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 20, 2011 at 2:09 pm
Demand due process of law in criminal court. It is Father Corapi’s civil right to due process of law, to be faced by his accuser face to face, to have the burden of proof borne by the accuser and proved beyond a reasonable doubt by the testimony of TWO witnesses who establish a judicial fact. Our Lord, Jesus Christ said that His Father testified to Him. His works, and He, Himself, testifies to Himself as an innocent Person of God. Let the trial begin.(Has anyone told the accuser that she will be handed over in a court of law? She will handed over for bearing false witness, slander, calumny, destruction of a man’s good reputation and PERJURY, frivolous lawsuit. The abysmal black hole called hell is all hers to own and reign. If there are other false witnesses, they will all suffer the same fate. You may go to heaven. I have an appointment in the other place to fork over and stoke the fires in the place of the damned) Christ reigns.
March 20, 2011 at 2:29 pm
Also, The Fifth Amendment to our Constitution specifically states that no ex post fact law may be made. In other words, the laws that are in place when the crime is committed must be in place when the criminal trial goes forward. The only laws that may be changed are to supervise subsequent crimes of the same nature. The Fifth Amendment cannot be changed without two thirds of the states ratifying the change. Even the Supreme Court may not change any of the Constitution without two thirds of the states ratifying the change.
This is why atheism and abortion cannot be legalized by the United States Supreme Court. Two thirds of the United States, at least 34 states must ratify the change. 79 Men and women fomented the Bolshevic Revolt that changed the face of the world for over a century. Lenin lied when he promised his people freedom of conscience and religion.
In America, nine men and women on the Supreme Court wrote their opinion into a decision that all people would be free to exercise their freedom to choose to end the life of the newly begotten sovereign person in the womb. The Supreme Court lied and committed perjury in its own Supreme Court. The immortal soul of the newly begotten sovereign person in the womb is immortal. Denied shelter of the womb, nourishment and human decency of the corporal works of mercy, the innocent conscience, person, freedom and Justice of the aborted is denied by the abortion to the common good. May almighty God have mercy on our immortal souls.
March 20, 2011 at 2:56 pm
Another good reason for a male celibate structure in the Church and not only in the priesthood?
March 20, 2011 at 3:41 pm
"Anonymous said…
Another good reason for a male celibate structure in the Church and not only in the priesthood?"
The only problem with this thesis is, 99% of child abusers are married men. Fathers, stepfathers, uncles – etc. What's are the statistics for married men who cheat on their wives?
With our parishes stockpiled high with lonely vulnerable women who come to Church looking for a shoulder to cry on, you really want our married men to be focusing their energy on rides on their emotional rollercoasters?
Celibacy isn't the problem!
March 20, 2011 at 10:15 pm
No one should be making assumptions about this case in either direction. Good people fall, and good people are attacked unfairly. At this point, all we have is a he said, she said situation. The fact that Fr. Corapi is popular and well-known has zero bearing on it at all.
Administrative leave is the only way the church has to prevent further damage in case an accusation is true. The fact that it will harm some people unjustly accused is not sufficient justification to put anyone at risk, period. I'm sorry for those who suffer from it, but even if it were I in this position, having worked with victims of sexual abuse, I'd take the hit knowing that the net I was caught in would catch people who were guilty.
Personally, it sounds like a strange accusation, but I don't like his post about it, either. I do not think it is appropriate or in the spirit of priestly obedience to make the vast bulk of it criticising the process. That was clearly the most important part of it to him, or his statement that the accusations are false wouldn't be at the end. That is the only line particularly worth reading- so let's pray indeed.
March 21, 2011 at 12:49 am
Just reading all of these comments. Really, there is nothing like shared ignorance!
There are always 3 sides to every story, his, hers and the truth. We spend far too much time babbling on and on "ad nauseum,"often at the expense of the dignity of all concerned. Not all of our thoughts,feelings or stories need to or should be shared.
If we truly cared about all of these things that are happening in our church today and in our world then our adoration chapels would be full.Daily attendance at Mass would be up as more and more of us realized how desperately we need "our daily bread."
