in very good company; Jesus, Padre Pio, John Vianney, Bishop Sheen….
When truth is called a lie, and a lie called the truth, the lights go out. Darkness falls. And indeed, if your light is darkness, how deep, how very deep will your darkness be?
Amen Jared. Your comment/scripture verse says it all about what is going on here!
The question for Fr Corapi should be, and perhaps has been asked him by EWTN, is….Father has your conduct with your employees been above reproach? Yes or No? If the answer is yes, then the outcome of the investigation(s)by his superiors will determine his future activities. If the answer is no, then the outcome of the investigations determines what is to be. All of the he said she said stuff is important, but Father Corapi is called to a standard that needs an answer to the above question. It would save a lot of people from a lot of wheel spinning. All of my Father Corapi DVD’s are still on the shelf. I haven’t chucked them and probably won’t anytime soon. I probably won’t be passing a DVD along to someone searching of answers to life’s questions right now. Just a simple yes or no would help a great deal. Father put the original blurb out there himself but that all that did was raise the question. Above reproach? Yes or No. Simple I hope he ends up continuing to do what he does best, preach. He is in my prayers.
Jon, you have repeated that statement twice already. Just which part of the messages in Fr Corapi’s talks and seminars that are in those DVD’s unfaithful to the teachings of the church? To withhold sharing the DVDs to friends, despite them being true to the teachings is doing your friends a disservice.
What you’re saying looks like you’ve already convicted him, guilty before being proven innocent, and a clear cut case of “shoot the messenger”, don’t share the message and hedge your bets by “praying for him”.
Jon makes the correct assessment – someone “searching of answers to life’s questions” shouldn’t have to think about whether the man behind his DVD is correctly or incorrectly accused.
Nigel, I doubt that you would encourage us to continue to read Fr. Maciel’s homilies – against the recommendation of Rome – although they do not contain doctrinal error. I am not comparing Maciel and Corapi — only using it as an example of how your criterion doesn’t make sense. Jon is rightly concerned for scandal.
Secondly, many are quick to defend Fr. Corapi, but we must remind ourselves that people fall, and that even if Father hasn’t, he might one day. I think he would or should be ashamed to read such blind defense of someone none of us knows personally.
Do not place Father Corapi on a pedestal, or you set him up for a fall. Christ alone should be on your pedestal, and Father has only been a mouthpiece for the Word – an imperfect, sometimes mis-functioning megaphone, whether or not he has done what he’s accused of doing. Wait, and do not judge (one way OR the other!).
Wisdom! Be attentive!
I am very angry with the Church and how they are handling this. If he were accused of something illegal and especially of sex abuse with a child then by all means protect the public and remove him until it’s cleared up one way or the other. But he’s accused of a sin. I think he should be able to remain in good standing during the investigation and if he is found guilty then let the man go to confession and place him on probation. Our current priests are paying for the abuse and the way it was mishandled by the bishops of the past, now they are over correcting the problem and crucifying innocent priests. They don’t have a chance, it’s no wonder we are so short of priests these day. The ones we have are going to ineffective because they are affraid to speak the truth. This is so not right, is this the Canon law of the US Church or does it come from the Vatican, does anyone know?
His reputation is permanently damaged. EWTN and Relevant Radio can take a long walk off a short dock. Everywhere you turn, the political correctness is alive and well. There is a priest in MN who was relegated to a Nursing Home assignment for daring to speak his mind. That was five years ago and he is STILL there. Why should Fr. Corapi have to suffer for the cover up by “Archbishops and Bishops” who didn’t want to make waves. Also, this alleged victim should have to come forward and identify herself instead of being a coward. If she is so hell bent on destroying Fr. Corapi, that would be the ethical thing to do. It goes without saying that there are many, many prayers being offered up as Masses and all day for Fr. Corapi.
This is not political correctness on EWTN’s behalf, but faithful obedience. If his priestly faculties have been formally suspended, how can he be presented by an orthodox channel as a priest?
I’m afraid you’re argument is fallacious; is one no longer orthodox if one commits a sin, be it mortal or venial? Now, if one committed a mortal sin and said it’s not a sin, that would be un-orthodox. His message is totally orthodox, whatever has or has not happened.
As to EWTN’s decision, I think we have to ask–are the claims against Fr. Corapi even credible? Right now it looks like a person can claim anything, and the priest is suspended, guilty until proven innocent, whether or not there is any credible evidence. If there is credible evidence (lie detector tests, drug tests, witnesses) then it would make sense to suspend the priest. If that’s not what is happening, then it seems a really serious flaw in the system; that is, if no credible evidence is required, only an accusation, that would seem a serious flaw in the system.
