God love you, God bless you, and Good-Bye [Catholic Caucus]

The Black Sheepdog ^ | June 17, 2011 | John Corapi

[sitetest]

This Sunday, June 19, 2011, is both Trinity Sunday on the Catholic liturgical calendar and Fathers’ Day on the secular calendar. It is a day I’ll never forget, and sadly so. It is the twentieth anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood in the Catholic Church. For twenty years I was called “father.” I am very thankful for those twenty years. I could have easily died any number of times, any number of ways in my life before that, so I consider it all a bonus, an undeserved bonus. To all of you that have communicated support, ordination anniversary congratulations, and other kind sentiments, I am greatly thankful, and I do not take that for granted.

All things change, only God stays the same, so I have to tell you about a major change in my life. I am not going to be involved in public ministry as a priest any longer. There are certain persons in authority in the Church that want me gone, and I shall be gone. I have been guilty of many things in the course of my life, and could easily and justifiably be considered unfit to engage in public ministry as a priest. The present complaint that you have heard about is, as far as I know, from the one person that I can honestly say I did more to help and support than any human being in my entire life. I forgive her and hope only good things for her. I am not going to get into a back and forth or argument with the Church or anyone else about this matter.

Suffice it to say that I love the Catholic Church and accept what has transpired. Unfortunately, the process used is inherently and fatally flawed, but the bishops have the power, apparently, to operate anyway they see fit. I cannot give a lengthy explanation of what has transpired, but I can tell you that the most likely outcome is that they leave me suspended indefinitely and just let me fade away. They can’t prove I’m guilty of the things alleged because I’m not, and they can’t prove I’m innocent because that is simply illogical and impossible. All civilized societies know that. Certain leaders in the Catholic Church apparently do not.

I accept moving on, but I am not ready to be altogether extinguished just yet. In the final analysis I have only one of only two viable choices: 1. I can quietly lie down and die, or 2. I can go on in ways that I am able to go on.

I did not start this process, the Bishop of Corpus Christi, Texas ordered my superiors, against their will and better judgment, to do it. He in fact threatened to release a reprehensible and libelous letter to all of the bishops if they did not suspend me. He has a perfect right to do so, and I defend that right. Bishops aren’t bound by civil laws and procedures in internal Church matters. I agree with that, and would defend to the death the Church’s right to proceed as they see fit. He is the bishop and he has the right to govern as he sees fit. It isn’t an easy task. Many forces besiege him, including pressure from other bishops.

My canon lawyer and my civil lawyers have concluded that I cannot receive a fair and just hearing under the Church’s present process. The Church will conclude that I am not cooperating with the process because I refuse to give up all of my civil and human rights in order to hold harmless anyone who chooses to say defamatory and actionable things against me with no downside to them. The case may be on hold indefinitely, but my life cannot be. Some of the things that might surprise you about the way some of the bishops treat accused priests are as follows:

1. The identity of the accuser is not revealed. You can guess, but you don’t actually know. Nor are the exact allegations made known to you. Hence, you have an interesting situation of having to respond to an unknown accuser making unknown accusations (unknown to the accused and his counsel).

2. The persons chosen to investigate the allegations normally have no qualifications to do so. They certainly didn’t graduate from the FBI academy, nor do they have any other background to qualify them to interrogate or otherwise interview witnesses.

3. There are no set rules of evidence or norms of procedure.

4. You are for all practical purposes assumed guilty until you can prove you are innocent. This one is truly baffling. No civilized society operates that way. If you are accused of something you are considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

5. The accused and his counsel have no right to obtain and review any of the evidence against him.

6. The accused and his counsel are not provided the names of witnesses, nor are they permitted to cross-examine them.

7. There is a general unwillingness or outright refusal by certain of the bishops to abide by applicable statutes of limitations, both in canon and civil law. There are good reasons for these statutes. Time has a way of clouding memories and distorting perceptions.

