Maybe the handle of "Black SheepDog" is a little weird - but it hardly requires the amount of analysis that Akin gave to it. Most of his 'analysis' involves reading into it interpretations that may or may not be true.
What Akin would have done better analyzing would be the problems with the process against priests who are accused of misconduct. As it is, the bishops have implemented a shameful policy, and nobody is willing to speak up and tell them they are wrong.
Akin says:
I am not in any way unsympathetic to falsely accused priests or priests who feel that the need to be more stringent safeguards against false accusations. In fact, if Fr. Corapi were innocent (as he may be) then he could have chosen to make himself a test case to get better safeguards enacted. (After all, that’s something only an innocently accused priest can do; a guilty priest cannot expect such since the truth against him has come out).
Akin misses the point. Fr. Corapi was never going to get a chance at being a test case; instead, he was going to be put on ice indefinitely. I trust that his Canon and Civil lawyers have done a sufficiently good job in counseling him and demonstrating that he has no possibility of justice under the current system.
Fr. Corapi has not been in great health (partly because of his wild youth), and he may not have that many years left. It seems to me that he has chosen to continue sharing the Gospel in whatever means he can in the years he has left.
I am a seminarian - and to be frank, the prospect of possibly being caught in a situation like this scares me. One accusation - even a false one - can spell the end of a priest's ministry, and he has little to no recourse, and comes out of it without even having his good name.
This will not change unless laypeople start to step up and challenge the bishops to find an appropriate balance between justice for those who are genuinely victims of priestly misconduct, and justice for the accused priests (particularly if they are innocent). The priests can't do it, it needs to be the laypeople to respectfully step up and speak out.
I am very concerned about him and all of our priests and other religious at this extremely difficult time in our Church's history. I hope that Father Corapi does not feel that he is alone.
The NC Register was acquired by EWTN earlier this year. Since they authorized publication of the article, one might conclude this also reflects their view on the situation. Your thoughts?
I think you are right. This also explains the resignation (if that is the right word) from priesthood. As a layman he gains the ability to speak out against the system. In fact, among his conferences that I heard on the radio was one where he came close to actually accusing the bishops of silencing good priests on the slightest of suspicion.
Thank you for posting your perspective.
You are the first I have seen who has mentioned Fr. Corapi’s recent health issues. That whole situation was never fully disclosed either.
I do know that when one is a light to the world, the lord of the dark will do anything and everything to extinguish that light.
Father says he is not extinguished. Just as when this story first broke, I am taking a wait and see stance and praying for him.
I totally agree.
I think it’s shameful that the Register even allowed it to be printed.
I agree!