While some news sites (e.g., New Advent and others) are waiting for further confirmation on this news release. However, I am commenting and sharing based on NCRegister and EWTN which usually are very reliable sources.
UPDATE 3:00 PM, JULY 5: “KRESTA IN THE AFTERNOON HAS OBTAINED INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION OF THE AUTHENTICITY OF THIS MORNING’S PRESS RELEASE BY SOLT. We spoke with a priest member of the order who is at their retreat who spoke to Fr. Sheehan 5 minutes ago and Fr. Sheehan confirmed that the press release is authentic.
It is now posted on the SOLT website.
For many thoughts and much analysis click HERE.
The latest Press Release from Fr. Corapi’s Superior, Father Gerard Sheehan, SOLT, is not good for Corapi. It seems one cannot hide sin, disobedience and deception forever. If what SOLT has just released is indeed true, even part of it, and there is no reason to doubt it’s credibility, the curtains have been drawn on Corapi’s illustrious career. This will come as a shock to many of his loyal followers. We all pray for a minimization of the fallout.
I am not happy about this. I love a good Catholic preacher who can rally the troops and forward the cause of truth. I always want to believe the best and hope for the best. But this is not good. Corapi has become such a public figure that to see him collapse into such a scandalous situation is indeed distressing. Having observed his ill-advised decisions and rambling statements over the last weeks, his collapse does not surprise many who have been watching objectively.
The Catholic Church has never promoted superstars or personality cults. Partly because such fame exposes one to tremendous temptations and a fall is so much more damaging. Protestantism is often energized and promoted through the cult if personality. The Catholic Church is very wise in such matters.
Even with such a public collapse of one celebrity teacher the Church goes on. Interestingly, this is an American phenomenon since the rest of world doesn’t even know who Fr. Corapi is. The Church is bigger than one priest and bigger than America.
The news article in the National Catholic Register is entitled “Father Corapi Resigns from SOLT.” It reveals some of the findings of SOLT’s investigation now released.
Al Kresta and Jimmy Akin discuss the latest news
Included in the recent news release is the following:
SOLT’s fact-finding team has acquired information from Father Corapi’s emails, various witnesses and public sources that, together, state that, during his years of public ministry:
— He did have sexual relations and years of cohabitation (in California and Montana) with a woman known to him, when the relationship began, as a prostitute.
— He repeatedly abused alcohol and drugs.
— He has recently engaged in “sexting” activity with one or more women in Montana.
— He holds legal title to over $1 million in real estate, numerous luxury vehicles, motorcycles, an ATV, a boat dock, and several motor boats, which is a serious violation of his promise of poverty as a perpetually professed member of the society.
SOLT has contemporaneously, with the issuance of this press release, directed Father John Corapi, under obedience, to return home to the society’s regional office and take up residence there. It has also ordered him, again under obedience, to dismiss the lawsuit he has filed against his accuser.
SOLT’s prior direction to Father 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 Father John Corapi as fit for ministry.
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This Post Has 21 Comments
I wasn’t going to post this, but then I tought that maybe someone else can be helped:
http://commentarius-ioannis.blogspot.com/2011/07/solt-press-release-on-fr-corapi.html
The point of my little essay is that no one is immune from relapse, certainly not me. So please read this and pray for Fr. Corapi.
I am reminded that long ago too men of God betrayed him. One repented and was welcomed back. The other in remorse killed himself. Everyone knows these men were Peter and Judas. No one is exempt from falling. No one.
Opps, “two men”, NOT “too men”. -10 points for me!
I’m just sad, though not particularly surprised. I never was a “fan” of Father Corapi. If I’m anybody’s fan, it is our humble parish priest. I hope and pray that Father Corapi will submit himself to SOLT and that he will eventually be able to enjoy and practice his Catholic faith. It is such a beautiful, full and all-encompassing faith. How can anyone trade it for a bowl of soup or anything this world has to offer? I’m not eager to see him restored to public ministry with the speed of, say, Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Bakker, but I haven’t been a Catholic long enough to know how these things are handled. Thank you, Steve, for not flinching from the task of bringing this information to us.
I hope and pray that Father Corapi will follow in St Peter’s foot steps, repent and submit himself to a life of service and humility. Father Corapy was very instrumental in my spiritual development by helping me understand certain aspects of our faith. I now recommend he listen to the tapes of his missions and contemplate the messages he delivered with such confidence in Gods Mercy and forgiveness. \Physician Heal Thyself\
I will pray for him.
