I am going to answer in a simple, straight forward way what seem to me the main elements of the action taken against me by the Diocese of Corpus Christi and the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity.
Regarding my personal financial situation—From the earliest days (more than twenty years ago) the Founder of the Society of Our Lady, Fr. James Flanagan, encouraged me to support myself and the Church as well. He said they could not afford to support my ministry and me personally because of the unique nature of the mission. At every step of the way, through the entire past twenty years, the Society of Our Lady’s leadership knew of my financial independence. As Fr. Flanagan encouraged, I have supported SOLT and myself from ‘day-one.‘ I have never relied on the Society for shelter, clothing, transportation, medical care, or legal counsel and instead, using my history of success in business, set up my mission as any savvy business man would, meanwhile continuing to support the Society and many other Catholic Charities.
Regarding the charge of sexual impropriety—This song of greed has been sung many times before. I have never had any promiscuous or even inappropriate relations with her. Never.
Regarding the investigation—As standard practice, my legal counsel advised me not to cooperate with the investigation until I was able to determine that the Commission’s process was fair and I had adequate rights to defend myself. Questions that certainly qualify the validity of any legal case have never been answered by the so called “fact finding team.” They refuse to reveal, and therefore utilize, any of the so-called evidence perhaps because if ‘the bad guy’ were truly revealed it may be revealed that he is really not that bad. Clearly, as my legal counsel has portrayed, the evidence supplied by the accused (of which my counsel is not permitted access to) must not have any substance.
Regarding ‘hush money’—I never paid anybody off to remain silent. On two occasions there were standard severance agreements executed with former employees and independent contractors. These agreements contained very common non-disclosure provisions. Any attorney who would not include such provisions in such agreements would rightly be guilty of negligent and actionable conduct.
Regarding my resignation—I resigned because the process used by the Church is grossly unjust, and, hence, immoral. I resigned because I had no chance from the beginning of a fair and just hearing. As I have indicated from the beginning of all this, I am not extinguished! If I were to commit to the suggestion of the Society, then I would essentially crawl under a rock and wait to die. However, I can not deny this desire to share aspects of Truth and Hope with all those willing to hear. This is what I shall continue to fight for! Many are not going to appreciate this decision, and I respect that. For those who can accept it, onward!
I'm horrified that he just called the church immoral. People are immoral, not The Church.
ReplyDeleteActually, he said the process was immoral. Not that I trust his statement in the least.
ReplyDeleteActually, he was referring to the morality of the process, not the Church or any person.
ReplyDeleteThat's what Corapi says - but a friend of mine who is a canon lawyer says that Corapi has flagrantly misrepresented canon law and the canon process.
ReplyDeleteThis whole situation makes me want to deactivate my Facebook for a few months until things are hopefully resolved. I'm so sick of seeing bad comments (from some) towards the bishop, SOLT, EWTN, etc etc. People shouldn't blindly follow any earthly man, only Christ.
ReplyDeleteHere's a larger issue I would like to see you address: who is standing up for priests cleared of wrongdoing but still waiting for public restitution of their priestly faculties? In the case of my priest friend, for example, an internal memo was eventually circulated in the archdiocese communicating his innocence, but it was never read at the local masses and after almost 4 years he is still in limbo, receiving no support from anyone other than his parents. In the secular world, a person would have recourse to the legal system to demand that an employer return him to his job once the misunderstanding is cleared up, but it seems in our church these priests have no recourse to any assistance and God forbid that they should openly complain about it. As a father of three sons, I cannot express how angry this makes me and how it undercuts my support for a future priestly vocation.
ReplyDeleteJuan
Juan, I think that may be one of the forgotten underlying issues at hand here. Even though I disagreed (charitably I hope :)) with Al Kresta in the discussion section of his last Corapi post, he should get credit for discussing the subject of the canonical process on June 27. Though John Corapi the individual has been the focus of this recent saga, there remains this crucial underlying issue of a shaky canonical process. We have seen the former Bishop of Corpus Christi twice express disappointment in SOLT's handling of the Corapi incident (his second comment came on July 5). He actually believes it was SOLT who threw the first stone when they made their March 18 public announcement of suspending a public priest. That statement seemed to have whet the whistle of the public, perhaps because it spoke of behavior "unbecoming of a priest."
ReplyDeleteI am also wary of SOLT's webmaster now chiming in regularly, writing some scathing things about John Corapi on his own blog. And I still think it suspicious that SOLT went from not knowing if the allegations were even credible on June 20 to detailing his guilt on July 5. And then on July 6, SOLT's webmaster said they had the goods all along. I have quotes on my blog if you click my name. And I SOLT would not have made their statement the day before going on leave so they are all unavailable for comment for a while.
Surely the devil desires to sift us like wheat. I find myself at odds with people I tremendously respect. Just have to remember that's what's going on. Remember to respect and love your fellow Catholics everyone! :)
Sam
I would think that anyone who defends Corapi in this situation would like mindedly agree that the prosecution didn't prove their case in the Casey Anthony trial. Some people are so 'fair minded' as to refuse to connect dot.
ReplyDeleteRB
correction: dots.
