"On Ash Wednesday I learned that a former employee sent a three-page letter to several bishops accusing me of everything from drug addiction to multiple sexual exploits with her and several other adult women. There seems to no longer be the need for a complaint to be deemed “credible” in order for Church authorities to pull the trigger on the Church’s procedure, which was in recent years crafted to respond to cases of the sexual abuse of minors. I am not accused of that, but it seems, once again, that they now don’t have to deem the complaint to be credible or not, and it is being applied broadly to respond to all complaints. I have been placed on "administrative leave" as the result of this.
"I’ll certainly cooperate with the process, but personally believe that it is seriously flawed, and is tantamount to treating the priest as guilty “just in case”, then through the process determining if he is innocent. The resultant damage to the accused is immediate, irreparable, and serious, especially for someone like myself, since I am so well known. I am not alone in this assessment, as multiple canon lawyers and civil and criminal attorneys have stated publicly that the procedure does grave damage to the accused from the outset, regardless of rhetoric denying this, and has little regard for any form of meaningful due process.
"All of the allegations in the complaint are false, and I ask you to pray for all concerned."
I do wonder how many false accusations have been made in these Church sex scandals. What is one to think if the priest denies the accusation and there is no evidence outside of the accusation itself?
ReplyDeleteFather Corapi, I will keep you in my prayers. And I pray that the day of your vindication comes quickly. May God speed the process on. Michele
ReplyDeleteStay strong, Fr. Corapi. No one who knows you would ever believe this garbage for a second.
ReplyDeleteYou've been a hunted man for a long time. You know that and anyone who knows anything about the Church knows that.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary will protect you.
He did say in one of his EWTN Catechisms series from some years back: "I could very easily end up in a crack house again." And in a stern voice, "Don't you think for a minute that it cannot happen. So you pray for me and I will pray for you."
ReplyDeleteMay the Blessed Mother put her combat boots on, do battle for one of her sons, Fr. John Corapi, and proceed to smash the head of the serpent. A very trying lent for Father. May his guardian angel assist him, may Our Lord grant him every grace and help in this cross of being falsely accused. Our Lord Jesus was also slandered, falsely accused, and in this Father can more deeply align himself with the sufferings of Jesus, and in that there is the ability to join in the redemption and salvation of many, and perhaps, also, his accuser. Please, God.
ReplyDeleteOremus.
I don't know if Fr. Corapi is guilty or innocent and I pray these allegations are false. But those of you who are saying the accusations are "garbage" and that he is "falsely accused" and that his "vindication" will come soon are calling the accuser a liar. You have no idea if the allegations are true of not.
ReplyDeleteLegions of defenders came out in support of Fr. Maciel and berated the accusers for 10 years calling them liars. They comitted great damage in running their mouths without ANY IDEA if he was guilty of not. I wouldn't be so quick to declare Fr. Corapi innocent just because he says he is.
Again, I don't know either, and I pray he is innocent, but let's not embarass ourselves by making claims that you can't possibly know are true.
Yes I Am Calling the Accuser a Liar as Father Corapi has said that he Is Innocent of All Charges. and I Will Believe Father Corapi over these Lies. I Certainly am Not "Embarrassed" by stating that the Accuser is Lying.
ReplyDeleteI'm a little troubled by Fr. Corapi's weasily "everything from". That seems to be a CYA in case allegations beyond the initial two. The drug abuse charge could easily be put to rest, if Fr. were to submit samples of his hair, blood and nails. The second charge is simply a matter of getting corroboration from the woman/women alleged to be involved.
ReplyDeleteAre their other allegations? Seems possible from the formulation...
Yes, the system is broken in the sense that "you're guilty until proven innocent". Another priest in our diocese was accused of similar allegations, and he was asked to leave his parish. He was proven innocent of all charges eventually, but the legal process had worn him out so much that he no longer can work effectively as a priest within his own diocese.
ReplyDeleteI pray that our bishops can handle all accusations with discretion and give both parties the dignity that they need and not give in to knee-jerk reactions as is the case here.
There is only one formula to keep in mind: It's called ongoing repentance--his, mine and every single one of us. I am no fan of sewing "weasily 'formulations'" when EVEN AN INNOCENT MAN'S reputation is already damaged and remains precariously ambivalent and unresolved before the breezy opinions, taunts and arrogant tongues of this world.
ReplyDeleteA charged priest does not have the luxury of choosing to remain Anonymous until such time as actual guilt is determined or dismissed. Who, exactly, has the right to throw the first stone at an already vulnerable target of unproven criminal accusations?
As Catholics, we are blessed by God to be able to admit that we are all sinners --ALL of US---in need of repentance and prayer every day. And, while I am fortunate enough not to carry a cross of addiction, etc., Fr. Corapi's noting "I could very easily end up in a crack house again. Don't you think for a minute that it cannot happen. So you pray for me and I will pray for you" sounds pretty Catholic to me and it is almost certainly voiced thousands of times a week at AA meetings across the globe. Yes. We need to pray for Fr. Corapi. We need to pray for all members of our Church. We also need his prayers, as a brother in Christ, for us, as well. As Catholic Christians, we share in his time of trial. For, when one part of the Body of Christ hurts, all hurt. If mercy is no longer needed, why be a member of the Catholic Church?
Why don't we know the name of the accuser and only of the accused? If we wanted to pray by name for the accuser we don't have one.
ReplyDelete