Recall when Mother Angelica was the HELM, she berated and castigated Cardinal Mahony for the Good Friday service that had a woman taking place as Christ in the Via Crusis, carrying the Cross, etc. Was that political correctness? No way. Cardinal Mahony I believe started a wave of indignation toward Mother Angelica which got nowhere.
EWTN of the present time leaves much to be desired. It has become close to being s modernist institution — it’s now part and parcel of the “New” Pentecost — nothing of Tradition is found here any longer. If it is NEW, it is IN: (Mass, Code of Canon Law, Catechism, Luminous Mysteries, new everything, ad infinitum). And sadly, the wave of the new converts from various Protestant denominations who now label themselves Catholic apologists but who still carry with them the excess baggage of Protestantism as they swam acoss the Tiber.
There is inherent in them a resistance toward Tradition. One such convert even spoke against the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum re: the Immemorial Latin Mass, to the point of alluding it to a fixation one may have for shoes (!) that a Catholic looks to the liturgy of the Mass. This fellow an apologist for Catholicism?
Until and unless they divest themselves from their protestant clingings and embrace the Catholci faith in toto, immerse themselves in the hostory of the Church, they cannot truly and faithfully say they speak for the Church. Cardinal Newman said, ” To be deep in history, is to cease to be a Protestant.” Dear Catholic converts, forget your past and be Catholic.
You’ve misstated what occurred. The Way of the Cross incident occurred during World Youth Day in Denver, then under Archbishop Stafford. Mother Angelica criticized Cardinal Mahoney for his pastoral letter on celebrating the Eucharist, coming very close to calling him a heretic and suggesting that if she were in his diocese she’d be disobedient.
Your other comments suggest that your position is that of a sedevacanist. I don’t think you’d find any television programming that would suit you.
Indeed, this decision of EWTN’s to shut down Fr. Corapi reveals much about the executives there and their failure to faithfully carry on Mother Angelica’s very clear mission.
“And sadly, the wave of the new converts from various Protestant denominations who now label themselves Catholic apologists but who still carry with them the excess baggage of Protestantism as they swam acoss the Tiber.”
I agree with this statement. I have no problem with converts but I do have a problem with people converting and then, what seems like 5 minutes later, speaking for the Church in an authoritative way in any capacity. If the rare convert can convey all the Truths of the Church 100% faithfully, fine. But there have been way too many on EWTN who go so far as to admit they still struggle with the Blessed Mother, etc. – and are presented as a voice of authority. We don’t need any more confusion when it comes to what we believe. And yet these quasi-Protestant ideas keep flowing through EWTN’s programmming. I even feel EWTN puts us “cradle Catholics” in the back of the bus while they fall over any one who was or is a Protestant. Ecumania gone wild. I’ve heard error coming from the EWTN airwaves as of late. One thing Fr. Corapi can never be accused of is teaching error.
Marie wrote: ” If the rare convert can convey all the Truths of the Church 100% faithfully, fine.”
Marie, you’ll spend longer than you have on this earth looking for any Catholic who can meet the standard you stated above. Very likely, you would find more converts coming close to it than you would cradle Catholics who who were lulled to spiritual sleep during the post-Vatican II years of non-formation and outright dissent throughout the Church in America (“Catholic” universities, seminaries, CCD, RCIA).
I am not a canon lawyer, but I would suspect that suspending the programming of a priest, all of whose faculties have been removed by his order, amounts to little more than an act of obedience that may be more worthy than the original decision deserved.
I agree with the Church that the sanctity of the sacrament does not depend upon the perfection of the ordinary. This of course makes me question the necessity of the removal of all faculties at the first lodging of a complaint. Sadly, that is not my call. Nor is it the call of the people, Catholics all, who must take this action on the part of EWTN.
Amen! I am SO upset with EWTN and Relevant Radio…Our faith and trust should always side with good and a brother in Christ. Father Corapi has brought thousands back to the church including me, who is still working on her journey. But I have to be honest here….seeing what has been done to Father Corapi has me feeling sick. Can’t believe they would shut him down. I remember hearing one of his talks on the radio when he was made to leave the directory (I think that is what it is called) because he wouldn’t let Jesus be in a closet had to be with him…remember how devasted he was then…I want to cry when I think of how lonely he must be feeling now….Father please know we love you. I think I have commented on every site regarding this….my daily dose of sun and truth are gone and quite frankly I am mad! This is outragous to say the least. God Bless you Father and all of us who are trying to grasp this! Jackie
Just an FYI: Immaculate Heart Radio has stood by Fr. Corapi and they are keeping his programs running. ihradio.org is their website; their number is 1-866-774-3278 if you would like to call and thank them and/or show financial support.
