CMR loves Father Corapi. Anytime I catch him speaking on EWTN I stop and listen and am always impressed and moved. That’s why when I did my morning web surfing and came upon a headline at New Advent saying Accused: Father John Corapi Placed on Administrative Leave I was stunned.
It seems a former employee has accused Fr. Corapi of all sorts of things from being a drug addict to “multiple sexual exploits” with several adult women.
Father Corapi, in a post on his website, seems pretty adamant that he’s innocent and is calling for everyone’s prayers. Here’s his full comment:
On Ash Wednesday I learned that a former employee sent a three-page letter to several bishops accusing me of everything from drug addiction to multiple sexual exploits with her and several other adult women. There seems to no longer be the need for a complaint to be deemed “credible” in order for Church authorities to pull the trigger on the Church’s procedure, which was in recent years crafted to respond to cases of the sexual abuse of minors. I am not accused of that, but it seems, once again, that they now don’t have to deem the complaint to be credible or not, and it is being applied broadly to respond to all complaints. I have been placed on “administrative leave” as the result of this.
I’ll certainly cooperate with the process, but personally believe that it is seriously flawed, and is tantamount to treating the priest as guilty “just in case”, then through the process determining if he is innocent. The resultant damage to the accused is immediate, irreparable, and serious, especially for someone like myself, since I am so well known. I am not alone in this assessment, as multiple canon lawyers and civil and criminal attorneys have stated publicly that the procedure does grave damage to the accused from the outset, regardless of rhetoric denying this, and has little regard for any form of meaningful due process.
All of the allegations in the complaint are false, and I ask you to pray for all concerned.
March 19, 2011 at 3:00 pm
Praying right now.
March 19, 2011 at 3:04 pm
We'll definitely be praying here, too.
March 19, 2011 at 3:21 pm
This is the lasting effect of the criminals who abused children and those who hid it. That doesn't make it fair or right.
The Church has had to overcompensate or each of these allegations or they would play even worse for us. I believe this overcompensation has also led to under-representation of the accused and landed some innocent priests in prison (most are guilty, but not every one). See this Register piece. Also, the blog of this imprisoned priest.
Pray for Fr. Corapi, for justice and for changes to our response to accusations.
March 19, 2011 at 4:09 pm
We must not let this divide us… true or untrue, the devil deceives and we must maintain our resolve.
March 19, 2011 at 4:21 pm
Fr Corapi says that he is innocent and I believe him because I think he is man enough to admit if he had erred, so let's do as he asks and pray for all concerned.
March 19, 2011 at 6:30 pm
Fr. Corapi says it all the time… "Satan's tactic is to strike the shepherd and scatter the sheep." Fr. Corapi is an amazing shepherd and satan could find no fault in him. So with our prayers and the grace of God Fr. Corapi will emerge triumphant and the Lord will prove to all that Fr. Corapi is a holy priest. He is not afraid to call out the wolves in sheeps clothing. He has defended God and God will defend him.
March 19, 2011 at 7:04 pm
Fr. Corapi may have a past. Click <a href="http://divine-ripples.blogspot.com/2011/01/fr-john-corapi-opens-up-past-life-sex.html>here</a>or go to http://divine-ripples.blogspot.com/2011/01/fr-john-corapi-opens-up-past-life-sex.html for his witness. However, people seldom turn back to darkness after they've been in the light. So, I would give him the benefit of the doubt.
March 19, 2011 at 7:08 pm
Please put a post when he is vindicated, as I am sure he will be. In the meantime, prayers for all involved, as he requested.
March 19, 2011 at 7:27 pm
May Fr. Corapi keep in mind what he has often told us: God gives the greatest share of His Cross to His closest friends.
I do not believe these accusations against Fr. Corapi for one minute. This man is pretty much America's lone voice of the Church's Truth. There are many corrupt priests and bishops who cannot stand him for this and thirst for his blood. There have been several prior attempts to frame Fr. Corapi; this isn't the first time.
I would urge everyone to pray a "Spiritual 911" for Fr. Corapi. This is something that Fr. put together for extremely trying times – it consists of 9 Memoraries, 1 Rosary, and 1 Divine Mercy Chaplet.
March 19, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Having been a close witness to this "process" by the Church, everything Father Corapi has said in his statement is true – except it's even worse.
Trust me – he'll be thrown under the bus.
March 19, 2011 at 8:40 pm
http://rantingcatholicmom.blogspot.com/2011/03/father-corapi-open-letter.html
The link above is my response. More than should go into a combox…
March 19, 2011 at 9:25 pm
"However, people seldom turn back to darkness after they've been in the light."
Huh?
Once you've been "addicted" to anything, you are particularly vulnerable. So, he calls his accuser a liar. Fine. Pray for justice. We'll see. I just know that I won't be taken for a fool by anyone who produces his collar as proof that he is immune to investigations, and finds himself above them. They are there for a reason – because priests are capable of some very impressive lies, just like the rest of us sinners.
March 19, 2011 at 10:34 pm
Mary, Jesus and Joseph come to the aid of Father Corapi.
March 19, 2011 at 11:05 pm
We shouldn't limit are prayers for him, but for all sinners. He isn't the sinning priest.
March 20, 2011 at 1:09 am
really, all they have to do to close down a diocese is get 20 or so volunteers each to write a letter about a priest or two with a large parish.
March 20, 2011 at 2:04 am
When do we start to get to file class action lawsuits against these false accusers for falsely attacking our Faith?
March 20, 2011 at 3:50 am
In this culture war against Christ and His Church, due process appears to be yet another casualty.
"If the world hates you, remember it hated me first." I take comfort in those words more and more every day.
March 20, 2011 at 8:20 am
Father Corapi should not be put on "Administrative Leave," which is just a fancy, ecclesial word for "already proven guilty." Due process will take its course and we will soon see what is what. One must remember that ALL OF US have "clay feet" and are prone to sin. This is the human condition. Yet, I hope Father John is not guilty of the charges against him.
March 20, 2011 at 9:38 am
If this lady is lying, she can be sued.
If I was falsely accused, I would spend $250 on a lie detector test and clear the air ASAP.
Anybody home?
March 20, 2011 at 11:12 am
Well, let's wait and see. I sincerely hope and pray that the allegations are false. However, other apparent "saints" were able to pull the wool over the eyes (Marcel Maciel comes to mind).