I will make this short and sweet. Father Corapi – yes, you are a priest forever – we do not judge you; Christ alone will judge you on that day when you like all of us must render an account. That we refuse to judge you does not mean that we are indifferent to reality. No matter how unjust the hierarchy’s action may be against you, they are still the ones to whom you and we owe obedience if we desire to be sons and daughters of the Church. Saint Padre Pio’s trial is all too well known to repeat again; his obedience was and is the way of the Saints and your actions are obviously not redolent obedience to your God given superiors.
Sorry Father Corapi, but we can no longer follow you in good conscience. Right now you are a wolf in sheep's … wait… a sheepdog's clothing and no good Catholic can follow you forward. Thankfully there are many good resources for learning one’s faith: The Catechism of the Catholic Church, the numerous lay and priestly apologists and of course all the many writings of the Saints, Doctors of the Church and Pontiffs which are published so beautifully through Ignatius Press, Tan, et alia.
Let us all do each other and Father Corapi a favor; pray for him intently and pay him no attention until he submits in holy obedience to his superiors.
27 comments:
Is he outside the Church or teaching heresy? If not, I do not understand why we are to avoid him.
I do not mean my question as provoking; it is being asked quite sincerely.
Veronica
I only needed to see the "Black Sheepdog" to know why I would want to avoid him. That picture belongs on a Stephen King book cover, not a Catholic blog.
perri
Dear Veronica. I assume you live in a Diocese in America that has a Bishop who has issued dimissorial letters allowing particular Priests to Minister within his Jurisdiction.
That being the case, why would you want to follow a Priest who has renounced his Ministry?
There are many sources, this site being an outstanding example of one such source, where one can get Catholic Truth presented in honesty and humility without all the too evident admixture of ego attached to the former Ministry of Fr, Corapi.
I have never seen or heard even one of his presentations but the reactions to his situation - from his own self and his supporters - raise all manner of red flags for me.
If that ain't a cult of personality, then I do not know what one is.
If you think he is the embodiment of Catholicism and you can not get the truth from anyone else but he, then you have some soul-searching to do, Sister.
Avoiding Fr Corpari, while praying for him, is great advice by the good Father here.
Pay that advice heed.
Veronica -- by the example of his life he is teaching heresy. He is teaching that disobedience is reasonable, that a priest who has used drugs, cohabitated and sinned through sacramental abuse (none of which he has denied) can stick out his chest, thrust out his chin, coyly encourage outrage amongst his followers while suggesting they do not express outrage and focusing, even now, on the material. So, yes...he is teaching heresies by the way he lives his life, heresy by example. Remember that St. Francis said "preach the gospel, if necessary, use words." We're supposed to show our fealty to Christ and church by the way we live our lives. Corapi is doing exactly the opposite. He was all about using words and he still is. This is now bad preaching.
Interesting story - first I'd heard of it on this side of the pond. In fact, I'd never heard of the man before. I took a quick look at his 'blacksheepdog' blog. Whatever about the other allegations, it seems clear that he, as a member of a religious order, refused to live up to his vow of obedience. That would normally pretty much end my interest in the matter. However, I do have a question. He said he resigned because he had no chance of a fair hearing by the Church. He seems like a campaigning kind of guy, so I would wonder if the first time it occurred to him that the Church is unfair was when he became the target of an investigation or is this an issue he had raised before?
Spartacus, how dare you!!! Have you ever heard of rash judgment? How did you deduce such things about me from the simple question that I asked?
I am not a groupie of Fr. Corapi.
I do not watch EWTN nor do I listen to Catholic radio. I don't even own one of his tapes or whatever it is that he peddles.
I spent many years outside of Holy Mother Church and I attribute my return to Our Blessed Mother who obtained the necessary graces for me and took pity on my evident misery.
We are surrounded by not a few John Corapi's in the Church in case no one has noticed. Ex-priests abound, some even have their own blogs with their own followings. They are former priests because at one point a lot of them uttered their personal "non serviam". Are we to avoid them as well?
Veronica
Campion,
Thank you! You put the problem well, esp the analogy to St. Padre Pio, who submitted so humbly. If this is unjust persecution, this would have been an excellent opportunity for Fr. Corapi to advance in the spiritual life. It is a very sad situation, but I agree completely with your counsel that we have nothing to do with him, but to commend him to God, and pray for his, and my, conversion.