Relevant Radio is also doing the same as EWTN. They need to wait for the ourcome. They are being obedient.
Obedient to whom? I know nothing about Relevant Radio, but EWTN is not under the obedience of anyone; CEO Michael Warsaw is not a priest or religious. It is precisely for this reason (not having to be “obedient” to the many Bishops that wanted to take over EWTN) that Mother Angelica switched the station into the hands of lay people.
with all due respect, if this “alleged victim” is a victim, YOU are victimizing her again!
Comments like the anonymous nature of it does NOT make her a coward.
Your comments are very critical, perhaps it is time, in this lenten season to add the sacrament of reconciliation to the menu of fasting and prayer.
Amen to that! There is something, perhaps, that needs changing in the way things are handled, but I don’t think it’s to publicize the name of the accuser as has been suggested. A little more research before acting, yes. Opening the door for more slander? No. Do we know for sure that proper investigation wasn’t conducted prior to action, or are we relying on Fr. Corapi and his business for those statements?
Wait and see, people. Being ‘orthodox’ Catholic doesn’t mean getting out your noose for anyone accusing one of our ‘good old boys,’ and Fr. Corapi should be disappointed in you for defending him, whom you don’t know personally, without just cause. DVDs and CDs aren’t just cause. I sincerely hope that Fr. Corapi is innocent, because of his sway over you guys and his status as a priest of the Lord… but prayer and patience are needed in the Catholic blogosphere. EWTN et al. are right in obeying the Church in prayer and patience.
The faithful must constantly be prepared for even their most trusted and admired brothers or sisters to fail them. Adulation of another human being is an insult to God, and an insult to the man in question whose teaching would warn against such avid trust in anyone other than God.
We are unaware of the facts. We are aware that this is a painful time for all involved, regardless of the validity of the accusations. Love, Christ-like forgiveness and ongoing vigilant examinations of our own consciences are a few of the only things that should be certain at this time.
Yes! Well said!
Just wondering…
Is EWTN a religious organization that it has to follow the disciplines of the Church? I thought EWTN is a secular company that is outside the dictates of any bishop,cardinal or whatever.
Then Ave Maria Radio is defying the Church protocols by airing Fr. Corapi’s program?
I personally honor Fr. Corapi in the same breath of that of Mother Angelina, Mother Teresa and JP2 because Jesus is doing work in them. He may not be a forerunner to the Truth, but right now, people won’t allow him to be martyred. I believe that Mother Angelica would stand by him if she is still at ewtn’s helm….specially now .
Ewtn earned a lot of donation because of Fr. Corapi. Your actions speaks a lot about sheer gratitude.
May God save us all.
I agree. First. I cannot locate the statute in the 1983 Code of Canon Law which mandates that Fr. Corapi must have his priestly faculties suspended.
I can only find where his Superiors have that option if they so decide. It appears to be an arbitrary decision.
Even though Fr. Corapi’s suspension appears ill conceived, in my opinion, EWTN could abide by that decision by not having Fr. Corapi on live or using any taped material that was done after his suspension.
Fr. Corapi’s review of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is unique. There is nothing like it. It was done before the suspension. It is totally orthodox and is educating many Catholics in a way that is not available to them outside of that lecture series. By removing this series, EWTN has deprived many Catholics of this valuable education they so desperately need. Modern day Catholics are poorly educated as it is. EWTN could be faithful to Church leaders by not airing anything by Fr. Corapi subsequent to his suspension. In taking the broad approach that they have they are unwittingly serving the intersts of Satan.
“Fr. Corapi’s review of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is unique. There is nothing like it. It was done before the suspension. It is totally orthodox and is educating many Catholics in a way that is not available to them outside of that lecture series. By removing this series, EWTN has deprived many Catholics of this valuable education they so desperately need.” Absolutely. Even if Fr. John were guilty of the charges (and I disbelieve that), the review remains unique and totally orthodox. As does his doctoral thesis on suffering — permitted by God to allow ultimately for a greater good. Pray for that greater good to emerge as soon as possible.
Of course if EWTN acted like it was outside of the “dictates of any bishop, cardinal, or whatever”; you can be rather sure that they would no longer be able to get any bishops, cardinals or priests to be guests on their show. They also would likely not be given privileges to cover many of the events that they are able to cover.2Z
“Fr. Corapi has done many great things – he should be presumed innocent of these allegations until proven otherwise,” Marty Wynd, director of communications told EWTN News in a March 21 phone interview.
Since when does presumed innocent require you to be taken off of the air? Seems more like presumed guilty to me.
Just curious.
Faculties come from a bishop, not from a religious order superior.
Which bishop suspended his priestly faculties? We know the one in Montana did not because he said he did not have faculties there.