In this,as in everything,time will reveal all. Please,place no one on a pedestal,accuse no one,cast no aspersions on anyone's character.
The answer to all of this? What is the truth in all of this? Simply Jesus. Know Him in prayer. His light always shines through the darkness.
March 21, 2011 at 2:13 am
Jesus Christ is the only TRUTH. Christ was crucified for being the TRUTH. Speaking for Father John Corapi, there is civil law. Let the punishment fit the crime. The Eighth Amendment to the Constitution for the United States of America prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. Destruction of the Archdiocese of Boston, the Diocese of Wilmington, Delaware, and now, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pa.,and other Diocese across the country cannot be anything but unusual punishment imposed upon the innocent parishioners and Catholic persons who belong to the Catholic Church by depriving these innocent bystanders to the crime of clerical abuse who are in need of the services of the parishes and the Dioceses and by forcing these innocent bystanders to pay for another criminal's crimes. Let the criminals pay for their own crimes. The Bible says: Only for his own crimes must a man be punished. Codifying religious discrimination and proceding without due process is illegal and unconstitutional. The Law of the Land cannot be superceded by mob mentality, or the cost of any crime will be unrequitable.
Father John Corapi has the right to defend himself in any way he sees fit. Our prayers storm heaven for him.
March 21, 2011 at 2:48 pm
Fr. Corapi has certainly brought the message of Truth to many. Therefore he is, and has been, hated by Satan with particular venom, I have no doubt.
None of us here know the truth about these accusations. We do know that whenever he has preached he has has preached correctly.
It occurred to me recently that he would be under some kind of extreme attack by Satan, whether through temptations, persecutions or both.
When Fr. told us that our best spiritual weapon again the Devil is the Rosary, he was right. So that is the weapon I will be using on his behalf, regardless of the circumstances.
He has helped me a great deal, so I, for one, will have his spiritual back in his time of need. Satan wants this man's soul so badly, we mustn't let him have it – no matter what!
I will not leave this comrade behind.
Fr., no matter the situation, you are in my prayers!
March 21, 2011 at 3:53 pm
INADEQUATE HUMAN KNOWLEDGE AND UNINFORMED CONSENT FOR FORNICATION AND SEXUAL INTERCOURSE
From the news bulletin, it appears to be consensual fornication. The plaintiff has realized that she has had inadequate human knowledge and has given uninformed consent
to sexual acts and feels abused.
Inadequate human knowledge and uninformed consent is the human condition and is the reason why it is "IN GOD WE TRUST" and in GOD alone, in God, WHO gives light to our days.
Inadequate human knowledge and uninformed consent is remedied by the Sacraments of our Holy Mother, the Catholic Church, Matrimony for human beings and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, confession for our souls. Why would an individual with a broken human condition demand more from another such human being? Is it reasonable to demand from
another what one cannot deliver of himself?
If Father John Corapi is dragged into
court, to answer for human failing, it will be an
opportunity for the preacher to present the truths of the Catholic Church and the love of God for His people,especially now, in the season of Lent.
March 21, 2011 at 9:31 pm
Even now a man falsely accused and yet innocent can walk even closer in the Shoes of His Lord.
Praying for Fr. Corapi to have the grace and dignity of Christ as he continues this way of the cross…
March 24, 2011 at 2:52 am
Pax et Bonum!
We should keep several things in mind.
First, a good priest is concerned for the salvation of souls, not for his own hide. As a good father, he will be concerned with the possible harm to the faithful under his care, rather than with the possible harm to himself as the accused.
Second, to avoid any appearance of impropriety, a person of integrity will request without hesitation being placed in administrative leave until an accusation of this nature is properly investigated.
As in ALL these cases, I have always said that if such accusations were ever made against me AND I was innocent, I would challenge my accuser to a polygraph examination alongside myself in a public plaza for everyone to witness. Whenever, I do not see this type of candid and open response, doubts do arise as to the innocence of the accused.
We should pray for a thorough, ethical and fair investigation of the accusations. And we must be prepared to accept the outcome whatever it is.