Campion,
Thank you! You put the problem well, esp the analogy to St. Padre Pio, who submitted so humbly. If this is unjust persecution, this would have been an excellent opportunity for Fr. Corapi to advance in the spiritual life. It is a very sad situation, but I agree completely with your counsel that we have nothing to do with him, but to commend him to God, and pray for his, and my, conversion.
I have been reading Bishop Gracida's blog on Fr.Corapi and he doesn't say Fr. Corapi is being disobedient,but he sure gives it to SOLT for the way they are handling the situation. I also saw the accusers advertisment for selling Fr. Corapi's rosary for $5,000 and website for $10,000.I also read the civil suite and it looks like Fr. Corapi wants a trial by jury. I will wait and see how this all pans out. I rather error persuming he is innocent than error than persuming he is guilty. I'm praying for all!
Fr Levy - Father Corapi has spoken out many times about corruption in the church. He has also spoken about priests who were falsely accused (as well as those justly accused). Father Corapi is a warrior. He is not one to back down and quietly fade away. There are people that feel he should submit to his superiors and go back to S.O.L.T. There are others who feel he made the right decision by leaving because the process he was subjected to was not fair and unjust and thus immoral to follow this process. Father Corapi has said that it was immoral, and he has brought a lawsuit against his accuser in the US court system to clear his name.
Father Corapi has said that it was immoral, and he has brought a lawsuit against his accuser in the US court system to clear his name.
Actually, the lawsuit will do anything but, because it gives the appearance of suppressing the accuser's testimony.
But even if Corapi is being falsely accused, he should still submit to his superiors. "The will of the authorities is the will of God" (Padre Pio).
@Anonymous, I agree that it appears that the SOLT has handled the situation poorly. For example, they allowed him to live on his own and do his own thing for many years. But then we don't know what measures they took in the past to try and get him to live in their community.
Fr. Corapi has forfeited ALL of his credibility and reliability by renouncing his ordination.
Even Paul was concerned about losing his reward despite all that he had done to bring the Gospel to people.
I'm sure Fr. Corapi has enlightened many over the years. But once you turn your back on the Church (which is what he's done), you lose every bit of authority he ever had.
That's the sad part.
The merits of the case - either in his favor of or against him, are secondary at this point.
I will not address the issues or the multitude of opinions and conjecture surrounding the Fr. Corapi controversy. Everyone seems to have joined camp either for or against, no side is listening to the other and neither side is patient enough to await an open and final revelation of the facts.
However, I cannot stay silent while you recommend that Catholics learn of their faith from the heresy ridden catechism of Cardinal Schonborn.
Start with the Fathers and Doctors of the Church as your guide. As for a catechism - stick with The catechism of the Council of Trent Yes, there are many good apologists from whom to learn, both lay and clergy but first learn and know what the Church has taught since Her birth so that you may be able to discern and reject the many novelties taught today.
" For example, they allowed him to live on his own and do his own thing for many years. But then we don't know what measures they took in the past to try and get him to live in their community.
"
Of which Bishop Gracida is partially to blame for. He is now railing against SOLT leadership for allowing Corapi to acquire such wealth. Yet he had played a part in that as well.
I think Bishop Mulvey is showing class by refusing to slam his predecessor, when he very well could have reason to.
As far as Veronica's question, Catholics cannot support renegade priests under sanction by the Church. To give them such support gives the impression that the path they are taking is laudable or permissable.
It is neither. Fr. Corapi is a "sheepdog" who thinks he knows better than the shepherd.
What's a cop with a gun acting outside of the authority of a badge? A vigilante, even if you sympathize with him.
So it is with Fr. Corapi. He is indeed a sheepdog. but a sheepdog who goes against the wishes of the shepherd, and even goes after some of the flock, has become indistinguishable from a wolf.
I have to admit that I do not see how most of this discussion is helpful to anyone at all. Generally, it seems like the expression of various views and opinions on the "Corapi scandal" leads only to detraction and division.
Perhaps the words of St. Benedict are better: "About such persons, is better to remain silent."
Does this post or these comments really help the situation at all?
[n.b. the contributors write posts independently ... Campion wrote this one, I had nothing to do with it]
Now we have buffoons like FGA calling the Catechism of the Catholic Church a work of "heresy", and ascribing its publication to a particular cardinal rather than to Bl. John Paul II!
[Little does FGA realize, on many points the current Catechism is far more conservative than even the Catechism of Trent -- for example, on Christ's human knowledge (which is completely ignored by Trent's Catechism). In any case, the CCC is far more richly supplied with references to the Fathers of the Church and St. Thomas Aquinas than is the Catechism of Trent.]