Father Corapi is not assigned to any particular diocese. If he were, his bishop would be responsible for his suspension. As he is a member of a preaching, missionary order with no set boundaries, his order superior is responsible. Peace and God bless.
I forgot to add: I love to listen to Father Corapi. He is a messenger guided by the Holy Spirit who has impacted and influenced countless people in their struggle to maintain their Faith in these times, which are bad and getting worse. Personally, he has given me the hope of Heaven that I was missing for so many years. He has said of the big, black prisoner, approaching him after a lecture, who told Father Corapi, “If you can make it, I can too.” Father has given me that feeling and attitude. He speaks the Truth no matter what and that is what we need today and tomorrow. There is no namby-pamby “I’m OK, you’re OK” diatribe. There is the hard bitten and difficult Truth we need to understand about the life we need to live, or else. He has given me the hope of making a one-handed grab on the last row of seats in the nose-bleed section of Purgatory. Peace and God bless.
S.O.L.T. refers to itself as a Society of Apostolic Life. Canons governing such Societies are 731-755, which can be found at http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P2G.HTM . Canon 740 requires that the members live in a house of their community, which doesn’t seem to be the case for Father Corapi. Canon 745 allows for the possibility of up to a 3 year absence (which it seems Father has exceeded), but when it concerns a cleric, “the consent of the ordinary of the place in which he must reside is required, under whose care and dependence he also remains.” The bishop in Helena indicates that he has no faculties there. As you can see per canon 733, it would seem that Father Corapi would not even be permitted to reserve the Blessed Sacrament in his residence if he does not have the consent of the local bishop. Per canon 738, Father Corapi would be “also subject to the diocesan bishop in those matters which regard public worship, the care of souls, and other works of the apostolate…”
It seems interesting to me that per canon 741.2 “members are also capable of acquiring, possessing, administering, and disposing of temporal goods, but whatever comes to them on behalf of the society is acquired by the society.” Father Corapi’s talks were formerly distributed by “S.O.L.T. Media”, which I believe was a non-profit tax-exempt organization. More recently they are distributed by “Santa Cruz Media”, which Father Corapi has indicated is a for-profit corporation as he did not want the government to attempt to control his speech if it had been tax exempt. It would appear that proceeds may have formerly gone to the Order, but have since become Father’s own “temporal goods”. There wouldn’t seem to be any problem if that is the mutually agreed upon arrangement with the order, but it seems very unclear what exactly Father’s recent status with his own order or any diocese would be to allow him to have any priestly faculties to suspend. While I’ve seen references as to how he formerly spent hours in the confessional and has recently said that he can’t hear confessions for his own protection, if he has no faculties from a diocesan bishop he couldn’t validly hear the confessions of members of the general public anyways.
EWTN’s statement is well written, and I am glad they had the charity to take the time to explain why they had to pull his content.
Whether people agree with how the suspension came about or not, EWTN has to follow protocol. This doesn’t mean they are siding with anybody, but merely responding to objective facts.
Pray for everyone concerned in this matter and that resolution comes about quickly.
Pedophile priests were shuffled parish to parish and were never suspended “a divinis: (priestly faculties taken away). Why? But when a priest who preaches on the orthodox Catholic faith, he is immediately punished, no ifs, ands, or buts. And to think that the whole body of the USCCB (I wonder what the “CC” stand for?) are advised not to take him in their dioceses. What a shame.
But that’s the plight of being a priest. Don’t make anemies of anyone, especially those who may hold a grudge of some kind, no matter how insignificant. Satan never sleeps. By thew way, why is the accuser NAMELESS? It is as if anybody can made an accusation and remain annonymous. WHoever you are, think carefully that what you have done is not somethign sacrilegious.
I stand by Fr. Corapi. I know in my heart he is innocent. He has confessed his sins publicly many times during his talks.. There is no way he can fall from grace (St, Margaret Mary Alaquoque) when he defends Catholic doctrine and shows deep devotion to the Sacred Heart and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Shame on EWTN. Shame on the USCCB. The priest is innocent until proved guilty. Isn’t that the what was accorded to the priestly homosexuals when they committed their crimes?
“But when a priest who preaches on the orthodox Catholic faith, he is immediately punished, no ifs, ands, or buts.”
Bearing false witness is a sin.
Fr. Corapi was placed on administrative leave after he was accused of “sexual exploits with multiple women” and “drug abuse,” not because of anything he preached.
Are the allegations true? No idea. But if all pedophile priests HAD been suspended when allegations occurred, as they should have been, perhaps their abuse wouldn’t have been perpetuated as long as it was.