However, regardless of Fr. Corapi's guilt or innocence, it will always be just to applaud and give him credit for all the good he has done. You don't throw out the baby with the bath water. Neither do you destroy a man because he succumbed to temptation in a moment of weakness. If he did something wrong he "earned" and should accept the punishment, in the exact same way he "earned" our admiration and applause for the good he has done.
Let us never forget that the failings, shortcomings or sins of a member of the Church, be he a Pope or a layman, do not in the least diminish the holiness of the Church’s teachings nor the validity of the Church’s mission.
Above all, let us keep him, and all our clergy, constantly in our prayers. May Almighty God help them to be virtuous and brave!
Octavio Lima
March 25, 2011 at 11:33 pm
Often the biggest trials point the way to the greatest blessings; therefore, no heavy cross is ever wasted. Just ask Jesus.
March 26, 2011 at 10:25 pm
Does anybody know what percentage of accused clergy have been found innocent?
March 27, 2011 at 4:32 am
Why would a woman or women after having sex with a priest write a letter and publicly confess to such a sin? she or they must be doozies. This is a private matter which a priest would go to his confessor and she to her priest for confession. Its really none of anyone elses business. Why would she write letters to Bishops? Pray for Father Corapi with all this craziness.
March 27, 2011 at 4:46 pm
Fr. Corapi is a Holy Priest! I have no doubt in my heart he is NOT GUILTY OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS!!! Shame on the woman who lied, and lied about a Holy Priest!!! Her soul is at stake! Has she never heard of a place called HELL? She may be going there with such an accusation!!
There are a lot of so called "Catholics" who cannot bear the truth and the words of God coming from a Holy Priest, such as Fr. Corapi!! We need more priests like him with "back bone"..who are not afraid to tell his flock the right way of living our lives here on earth, and how to be better Roman Catholics, and taking care of our souls! It is pathetic how our country deems one "guilty until proven innocent", which in turn should be "innocent until proven guilty"!
Fr. Corapi, you have my prayers! Jesus, Mary & Joseph, will hold you tight, and you will once again be able to spread the "Word of God" to all souls! God bless you and give you strength! In JMJ, Margaret Mary Young
March 27, 2011 at 10:43 pm
I was stunned to hear that the local catholic radio station won't air Fr.C.'s programs until further notice – and disappointed that he is being thrown under the bus by so many, and so quickly. It is lent. Let us look to our own souls, our own sins, and pray for a spirit of repentance and the gift of redemption.
March 27, 2011 at 11:14 pm
This is just another attack by Satan to cripple Fr.Corapi…whether his accusers are aware of it or not. We must stay focused even more on Jesus. May God richly bless you,Father.You can count on my constant prayer.
March 28, 2011 at 9:32 pm
I cannot believe these accusations against Fr. Corapi. And in the event it could turn out to be true, I will never not love this priest who has brought so much to my life. All my prayers are with you Father.
March 29, 2011 at 4:43 am
The first thing that came into my mind when I heard this was "what the enemy meant for evil God means it for good"(The whole story of Joseph… Potphar's wife, etc.), also Romans 8:28. Father Corapi, I am praying for you and praying for God's truth to be revealed. The bigger the battle, the bigger the Victory in Christ!
March 29, 2011 at 7:26 pm
How "coincidental" is it that Fr. John Corapi teaches about how the devil goes after the priests, bishops, etc. like military tactics: go for the officers, sergeants and colonels. That is how to take an army down…. That is the first thing that came to my mind when I heard of these terrible accusations. After a little research, I found that, according to Catholic News Service, Bobbi Ruffatto, vice president of operations at Santa Cruz Media made the statement, "There is no evidence at this time that Father Corapi did anything wrong, only the unsubstantiated rant of a former employee, who, after losing her job with this office, physically assaulted me and another employee and promised to destroy Father Corapi."
I cannot say this that Fr. John Corapi is innocent, but I truly believe he is! Please not only pray for Fr. Corapi, but also for this young woman!