Father, I will tell you the truth. I was horrifed that this blog even stooped to the level of posting anything about John Corapi and was going to delete this place from my bookmarks. What does John Corapi have to do with the "new theology"?
Why cheapen this place so it becomes another gaping wound on the Mystical Body of Christ?
Veronica
Reginaldus:
I have read the arguments in favor of the current catechism which you point out. However I cannot say they are convincing.
Having both catechisms in my library, and both well-thumbed, I cannot on the whole recommend the new catechism over the old. Yes, there are some good things in it, but not enough. And there is just enough acid buried in the words of the new one that dissolve much of the good therein. And pointing out that the new one was promulgated by John Paul II is not, to my mind, a ringing endorsement.
I wont call it openly heretical; I will call it vastly inferior to the Trent.
Father Reginaldus,
The attempt of poor Campion, (in college I lived in Campion Hall, so I have an affinity to him...) was to do what you on this blog have done so valiantly: to engage the culture especially on those subjects Catholic which have the attention of the popular press, and hoi polloi (moi), and which have the danger of scandal. I think he did a pretty good job stating the problem and recommending a prudent course of action, prayer.
Dan,
The whole argument about the Catechism is a red herring.
As to whether Trent's or Vatican II's Catechism is superior ... I suppose it depends on what you are looking for ...
If you are looking for a very practical, down to earth, simple guide to pastoral ministry ... Trent's Catechism is certainly to be preferred -- it was written for parish priests.
If you are looking for a theologically rich, well researched, slightly speculative guide for the study of the faith ... the CCC is certainly to be preferred -- it was written for bishops and is much more theoretical and theological in its outlook and purpose.
Finally, the fact that you are so dismissive of our Blessed Pope of happy memory is not, to my mind, a ringing endorsement of your prudence or wisdom in judging matters related to catechesis.
While I will not say that you are openly heretical, I will say that you are vastly inferior to Bl. John Paul II.
"Spartacus, how dare you!!! Have you ever heard of rash judgment? How did you deduce such things about me from the simple question that I asked?"
Dear Vernoica. There was not word that I wrote that can be fairly described as rash judgment.
You asked a question and I responded.
I think the statements that stoked your ire are the ones which begin with the word "If."
pax tecum
As to whether or not it is appropriate to post on this topic, I grant that many will find it unnecessary and even possibly divisive. I only mean to point out by this post, that one should not follow Corapi "theologically or catechetically" in the future on account of the present situation. After his Order's statement and Father Corapi's response, it is clear that as far as my post is concerned there was nothing speculative about it
Soartucus:
lst Judgment: "That being the case, why would you want to follow a Priest who has renounced his Ministry?"
You assume I am a follower.
2nd Judgment: "If you think he is the embodiment of Catholicism and you can not get the truth from anyone else but he, then you have some soul-searching to do, Sister."
Your little "if" is no disqualifier if the paragraph is taken in context. You assume here and in the preceding paragraphs, that John Corapi is where I get my Faith. I also object to your disrespectful way of calling me "sister".
I'm probably old enough to be your mother (or grandmother) Spartacus, and was already well catechized when you were in diapers and when John Corapi was sitting on a park bench somewhere pondering his predicament.
What "stoked my ire" is the way you made judgments about me from a simple question.
Veronica
This post is totally out of scope for this blog. It does not belong. It's pretty disgusting how supposedly good Catholic people so easily turn on one of their own. Whatever he did or didn't do in no way invalidates anything he says or said. The messenger does not invalidate the message. I think he should remain in obedience to even unjust authority. However it's pretty clear that SOLT has become jealous of his personal ministry and success. They see his preaching about jelly spined bishops and orders as a mortal threat which they need to destroy.
Satan has scored a great victory by taking down such a great spritual warrior as Fr. Corapi. This internal spat over whether to call him anathema is just sauce.
LA
Well said! Thank you NTM and God bless!
Dear Veronica. I apologise. Forgive me.
Here Fr. Corapi looks exactly like Anton Szandor LaVey. xD
Cor, that's a scary thought, Petrvs.
GenghisKhan44
Post a Comment
If you want your comment to be published: Use a name or pseudonym, and keep it short (generally, less than 100 words), to the point, and civil.
All comments must be approved by a blog-administrator. If your comment is deleted, please don't take it personally.