“There is no way he can fall from grace (St, Margaret Mary Alaquoque) when he defends Catholic doctrine and shows deep devotion to the Sacred Heart and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
Wow! Don’t you know that priests are human beings? They stand in for Christ, but they are NOT Christ.
Even if Father is guilty of what he is accused (and I am not saying that he is), he will not lose God’s grace. It is offered MOST OF ALL to sinners. Not to the righteous.
You are an expert on shame……..is that one of the things you are giving up for Lent?
I had the chance to see Patrick at the Coppell, TX talk he gave. He gave a couple accounts of Father Corapi and himself at the same functions. Father Corapi for all accounts is a man of passion and zeal, but has battled demons in his past. While I myself do not believe the accusations, I do understand the need for EWTN to protect its brand and follow suit with the Magisterium of the Mother Church as Father Corapi’s order follows established protocols. I pray Father Corapi will be vindicated and we can once again see the Father on EWTN, but people can go to his website and still buy his materials should you want. I am glad EWTN is so strongly linked to Catholic teachings though, because I have learned so much about my faith because of men like Father Corapi and Patrick Madrid.
Thanks,
Jeff
If I were a Fr. Corapi fan, I would still take sustenance from his old lectures even if the worst accusations were proven. Fr. Corapi preaching in 1990 is not the Fr. Corapi of 2011 (assuming here the allegations are true–which I don’t assume at this point.) It is like the case of Tertullian–his earlier writings are appreciated despite his subsequent actions. I agree with EWTN’s decision, but I might still watch his older tapes at home if I had them.
Moreover, even if he is guilty, if I see him at an airport I will be the first person to hug him and encourage him. We are all walking a tight-rope, and we should all fear that we will be the cause of our fall. Finally, do we realize the extent of demonic harassment that our Lord allows to many of those He’s particularly graced? Mercy, Lord!
Let us all remember this, we are always to have Faith in God our Father and Our Lord Jesus Christ, even and especially in times of great tribulation. We are called to pray even harder for those who carry God’s word to others, especially for our Priests. As our Blessed Mother Mary said “Don’t criticize my Priets, pray for them.”
Yes, but I wouldn’t have recommended Tertullian’s writings to his living contemporaries, especially not anyone struggling in their faith.
I echo your comment about the airport hug. “There but for the grace of God go I.” Not in the same sin 9if it even took place), but if the general public and the Catholic blogosphere could see my soul despite the graces God has given me, I would be reamed worse than the accuser or the accused in this case, and I would do well to remember this. Judge not lest ye be judged, right? Leave that to the Church, and remain faithful to her.
I’ve been puzzled as to where Father Corapi has had any priestly faculties to suspend. Both Helena where he’s been residing and Corpus Christi where S.O.L.T. is headquartered have made statements to the effect that already he did not have faculties there. If his faculties come solely from his religious superior, weren’t they already restricted to internal functions of S.O.L.T., such as he could hear the confessions of their priests and say Mass in their chapels? I’ve seen comments that he know longer hears confessions, which I don’t think he could do anyways unless he were incardinated by a bishop in some diocese. Perhaps he is incardinated in Birmingham since his public teachings are broadcast from there?
I asked this question, as well.
It is my understanding that a religious order superior does not have the ability to give and take faculties. Perhaps there are exceptions.
Canon 265 on deal with incardination, and certain institutes of consecrated life and a “society endowed with such faculty”. I can see how a monk priest would not need to be incardinated in a diocese but rather by his abbott. Whether or not S.O.L.T. fits, I think it would be limited to functions within their own community at their own houses. On the other hand, the religious institute would need the permission of the local bishop to operate within the diocese. Not having a U.S. Catholic Directory, I don’t know that S.O.L.T. is even listed as being in the Diocese of Helena or if Father Corapi appears in the directory. Another statement by the Diocese of Sacramento indicates he has no function there.
Yes, Marie, under the current ZTP, and in an effort to stop the “moving priests between diocese”, all bishops receive a letter when a priest is put on administrative leave for an investigation such as this.
If only the public school system would do the same with accused teachers, we’d have a LOT fewer abused children out there.
and scout troops, doctors offices, coaching clinics, not to mention letters from family members to family members and neighbors since that is where MOST of the abuse occurs.
Thank you to you all for this insightful, compassionate discussion. Padre Pio and St. Vianney, among others, suffered immensely from false accusations. I pray for the truth and consolation to Fr. Corapi during this distressing time.
Marie, I don’t see it as a failure to stand behind Fr. Corapi, but to protect the integrity of EWTN as a source of Truth for the populace. They are not turning their backs on him, but they are allowing time for the truth, or lack thereof, of the allegations to reveal itself. As much as I miss his programs, and I truly hope he will be restored in every way after proving the allegations are false, it is appropriate to do what EWTN has done.
