I don't know underlying facts of this case. Neither do you. At some point, someone may actually publicly offer actual evidence of misdeeds on Fr. Corapi’s part.
No one has done that yet.
In the meanwhile, Fr. Corapi has sued his original accuser, and many (perhaps pretty much all) of the “unanswered” charges are actually answered in his actual lawsuit. The one filed in a court of law, not the court of public gasbagging.
He specifically denies, if I recall correctly, charges related to sex with one or more women, with charges related to escort services, drug use, having a mistress, etc.
I don't know why he might not reiterate these denials on his website. I can speculate: maybe he feels like he's already answered the charges in an actual court of law, rather than the court of public gasbagging; maybe on advice of counsel he's being careful with his public statements. I don't really know - neither do you.
Now, the question is whether or not he will be able to show by a preponderance of the evidence, in a court of actual law, that these things are false. I don't know whether he will or he won't. But he's gone pretty far out on a limb by filing suit. Because, being the plaintiff, he can't rest by showing that the charges against him are merely doubtful. In order to have any chance of prevailing, he must demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that they are false.
As to suing SOLT, why would you think he might prevail?
Here's the bottom line: Either he did the things of which he's accused, or he didn't. And his accuser knows absolutely the truth or falsity of the charges. Thus, she can't make the defense that she was misled by others as to the truth. She can't make the defense that she made the accusations in good faith. She can't make the defense that it seemed like there was evidence against him, but perhaps, after all, that evidence wasn't so good, after all. No, her claims are that she was an actual party to some of the misdeeds. She has actual knowledge. There is a case to be made against her, if she is lying.
Fr. Corapi is arguably a public figure, so for him to prevail in a suit for libel or slander, he must prove MORE than his innocence, he must also prove the individual knew the accusations were false (or recklessly disregarded the issue of their truth), had malice, and other elements of the law.
However, one party that really doesn't know whether or not these things happened is SOLT. They think they have evidence that the charges are true, but no one in SOLT has come forward to say that he was actually there when the events occurred. Thus, the folks at SOLT may really believe the charges. Even if he proves the charges false, it might be difficult to prevail against SOLT in court. If the charges against Fr. Corapi prove false, then they can still defend that they were under the mistaken belief that the charges were true.
As to whether SOLT needs the money or not, I won't offer an opinion. But the word of one priest over another isn't particularly impressive to me. We've seen over the last years, sadly, that priests, even bishops lie, cheat, cover-up, and otherwise do evil things. Maybe Fr. Corapi is the one doing the bad things, here. Or maybe the bishop is, or the SOLT folks. I really don't know. An alternative explanation is that some of the folks in the hierarchy are just too stupid to competently execute their offices. It wouldn't be a first. Before I believe in my own mind that a man is guilty, I'll wait for some actual evidence to come out, rather than press conference-posturing. I'm funny that way.
sitetest
Dear Fr. Sheehan,It is with great sadness that I feel compelled to write this email letter to you. In all my years as a Catholic (from birth) and studying Catholic history, I have never experienced a religious order or faithful Catholic, especially a priest, demean themselves by getting into what one might call a “piss-fight” wherein they purposely and with cruel intent speak of another person in such a derogatory manner as you have against Fr. John Corapi. You, who call yourself a true shephard, and by your own admission, are trying to look after the flock, commit openly and in writing the sins of detraction and calumny. The very sins that we are so often advised against in our secular lives. Even if what you said be true, you dear father, may not reveal it to anyone. It is clear from your post of July 5, 2011 that the only matter which concerned you was to discredit the person of Fr. John Corapi and ruin his reputation in the eyes of faithful Catholics around the world. How can you possibly attempt to preach to us when you yourself are committing a most grievous sin in the process? Anyone with a half brain could figure out that all the information or “evidence” you purport to have in your possession is at best circumstantial. Therefore you prove nothing except to sow seeds of doubt within the minds of the “sheep” you wish to shephard. We Father, with all due respect, may be sheep in need of a shephard, but we are not blind sheep. Fr. Corapi for years has told and made public his private life, how he lives apart from the major community, how he has had various relationships and contact with “prostitutes” (one of which is now a Carmelite nun whom he brought back to the convent) how he was involved in a major law suit for fraud and won. If he won, then he most likely received a pretty penny and he made no bones about the fact that he possessed money. As for his “contracts” with employees, in today’s world this is nothing new or earth shattering. Anyone dealing with confidential information, even so much as contact names, addresses and information of clients, is bound by their employers not to reveal employment gained information with anyone outside of the particular firm. Contracts in employer-employee relationships are common business practice and therefore assumes no great hidden revelations about anyone’s use of said practice. The mere fact that Fr. Corapi was such a public figure made it virtually impossible for him not to utilize such a business practice in order to protect not only himself, but others as well. I am quite sure that there is no language in those contracts asking employees to keep silent about his private life of promiscuity or affairs, in fact they probably don’t even address any private life matters and pertain only to the employment regulations set forth by the company or corporation itself. All these matters are known by anyone who listened to Fr. Corapi preach and teach for years. And like us, your community was well aware of these facts and approved of his mission with all it entailed.
I find it in particular difficult to believe that only two weeks prior to this post, your order issued a statement asking Fr. Corapi to come back, reverse his decision to leave and that you were willing to assume any difficulties that may arise for you and S.O.L.T. if he did. In addition in an interview with the National Catholic Register you said, ““We wanted him to come back ,…“We will continue to move pastorally and charitably, taking steps to protect his good name.” I find it extremely interesting that in such a short time you did what we call a 180. The only reasoning for such a complete turn around would be pressure from some outside source that forced you into issuing such an inflammatory statement. Pressure received from either ecclesial and/or secular influences. Given the circumstances and the nature of Fr. Corapi’s preaching, it is not hard to imagine that he is a thorn in someone’s side, a voice that many in today’s political arena would like to snuff out. Utilizing your position as his superior would make you the logical choice to carry out that plan of action, whilst the true culprits remain unknown lest their positions be compromised.
It is without a doubt, that this case has many a detail to which we sheep are not privileged to know, and perhaps the public shouldn’t. I am merely commenting at my own scandalization pertaining to your behavior as a superior of a religious order and the actions you have engaged. If anything has been accomplished by your actions, it has not been to your credit or the credit of our ecclesial hierarchy, and church, but rather to the demise of these parties and has made us sheep even more suspicious as to the full scope of this case.
I am truly pleased in the response your hate speech received from the Black Sheep Dog. He, the accused and defiled by your own admissions, has remained faithful to his Catholic faith by virtue of his subsequent post to you. It makes one see the gospel in action, “you will know them by their fruits”.
One thing is for certain, I do have faith in Jesus Christ, as many following this case do. He and only He, will reveal the truth and then we will know, as He knows! All that is in darkness will be brought to light and for this I pray. May Our Father in Heaven, by the power of His Holy Spirit reveal to His children the truth in all things, by His Word, Our Lord Jesus and through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of His Mother!
I remain respectfully yours,
Lourdes11