By the way, Canon Law does not dictate this. They choose to selectively ignore or violate both Canon Law and Civil Law, as they deem appropriate and or expeditious. Once again, they apparently have the discretionary power to do this, and if that’s the way it is I have to accept that as reality.

The bottom line is that the only way a just outcome is likely, in my view and that of my counsel, both civil and canon lawyers, is by accident, rather than as a result of the process.

I will not try to fight this irrational and unjust situation for the simple reason that I don’t want to be placed in an adversarial posture against the Church. For 20 years I did my best to guard and feed the sheep. Now, based on a totally unsubstantiated, undocumented allegation from a demonstrably troubled person I was thrown out like yesterday’s garbage. I accept that. Perhaps I deserve that.

I can’t do what I can’t do. I can only do what I can do. I shall continue, black sheep that I am, to speak; and sheep dog that I am, to guard the sheep—this time around not just in the Church, but also in the entire world. I am, indeed, not ready to be extinguished. Under the name “The Black Sheep Dog,” I shall be with you through radio broadcasts and writing. My autobiography, “The Black Sheep Dog,” is almost ready for publication. My topics will be broader than in the past, and my audience likewise is apt to be broader. I’ll do what I can under the circumstances.

Please don’t bother the bishop or complain because it will do no good and it wastes valuable time and energy, both his and yours.

I hope you stay with us and follow us into our new domain and name of “The Black Sheep Dog.” Through writing and broadcasting we hope to continue to dispense truth and hope to a world so much in need of it. For those of you who choose to part company and go away from us, we wish you well and thank you for your many kindnesses over the years. We’ll miss you in our usual meeting places, but assure you that there will be new places for us to meet, just like in “the good old days,” so for now,

God bless you, God love you, and goodbye.

John Corapi (once called “father,” now “The Black Sheep Dog”)

[sitetest]

I didn't see this posted. If it's a duplicate, my apologies.

Dear Moderators,

Although this is from a blog, it breaks news that is important to many devout Catholics about the status of the suspended priest, John Corapi. It belongs in the Religion Forum.

Thank you.

[sitetest]

Ping.

[OldNewYork]

Discussion also here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2736372/posts?q=1&;page=1

[sitetest]

Dear OldNewYork,

Ah. I guess I was looking for it in the wrong place.

LOL.

Thanks.

sitetest

[sitetest]

Dear Quix,

Although it turns out that this is a duplicate thread, this is still a Catholic Caucus thread. Please respect the caucus rules.

Thanks,

sitetest

[Salvation]

In my judgment, Father Corapi is getting the short end of the stick here.

Anyone else?

[ArchAngel1983]

"Please respect the caucus rules."

I emphatically second that motion!

[Salvation]

Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas

[OldNewYork]

The other one I think might not have been where you looked because it was posted in news, whereas I think this one you’ve posted is in the religion forum (as well?) and indicated as Catholic Caucus, whereas the other one isn’t, and already has some contention brewing in it. I don’t really know the protocol, just thought the FR community’s discussion would be divided unless people were aware of both. No harm, no foul :)

[Salvation]

St. John Vianney, pray for our priests.

 

Jesus. High Priest

 

We thank you, God our Father, for those who have responded to your call to priestly ministry.

Accept this prayer we offer on their behalf: Fill your priests with the sure knowledge of your love.

Open their hearts to the power and consolation of the Holy Spirit.

Lead them to new depths of union with your Son.

Increase in them profound faith in the Sacraments they celebrate as they nourish, strengthen and heal us.

Lord Jesus Christ, grant that these, your priests, may inspire us to strive for holiness by the power of their example, as men of prayer who ponder your word and follow your will.

O Mary, Mother of Christ and our mother, guard with your maternal care these chosen ones, so dear to the Heart of your Son.

Intercede for our priests, that offering the Sacrifice of your Son, they may be conformed more each day to the image of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Saint John Vianney, universal patron of priests, pray for us and our priests

This icon shows Jesus Christ, our eternal high priest.

The gold pelican over His heart represents self-sacrifice.

The border contains an altar and grapevines, representing the Mass, and icons of Melchizedek and St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney.