As a huge fan of his, I’m crushed. I’m praying for him and the accuser(s). This stinks either way….. Thank goodness I have DVRd his both programs. I was psyched to hopefully have him come to Detroit….. Alas, we shall wait and see. Again, great having you here in Detroit (Albanian church) it was such a lovely time and a pleasure chatting with you as well. I hope all went well for you with your stay and your book sales. I woulda bought all of ’em. :-). Peace.
Wether he’s guilty or not, Father Corapi made me a good Catholic. I have hundreds of his teachings in mp3 format. If your interested email me over jon20652@yahoo.com
Victoria and Jon,
You are both stealing someone else’s intellectual property. If you enjoy his products you ought to at least have purchased them.
Not only is this illegal, it is also a sin. I assume you didn’t know. Now you do.
Woah there, Grabley. I think you misunderstood Victoria’s comment and owe her an apology. It’s no sin and it is certainly not illegal to record a TV show via DVR.
Why thank you, Patrick, for defending me. :-). I forgive. I think if Grably new what DVR meant perhaps he/she would never had made that comment to Jon or myself. If I’m not mistaken, there are plenty mp3 websites that are for “free” as well. If not, I assure you they would charge and would be in no way to have access. While I do not know how Jon obtained Fr Corapis teachings via mp3, I think he should be able to defend himself as well. I am a “happy” Direct TV customer and “happily” pays them for DVR access.
Btw, Patrick, I’m enjoying the FB disconnect…. I’ll be back next month before Divine Mercy Sunday. I also hope Detroit brings you back as well. You are witty, calm, and informative of our Catholic faith and I thank you once again….. :-). Good day!!
Oh no! I DO apologize. I misunderstood and misread the DVR thing. I was thinking DVD coping. Very sorry about that. As for volunteering to share .mp3 files I will clarify, that, volunteering to share them is fine, IF they were in fact free in the first place. If not, then it would be stealing.
Either way, I should have been more clear and more careful and I am sorry that I wasn’t.
Pish posh. I happily accept. I tend to do the same thing sometimes and humbly apologize afterward as well. We are human after all. :-). I cannot speak for Jon, but I have come across many websites that are catholic that have podcasts of all sorts of things. These are catholic based ones as well. I pray they aren’t stealing.
Ps. Not sure if you read at the end to Patrick, I did say I’d “buy” all his books. Lol. At least he’s affordable. Fr Corapi pricey, but certainly worth it as well. Peace, Grably.
I’m told to think before I speak often- now I tell myself to read before writing. Lol.
Any idea exactly how long something like this might take to investigate? Are we talking perhaps longer than a year? Any examples by the length of time other priests who had to go through this took?
This is a very public reminder that we need to pray for our priests, bishops, and all who are in the service of Christ. Fr. Corapi like all priests are under constant supernatural attack. They are the ones who have the large target on them, no matter what ministry they are in. People in the public eye speaking for Christ also have a target on them. Pray for our priests and public speakers.
I understand ETWN’s decision and respect it. As awful as this all is, there is a procedure that must be followed. While we await the conclusion of this we should, and must, keep all involved in our prayers.
On a personal note, the testimony and preaching of Fr. Corapi have deeply affected me, and a pray for a speedy resolution.
Pray.
Peace in Christ,
Joel
Why did every bishop of this country receive a letter stating that Fr. Corapi has had his priestly faculties removed? When pedophile/ebophile priests have had numerous, credible, and proven accusations of criminal conduct (and were then transferred around the country in light of the evidence) was every bishop contacted? If they were, then they are all guilty of aiding and abetting criminal priests. If they were not, then Fr. Corapi is being very purposefully targeted and humiliated.
Marie,
The policies that are now affecting Fr. Corapi came directly from the situation with abuser priests. It is exactly because of the those priests that Fr. Corapi is not on administrative leave. And, as unfortunate as it is, this policy is being followed. If we want the Church to take a stern, zero tolerance policy in abusive priests, then the policy has to apply to everyone.
However, it has been proven that right up until recently, this “zero tolerance policy” has not been followed with credibly accused homosexual priests. Most recent and obvious case: Philadelphia. Also, there is money missing in Milwaukee and Archbishop Dolan hasn’t been put on leave.
Marie, you are bearing false witness, which is a sin. Abp. Dolan has not been formally accused of any impropriety regarding the alleged missing money. Also, perhaps you missed the news, but a large number of priests in Philly WERE SUSPENDED just as Fr. Corapi was.