Inge
STEVE RAY HERE: I AM ALLOWING THE POST BELOW TO DEMONSTRATE THE BLIND LOYALTY THAT STILL RESIDES IN THE DWINDLING RANKS OF CORAPI’s DELUDED FANS. ONE CHARACTERISTIC OF SUCH BLIND LOYALTY IS TO MAKE SWEEPING DEROGATORY STATEMENTS ABOUT ALL OTHER PRIESTS WHILE HOLDING UP THE CULT FIGURE AS THE ONLY ONE WITH COURAGE TO SPEAK FOR GOD. BLATHER!
Father Corapi, you are the voice who called in the desert like John the Baptist. They do not like you because you speak the truth. It is sad that priest do not talk about the reality of sin. Priest are afraid to speak on issues of abortion and birthcontrol.
Remember what your father told you: “Never, Never, Give UP!” Jesus needs you and we need you too. I invite all of you to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament and ask our Lord Jesus Christ to bring Father Corapi back just as he was because we need his preaching and teaching more than ever.
We should never forget that Almighty God is never outdone in generosity and MERCY. May He have Mercy on all of those casting the first stone. Fr. Corapi has not given his side of the story on these allegations, will SOLT or the hierarchy ever give him the chance to explain his side of the story. Could this be a witch hunt within his own community. Things like this DO happen in community. My prayers are with Fr. Corapi for some inner peace.
STEVE RAY HERE: NO WITCH HUNT JOSE, only a con artist who has lived a double life. Why so quick to defend the sinner and condemn the bishop and the Religious Order that have the incriminating evidence. Read the article I placed on my blog – Why I Trust the Bishop and SOLT.
Oh Steve!!! Thank God you were not around during the time of Peter………..he may have never become our first Pope. I think there is more to the story than what is being released to the press, however guilty or not Fr John deserves a fair chance to explain the circumstances and seek reconciliation if needed.
Just a reminder, my brother, we are all sinners, regardless of what you wear around your neck (clerical collar or not). As a Christian community we are all bound to helping each other travel this road of life with its many twists and turns of imperfection. Being critical and condeming can not be allowed at this time whether one is for or against the situation. Again I say we must trust in the Mercy and Generosity of Almighty God who alone knows the thoughts of men…….even sinners. We must pray for reconciliation and healing for the whole Christian body hurt by this situation. This includes Fr. John, his community, his superiors and bishops involved as well as the rank and file of believers who trusted in him.
Yes, Steve, we are all human, imperfect and still loved by Jesus.
STEVE RAY HERE: There is a HUGE difference between Corapi and Peter. One had remorse and obeyed and died for his obedience; the other has displayed no remorse and like the disciples in John 6 walks away from the Eucharist and the Church. Can’t agree with you here except that we should pray.
And so we pray!!!
I saw the SOLT announcement in The Leaven. I was hoping that Fr. Corapi was innocent. I thought that part of the fall out would be that the review process for accused priests would be revised. I have a dear friend who has been suspended for 10 years. He was finally cleared 3 years ago. He is still suspended because his superiors are concerned about bad publicity if his facilities are restored. I know of another priest who left the priesthood after being cleared because the process was so hard on him. I am sorry that people who found their faith restored and supported by Fr. Corapi’s preaching may now question the validity of the Catholic Church because Fr. Corapi’s personal life was not all he portrayed it to be. I am sorry for Fr. Corapi. It is far harder for a public figure whose living is dependent on his image to admit and correct sins that go against that image then it is for a private individual. Fr. Corapi is not the first preacher to have to deal with the fall out from living a double life, nor will he be the last. At each mass we ask our brother and sisters in Christ to pray for us. The best thing we can do is to pray for John Corapi, our priests, and each other. “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
I am so sorry that this has happened. Every Saturday my aunt, my husband, and I sat before the television to hear the truth from Fr Corapi. To me he was saying what the Church has been failing to do. The Church has failed to make us do what Our Lord wants us to do. I am so sorry Fr Corapi has not heeded that truth. I pray for him and the Church before it is too late for all of us. We are all sinners and need God’s mercy, for ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren. Satan is unleashed in our world and we cannot back down and become judgemental as we are all in the same boat. As Debbie said pray for Fr Corapi, our priests, and each other.
I have always been a fan of father corapi. I make it apoint to listen to his preachings at ewtn.. After reading about the scandal, i haave resolved to join regularly our church thursday afternoon prayer for priests cuz i feel its only through prayers that we can help our priests resist teimptaions.