Melchizedek: king of righteousness (left icon) was priest and king of Jerusalem.  He blessed Abraham and has been considered an ideal priest-king.

St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney is the patron saint of parish priests.

[RitaOK]

Thank you sitetest. I am pretty shocked here. Father Corapi has proudly come so far, left much behind and though his masculinity may have been an offense to many, I hardly believe he had any inclinations to return to his past miseries of wine, women, wealth and song.

[johngrace]

Yes! The enemy is behind this. But more people are praying than ever before for him and the orld. I know I am.

[sockmonkey]

In my judgment, Father Corapi is getting the short end of the stick here.

Fr Corapi is so outspoken, especially on issues like illegal immigration, politicians, the 2nd Amendment..perhaps some people were in no hurry to see him get back out there.

I saw him in San Antonio last year. His talks were inspiring, and the venue, the AT& T Center was packed. He was very well received.

[Cronos]

I don't know enough to comment one way or the other,just that to me it seems like a guilty man wouldn't make the announcement Corapi did and also that remember the bishops made a mistake with Padre Pio too.

We just have to pray and remember that our priest, our Leader, our Lord is Jesus Christ who has given us His Church which is not just some middle-manager level bishops but us all, we are all The Church.

[mountainbunny]

I’ll be honest with you. I am totally in the dark about the validity of the original charges. All I can say is this:

I have read the words of some of Father Corapi’s defenders. Some of his defenders have been hateful and accusatory toward those who have refused to jump to his immediate defense, and disrespectful and nasty toward the Church Herself.

It occurred to me that if these were the fruits, I would have to avoid forming any sort of opinion on the issue apart from this: When people turn their back on the Church, it is up to the priest to show why they shouldn’t.

Driving a lamb away from the flock is wrong.

So when I see announcements like this, from the priest and not from the Church, it makes me very sad, because it seems that this is designed to make people more angry, not less. That isn’t what the priest is charged with doing.

I think the lesson here is that if his fruit is divisive and harmful, it may be good that he not serve, having nothing to do with the original accusations. At least for the time being.

P.S. Thank you for posting this. I had been wondering about a resolution, but hadn’t yet looked for news.

[BlackVeil]

I don't know what to think, and none of us know what lies behind these allegations, but I must say there is something about the whole tone of that letter which makes me wary.

Apparently, this priest was a drug user before his conversion. Addicts are never really former addicts. They are, at best, only in remission. And addicts are very manipulative people. The whole way this is stated - about how he is being thrown away like rubbish and perhaps he deserves that - is calculated to cause a reaction of compassion. But although he is very specific about his feelings, he is very vague about this situation.

The present complaint that you have heard about is, as far as I know, from the one person that I can honestly say I did more to help and support than any human being in my entire life.

Hmmmm. That does sound like a close relationship - probably with another person who had problems similar to his own.

[LadyDoc]

In the final analysis I have only one of only two viable choices: 1. I can quietly lie down and die, or 2. I can go on in ways that I am able to go on.

what is that saying: one must die to oneself to Follow Jesus?

I have always figured Corapi was a fraud, and although his words were powerful and pointed to Jesus, his attitude and facial expressions while giving the talks suggested otherwise.

I feel bad for those who liked him, but like apparitions, you have to ask: Do we follow X or do we follow Jesus?

Several other preachers on EWTN had been accused of stuff,and they went quietly....but I worry that the enemies of that wonderful TV station will use them to attack and destroy the network...here in the Philippines we have lots of Protestant stuff that twist around what Catholics believe so to get converts, but only EWTN preaches the catholic point of view...and the masses etc. are valuable

so could I suggest that we include the network in our prayers?

[GonzoII]

Thanks for your charitable comments, Quix.

As a Catholic Priest though, Fr.Corapi has to be obedient to higher ups as long as they don't demand him to sin or put him in a situation where he would sin. The best I can say about the matter is that he loves the Church and thinks he's doing the right thing but he is not and is confused. I hope some good friends can convince him to change his mind.