It is sad, but EWTN is following a consistent policy. Fr. Corapi has done so much good for so many people, and is such a public figure, that he is a lightening rod for false accusations and attacks, and is therefore in great need of our prayers. Based on that, I believe the accusations are false. But if the accusations are true, it’s no direct offense against me and he remains in great need of our prayers. Ultimately, Fr. Corapi has been a great blessing to our Church and to so many people that he deserves every bit of support we can give him. If the allegations are true or false, I think this is really just a reminder of how much our shepherds are in constant need of our prayers.
His faculties have been removed? That sounds serious. I hope this is settled quickly.
I’d agree, Brent. And as for the line you mentioned, I read it to mean that the Network is doing what Father Corapi requested by praying for him and for all involved.
On a personal note, I’ll just add that, for years now, like countless other Catholics, I have greatly admired Fr. Corapi’s forthright and fearless public teaching of the Catholic Faith. His priestly ministry has had a profoundly good effect on many and, as the EWTN communiqué put it, “He is a tremendously gifted preacher who has led many souls to Christ.” I hope and pray that this distressing situation will eventually be shown to have been nothing more than a false accusation.
In the meantime, I am meditating on the meaning of Psalm 146:3. Granted, priests and princes are two different categories, but there is a lesson here to be learned even so.
Hi Patrick.. So by EWTN removing his programming for now, does that not insinuate that they agree he is guilty? Wouldnt a stronger statement be to keep the programs going despite all this to show the Bishops and the accusers that We believe he is Innocent until proven Guilty.. not Guilty until proven innocent?
Well, here’s how I understand it: Because these programs show him teaching publicly in his capacity as a priest, the fact that his superiors have, by suspending him, revoked his faculties and forbidden him from any public exercise of priestly ministry (which includes preaching and teaching), then it seems to me that EWTN would have had no choice but to cease airing the programs. Their decision is certainly the right one to have made, under the circumstances.
Makes Sense. thanks.
Were Fr. Corapi’s priestly faculties suspended when these programs were recorded? Of course not.
The logical interpretation of a suspension is that it applies to ministy AFTER the suspension.
Should his LIVE conference in DeKalb been cancelled? Of course.
Should his RECORDED teachings be retroactively suspended? You might as well argue that all his previous Masses were invalid. But of course that is impossible since the sacrements operate under their own power. And since the Church documents that were the basis of his teachings have their own power through the magisterium, the idea of retroactively suspending his teachings is ludicrously absurd.
Listen, a workable COMPROMISE would be to go back, say five years, and allow his older teachings to continue on-air.
I see your point, Dick, but I don’t think it could work that way in practice. Consider this imperfect but helpful parallel: When a police officer shoots someone while enforcing the law, it is routine for his chief to restrict him from his normal duties “pending investigation.” His suspension from duty in the field and the ensuing investigation in no way insinuates that the officer is guilty of having done anything wrong. Sometimes, of course, the investigation determines that the officer *did* do something wrong. Most of the time, though, he’s cleared and allowed to get back to work. That’s my hope, of course, in this situation with Father C.
Fr. Corapi is one of my heroes in the faith… however, I think this is a prudent decision by EWTN. I can’t imagine how hard and painful it was for them. But I think we have to ask ourselves about worst case scenarios. If Father Corapi is innocent and they pull his program, then they just re-air it again. But if he is found guilty of these crimes and they don’t pull his program, then I think the scandal is much more problematic. Better to air on the side of caution.
Fr. Corapi is one of your heroes in the faith and you can’t more strongly stand up for him? I hope that if you were accused of something your friends and family would not abandon you the way you are abandoning Fr. Corapi. Fr. Corapi is a holy, faithful priest. He has stated that he would rather die than commit another mortal sin in his life. Those of us who know Fr. Corapi believe that if he fell into the sins he is being (falsely) accused of, he would be the first to admit it and remove himself from the public platform. Fr. Corapi has always been brutally honest about his past – why wouldn’t you give him the benefit of believing he would be brutally honest about his present? Which one of us would be so brutally honest? Fr. Corapi himself has stated he is innocent. Why can’t you believe him? Why can’t EWTN believe him? This priest is being tortured on many levels.
Marie, I have a son & 2 brothers who are priests. They understand that at any moment, anyone, anywhere, can point a finger at them for any reason & they’ll be guilty until proven innocent. As far as I know, priests are the only people in this country who are treated that way. Since Dallas 2002, the 99% of hardworking, honest priests have had to bear the cross for the 1% who aren’t.
That’s just the fact of Catholic life in the 21st Century. EWTN did not have any choice in this situation. Sad.
Hi Marie.
“Fr. Corapi is one of your heroes in the faith and you can’t more strongly stand up for him?”
Yes, that is correct. I have no idea what’s going on with this situation. None. He is very holy and extremely passionate about the faith. But just like Marcial Maciel who had everybody duped, we need to exercise prudence and not immediately proclaim his innocence because it is possible that he could be leading some sort of double life.