ReplyDeleteRB
"If I were to commit to the suggestion of the Society, then I would essentially crawl under a rock and wait to die."
ReplyDeleteYes!!!
How does Corapi not understand that laying down and dying is a part of his vocation? How can he have preached the gospel and not understood that this statement is the most Christ-like option before him? Luke 17:33 and countless other passages come to mind.
Imagine if Corapi were innocent and in tune with the Holy Spirit. Imagine how he would leap at this chance to lay aside his worldly accumulations. Imagine how a man steeped in holiness would humbly submit himself to his superior even though it meant the end of his media empire. Imagine what an effect that would have on the faithful. How many would be driven to deeper commitments to our Lord?
He has a dramatic conversion story. How much greater a story would it be if a successful Catholic priest put it all aside to show that the process was flawed? As a man who is supposed to have cultivated a longer view than we instinctually possess, could he not accept eventual vindication -- even if it came years after he had departed this earthly life?
If his concern were the salvation of souls he would not fail to see that there is a clear parallel in falling to the ground as a piece of wheat in order to produce much fruit (John 12:24). Instead he stands, hands clenched, decrying the process, bemoaning his victim status, and talking about he will bravely become the lone ranger we have all been waiting for.
His behavior is not only unspiritual. It is illogical, as well. Therefore it fails the test for rational behavior and reminds me of someone (usually myself) operating for the transitory desires of the flesh.
I say it is illogical, because just who is to be his new audience? The number of devotees that he is able to rally will steadily fall as time progresses. He need only look to hundreds of examples before him to prove it. He will have no credibility among the orthodox, he won't be trusted among the ordain-women-and-marry-gays set. He will be forever tainted in the eyes of secularist conservatives no matter how much he rants against socialism or celebrates his business acumen*. He will never be accepted by progressives unless he turns his back on everything he has ever said -- which means he will burn brightly and then just become one of the shrill.
*I suppose he could join Colin Powell and Rudy Giuliani on the motivational speaker circuit, but his story of personal success basically consists of getting the religious faithful to part with money in order to hear about how personal and financial success has to take a back seat to serving God and learning to suffer in union with Christ. His business acumen, when divorced from the gospel and the Church can only be considered as manipulating the faithful to buy lessons in a life philosophy he basically rejects -- can he appear any more cynical or manipulative than that?
I think Corapis visions of staying attached in media and making $$ is limited to 'Celebrity Rehab'.
ReplyDeleteRB
Suppose there was a letter written and expressed to all hierarchy and, the latter, the religious: (I won't pretend on how official letters are written. So forgive me for the style.)
ReplyDeleteDear Faithful,
As to the recent activity of the label and branded name and image: Blacksheepdog, Father Corapi has taken upon an independent ministry where there is discretion due and reason for discernment. The image and tone of this movement is very peculiar to Father as priest (ordained in the Sacrament of Holy Orders from Christ through and with the Holy Spirit and His Apostles, the Apostolic sacrament and legacy founded in the Church, and the Eternal Father Who does not "leave us orphans" in the continuity of faith, hope, and charity) and which bears necessity to inform of the dangerous mishap of leading followers and other faithful to error and erroneous information not withstanding to the precepts, teachings, and Magesterial authority of the Church. Bearing in mind, however, Father has had a very good ministry in preaching the Gospel, co-operating by means established in the Church bringing converts by God's will, and presenting a clear and concise Catechesis upto this time (which there is no objection but reverence for Father's role.) However, he has taken his own plight with a new name and image for himself (perhaps thinking and misled by this ministry.) So, it is with great regard and care of the Church to advise faithful (and all people) to not be encouraged nor take any engagement with this new ministry. Please pray for all priests, especially Father Corapi at this time, our ability to communicate with all the faithful, and all hierarchical authority through the entire Church.
Our Lady of Good Success, Quito Ecuador
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Good_Success
The fourth reason the lamp was put out was to demonstrate how the Masons and other secret sects would have so much influence on society and even within the Church. “During these unfortunate times,” she foretold, “evil will invade childhood innocence. In this way, vocations to the priesthood will be lost, resulting in a true calamity.” Our Lady of Good Success foresaw that there would still be some good, faithful religious who would be willing to suffer for the salvation of souls and life of the Holy Catholic Church. However, “The clergy will leave much to be desired because priests will become careless in their sacred duties. Lacking the divine compass, they will stray from the road traced by God for the priestly ministry, and they will become attached to wealth and riches, which they will unduly strive to attain. How the Church will suffer during this dark night! Lacking a prelate and a father to guide them, many priests will lose their spirit, placing their souls in great danger.”
Sound like anyone we know?
anonymous above:
ReplyDeleteRB
I’m a convert of 25+ years and Fr. Corapi was not particularly my style of preacher. But…….
ReplyDeleteOther Catholics, particularly cradle Catholics, hit my “what the hell” nerve on an occasional basis anyway, but the last several weeks have been really crazy. I’ve heard more back-biting, self-righteous BS in the last several weeks over this topic than I thought even Catholics contained.
Got news: We are all sinners. We are all hypocrites. So lay off the man. He’s got problems, but they may not be as big as yours. Get a Christian life. Pray for your own salvation and get with the program. Good grief.