I was born and bread a Roman Catholic coming from N Ireland, however, I too started to go with the flow of the world and fell away from my faith for a while. I re-discovered it when invited to go on pilgrimage to Lourdes as a sick pilgrim, as I suffer from MS. Even though I found my faith there was a Iot that I never really understood. Then I discovered EWTN and Father Corapi, at last I found what I had been looking for in my faith journey. There were answers to questions that I could not answer and I could not get enough to feed my zeal for the faith that I had re-discovered. I am sad for Fr Corapi, if it is true, but may I remind certain folks out there what Jesus said “Judge not lest you be Judged” there are too many who revel when someone falls. I pray every day for the priesthood and for Fr Corapi and Fr Michael Stone, for theirs is a journey that is not easy to take. Let us pray, Keep them I pray thee dearest Lord for they are thine thy priests who lives burns out before thy consecrated shrine, keep them for they are in the world though from the world apart when earthly plearures tempt allure shelter them in thy heart. Keep them from hours of loneliness and pain when all their life of sacrafice for souls seems but in vain. Keep them and oh remember lord they have no-one but thee yet they have only human hearts with human frialty. Keep them as spotless as the host that daily they caress their every thought word and deed deign dearest lord to bless. Our Father & hail Mary, Mary queen of the clergy pray for them, Amen.
I was an avid viewer on Thursday mornings in the United Kingdom of Father Corapi’s lectures on EWTN. I am a resident of the United Kingdom. I am completely shocked and devastated at the allegations against Father Corapi, and now the fact finding trio say he is actually guilty of said allegations. I am having great difficulty in understanding why John Corapi would preach against sinful sexual activity, and then go home and practice what he has preached against! The only thing I can say to John Corapi is GOD watches all that we do and say – good or bad, and we will get our just desserts on the Last Day!! I sincerely suggest that John Corapi dumps his wealth and his wicked ways and return to SOLT with cap in hand; i.e. if they will have him back!! Pamela Heppolette, Banbury, United Kingdom.
I believe in Fr. John Corapi’s innocence. He might have led a life in dissipation in the past (from his talks) but that was the past and God had forgiven him in His Divine Mercy. Fr. Corapi is not given due process of law as he is not allowed to exercise his civil rights to defend himself. SOLT probably has a score to settle with him and it does it this way!
My comment, Mr. Ray, is that your commentaries should be without grammatical errors. Your credibility would go further.
I think you’re a very knowledgeable speaker, and I love listening to you.
I know about all this.However;I am ignorant of the details.I wonder:is it not possible for SOLT to negotiate with Fr.Corapi?After all I see that that Pope Benedict has arranged for negotiations with the St.Pius 10th society to return to communion with The Catholic Church.I know that Fr.C.has failed the obedience test.Yet recognizing this:does anyone know what he really wants?Does he want to remain a priest or not?Does he want to keep his wealth as a priest?Would he give it up in order to remain a priest? Okay:obedience test failed.However would he negotiate;& same for SOLT? Might this be a good idea:& worth trying?
I cannot believe a person living in such horrible sins could preach so powerfully, so truthfully, and so honestly regarding our faith, especially regarding to sins. There must have been some mistake in accusations against him. I do pray so, and if there are mistakes I hope they will be made known. We’ll pray for Fr. Corapi.
STEVE RAY HERE: Don’t fool yourself, even the Devil himself can appear as an angel of light. We are warned about great preachers and teachers who are really deceivers. I am not saying Corapi was a deceiver, but he has fallen.
So sorry to hear this. I am a protestant who learned so much from his sermons. I listened to him every Saturday night on EWTN. I was just wondering what ever happened to him and googled his name and found this. We all struggle while we are held captive on this earth. I pray for him that God will speak to him and he will hear.
I listened to John Corapi on AM radio for about 6 months; I always felt that he sounded fake and that he was imitating protestant extreme preachers on TV. Somehow I sensed his deceitfulness when I listened and after a few times, I started to turn him off, not EWTN which I still listen to, only to his sermons. I believe he became addicted to sex, wealth, and drugs by what I’ve read about him and there was no turning back; there is no comparison to Peter and Judas of the bible! John Corapi enjoyed every minute of his sinfulness and laughed behind our backs for being the fools believing in his so called ministry. I just don’t have any compassion for him.
Hey people of God!! let us pray for Fr. Corapi. God is merciful and a loving Father. He is ready to bless him even with more and powerful anointing. Let us pray for Fr. Corapi for the grace of humility and ability to listen to what God is talking to him through church leaders. Let us pray for the church and his servants that they may be faithful to their vocations.
STEVE RAY HERE: Praying for anyone is good, but don’t get your hopes up on this charlatan.
When all is said and done, I am neither for or against Fr. Corapi. What does Jesus say, :Let him who is without sin cast the first Stone. Humanity has its flaws. I have done Jury duty in the past and evidence for both the defense and prosecution must be presented.,
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