“I hope that if you were accused of something your friends and family would not abandon you the way you are abandoning Fr. Corapi.”
I am not abandoning him. I do not believe he is guilty or innocent. I don’t know him. I only know him through television and radio. If all someone knew about me was my writings on teh internet and I was accused of something, I would have no problem if they withheld judgment about me. I can even see the case of a family member withholding judgment. How many women have been in relationships with men, been married to men, and these men later turn out to have been leading a double life the whole time, the woman being none the wiser? These things happen. We don’t know what is in anyone’s heart, good or bad. I have good reason to believe Father Corapi is holy, but it is possible I am wrong. I don’t like that idea any more than you do, though.
“Those of us who know Fr. Corapi believe that if he fell into the sins he is being (falsely) accused of, he would be the first to admit it and remove himself from the public platform. ”
I think so too. Like I said, I think there is more evidence to believe that he is innocent than guilty, and so if I was forced to bet, I would say he’s innocent. But I don’t want to actually make any kind of judgment either way.
“He has stated that he would rather die than commit another mortal sin in his life.”
I’ve said that too. Indeed, I would rather die than commit mortal sin. Yet I still do sometimes. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
“Fr. Corapi has always been brutally honest about his past – why wouldn’t you give him the benefit of believing he would be brutally honest about his present? ”
The problem is that most likely, someone is lying. Either this woman who accused him, or Fr Corapi. Obviously I much more inclined to believe that Fr Corapi is not lying, so that means the accuser is lying or psycho or delusional. So those are our options. By embracing Fr Corapi’s innocence, we are implicitly calling this woman a liar or delusional or psycho or whatever. That is not something I am ready to do without more information and evidence. God love you.
Marie,
If he fell into the sins he’s been accused of, he wouldn’t necessarily act rightly in confessing those sins and removing himself. In fact, having publicly said those things might make him all the more willing to hide these sins.
Please consider the possibility that the accuser is right and Father is wrong, for your own sake and for hers. It would be best to wait and pray. Well, it would be BEST if we didn’t hear about this until there was more credence to the accusations, but since we did hear, we are called to wait and pray.
It is a disservice to jump to conclusions. Peace is in the truth.
I think its a fair statement Patrick. I am a bit puzzled by the line “We are doing exactly as he has asked…”. Dos this imply that Fr. Corapi asked them to remove his talks or is this simply a typo?
God Bless
I’d agree, Brent. And as for the line you mentioned, I read it to mean that the Network is doing what Father Corapi requested by praying for him and for all involved.
I had never before heard of “Deacon Greg Kandra” until a link appeared that was associated to the Father Corapi. In reading the link to his blog, he seemed to take pleasure in Father Corapi’s fall. As I say, I’ve never heard of him, but his statements seemed like he was trying to add some gasoline to the fire that is currently burning under the Good Father. Questioning the supposed coloring of his hair? The tanned skin? Then alleging that this is “Standard Operating Procedure” for someone who has become vain? In my opinion, his statements read like lawyer who was trying to convince a jury with circumstantial evidence. Patrick? would you have an opinion on the Deacon’s previous bloggings? Shouldn’t a Deacon stand beside a Father in a situation such as this? And not behind him trying to push him past the end of the plank?
Hi, Carlos!
Where did I say that this is “Standard Operating Procedure for someone who has become vain???” I never said I thought Fr. Corapi was vain. I just thought it was odd that he colored his beard and mustache (and, it seems, his eyebrows, too) and wondered why.
I take no pleasure in what is happening to Fr. Corapi; as I wrote elsewhere, when one part of the body of Christ is bruised, all of us are.
Fr. Corapi has my prayers, as do all priests who are accused. I’ve known a few, and the agony, frustration and heartbreak they experience is palpable.
God bless,
Deacon Greg Kandra
“The Deacon’s Bench”
Heh, next time check the Trackbacks before posting something like this. The good Deacon has a really interesting blog, and he’s also worth following on Twitter, although I’m sorry this entry struck you the wrong way.
I think that any deacon or priest should stand by the Church, and decidedly not beside ‘a Father’ in any situation just because he’s a priest. I mean, outside of Mass.
My point is… wait with the Church. I am with Bobby Bambino, above:
“The problem is that most likely, someone is lying. Either this woman who accused him, or Fr Corapi. Obviously I much more inclined to believe that Fr Corapi is not lying, so that means the accuser is lying or psycho or delusional. So those are our options. By embracing Fr Corapi’s innocence, we are implicitly calling this woman a liar or delusional or psycho or whatever. That is not something I am ready to do without more information and evidence. God love you.”