Posted on 07/14/2011 4:59:44 AM PDT by NYer
When giants fall, the ground shakes. Father John Corapi was a giant and many are still shaken at his downfall. I’ve read all the terrible twists and turns in this surreal case of a SOLT (Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity) priest who had many in the Catholic world by their hearts. It’s a great plot for a movie: popular, iconic priest who leads many to God and, in the end, himself falls. Wait, “fall” isn’t a big enough word. Maybe: plunges from meteoric heights of esteem among the faithful.
His Darth-Vader-like voice that preached Christ resonated with me. My husband did a great impersonation of Father Corapi and often had people in stitches with his schtick. But now… well, things are different.
Reality Sinks In
Initially, I did not believe the accusations. No way! I thought. Surely, one who speaks the Gospel so convincingly would not betray it. Alas, that is not always so. In a July 5 press release reported on by the National Catholic Register, his superior, Father Gerard Sheehan, regional priest servant of SOLT, acknowledged that Father John Corapi submitted his resignation.
Father Sheehan stated that Father Corapi is now misleading individuals through false statements and characterizations. He stated, “It is for these Catholics that SOLT, by means of this announcement, seeks to set the record straight.” And so the dirt came out.
A team of investigators learned that Corapi offered his accuser $100,000 for her silence. He is also suing her for breaching her non-disclosure statement. Other witnesses refused to speak out. The suspicion is that they were paid off. Father Corapi has been found to hold legal title to over $1 million in real estate and luxury items, despite his promise of poverty as a member of SOLT.
In his just-released YouTube video, Corapi casts his own shadow, and it’s a black one. He speaks for six minutes, but says little. The Harley-Davidson jacket and dyed black beard create a certain image, but his words and presence create a stronger one. Corapi does not really plead his innocence but instead says he needs to move on even though there will end up being thousands of unanswered questions. (Duh. It’s because he’s not sharing the answers with us.) Corapi plans to pursue speaking and writing under his new persona–the Black Sheepdog. The trademark sheepdog’s piercing eyes often fade in and out of the video and come into full view at the end. The word “sheepdog” conjures images of a faithful protector, but the Corapi Black Sheepdog—that thing is creepy-scary. He’s a killer, that’s for sure.
Take-Away Lessons
We faithful Catholics are battle weary. The weaker among us point to our fallen shepherds: See, that’s why I’m not a Catholic anymore. Pity that they don’t understand that any priest who betrays a person, congregation, or audience, also betrays the Church. If you feel betrayed, get behind the Church who was betrayed first.
I am not ashamed to admit that, like many others, I am intensely interested in this sad story. It’s not voyeurism (although it easily could be). If, like the latest Hollywood scandal, we are hungry for the latest news to laugh, scoff, or just plain enjoy the downfall, then we are making pain and evil into entertainment. For most of us, I hope it is more a matter of trying to process this stranger-than-fiction story. Through my own processing, I understand that Father Corapi is still teaching us some very valuable lessons.
I don’t know when the double life began, but his words were the truth. Corapi delivered them in a riveting style with a dramatic conversion story behind it. Many thousands bought his books and tapes. That very merchandise is now selling on Corapi’s website at fire-sale prices. Any takers? I’m guessing not many. And why is that? The very words he once spoke that captured our hearts and souls, we now have no desire to hear–not even at a 50 percent discount. Yet they are the same words that once inspired.
If the words speak the truth, why have they suddenly lost their power? It’s because if a person speaks the truth but does not practice what he preaches, the message is lost, even rejected. Corapi spoke the truth but lived a lie, so now people discard the message.
This reality should speak to us of the dangers of hypocrisy. We cannot teach our children the faith if we do not practice it. We cannot promote Catholicism as the truth if we do not follow the teachings of our faith. We can’t just preach the Gospel, we must live it. It’s easy to point fingers at Corapi as having lived a lie, but how many Catholics practice artificial birth control or skip Sunday Mass and tell themselves it’s okay to break some of the rules? How often do we gossip about others or behave in a selfish way and disregard the example we are passing on to our children?
Then there is the issue of pride. Corapi had a big following. He garnered big speaking fees, and rejected the authority of his superior. He became a cult personality and refused to answer to anyone. That is not how we will find our saints.
From a blog by Father Dwight Longenecker:
“Where shall we find a holy person? Where shall we find a saint? It is difficult because the real saint is hidden and humble and holy. Instead of looking for the hidden holy ones we fall for the celebrity ‘saint.’ We want the big dramatic conversion story. We want the dynamic, uncompromising speaker. We like the one who speaks out on sin and rails against the devil…
“…Stop and consider that the real saints are hidden. They follow the little way. If you were to tell them they were saints they would laugh and tell you to keep searching. If you even had the sense and discernment to see the saint next to you–the ordinary person who perseveres–the little person who serves others–the plain Jane who takes life easily and simply loves people–then you would learn again what true holiness really is. If we only had eyes to see the simplicity of the saints, the extraordinary ordinariness of holiness, the practical good humor and humility of the truly grace filled ones…
“It is the little way that leads to salvation. Not the way of pride and pleasure and power. Not the way of wealth and the world. Not the way of ego and ambition.
“Only the way of the cross. When are we going to learn this?”
What Next?
Corapi has invited people to follow him now as the Black Sheepdog. One comment under his You Tube video said, “I won’t be following the Black Sheepdog because I follow the German shepherd: Pope Benedict XVI.” Yeah, me too.
But I am still haunted by this Corapi. The first time I heard him speak in South Dakota, he told of a former friend who converted from prostitute to cloistered nun. She eventually tired of the religious life and returned to the streets as a prostitute. Corapi asked the audience, “At what point do you give up on someone?” The answer was: “Never!” Selling her body was not the end of the story. At the time of his talk, his friend was back in the cloister, living the life of a nun. That story I heard him tell fifteen years ago turned out to be a foreshadowing of his own.
If we wish to follow the Father Corapi saga, not as a voyeur but as a follower of Christ, then we must pray for this man who brought many souls closer to God. We can scoff or laugh or condemn him for ruining his own conversion story, but our duty is to pray him back home.
Excellent summation.
Wonderfully written & perfect summary.
Initially, I, too, was in denial. I loved Fr. Corapi. But he is in deserpate need of help & I pray he gets it.
BTW, did anyone else notice the creepy eyebrows in addition to the goatee & jacket? Why would anyone wax their eyebrows to such a sharp arch then dye them jet black??? Creepy!!!!!!!
I would like to thank Fr. Longenecker for his words of wisdom. Something everyone needs to remember in this age of instant media and the cult of celebrity going full force.
When did it happen that writing became so colloquial? I find it really jarring — kind of like being at the Mall with the writer.
The entire look creeps me out, especially after years of seeing him in clericals. I had not noticed the eyebrows ... you are quite perceptive. And here is another poke in the eye from the former priest. Check out the box ...
Daily prayers continue for Fr. John Corapi.
This statement, and so the entire tirade, is repeating the SOLT's slander as fact. Fr. Corapi is suing his slanderer in court. Would the pious author have the decency to wait for the outcome?
I’ve never heard him speak and I’m not Catholic, but the post on his blog about Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs seemed very well written and true to life.
Best I've read during all of this mess.
Despite what Corapi has done, he has indeed spoken truth and has brought many to the Church. I hope those individuals don't lose faith over Corapi's fall. And I hope that he will one day come clean, confess his sins, seek forgiveness from the Church, and really seek what God has planned for him ... instead of his own interests.
I loved Father Corapi. But, when the allegations came up, I have to say that I wasn’t suprised.
That is a creepy logo.
Yeah ... kinda looks like Ming the Merciless ....
Father Corapi at the beginning of his Catechism show: “At the end of eternity, we will all be either in heaven or in hell.” (I don’t remember the exact phrasing.)
I was really creeped out when he shaved off his beard and left the goatee. He looks just like artistic depictions of the destroyer. Why would he want to look like the enemy? It boggles my mind. (I knew then that something strange was going on.) He also echoes the enemy: “I will not serve.”
We need to petition St. Padre Pio’s prayers for him!
It is reported on the internet that John Corapi’s AKA is Anthony Coradi.
http://rightsoftheunborn.blogspot.com/2011/07/about-accuser-john-corapi-case.html
Here is the 1999 DWI police record for CORAPI, JOHN ANTHONY from California:
She mentions being a battle weary catholic..... isn’t that the truth for us today!
The allegations listed by the accuser in that blog make my head spin. This whole thing I suspect is very sick & we only know the tip of the iceberg.
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