A video is out that seems to be from Fr. Corapi saying that he’s quitting the priesthood. New Advent has the link above the fold. This would be a heartbreaking turn of events.
Some suspect that this isn’t actually Fr. Corapi. There does seem to be some issues with the audio. But check it out. Let me know. If it’s a fraud, it’s a pretty good one that someone went to a lot of trouble to put up. If it’s true it’s really sad.
Update: Yeah, it seems like it’s him. There’s a link to his new site from Fr.Corapi.com
His new site is theblacksheepdog.us
Update2: I gotta’ tell you watching it again I can’t help but think it’s kinda’ icky that he used this message to plug a new venture -this blacksheepdog thing. Am I right? Isn’t that a bit icky after all this talk and prayer to have this.
I feel kinda’ like Ralphie from a Christmas story who after waiting forever for a message from Annie all he got was a crummy commercial “Be Sure to drink your ovaltine.“
June 18, 2011 at 12:32 am
Seems to be true, although it looks like he's not leaving– he's staying in suspension limbo.
It is very sad, especially since I agree with his points on how poorly the system is set up.
June 18, 2011 at 12:38 am
What bullshit.
Really.
He can't demonstrate that a demonstrably false accusation is false?
Really?
What an amazing egomaniac.
And yes – the domain is registered to him.
http://www.networksolutions.com/whois-search/theblacksheepdog.us
Is this how the falsely accused saints reacted? Like Padre Pio – to whom Corapi has often been compared over the past few months? Termed himself a victim and "the Black Sheep" and went to war against Church authority?
I don't believe him for a minute. Not for one bleeding second.
June 18, 2011 at 12:48 am
He can't demonstrate that a demonstrably false accusation is false?
If you're trying to quote, that isn't what he said; if you're trying to say that if it's not true, it must be possible to prove it– prove that you didn't do something unseemly, when you can't know who is accusing you or when it supposedly happened.
If you were trying to quote him, I think this is what you were thinking of:
They can’t prove I’m guilty of the things alleged because I’m not, and they can’t prove I’m innocent because that is simply illogical and impossible.
June 18, 2011 at 12:49 am
The whole situation is troubling and makes me uneasy.
1) Corapi's followers are going to be doubting bishops in cases like this because he definitely gives a good argument
2) the audio sounds really strange
3) the alias name is weird and the picture on his website is very menacing
4) he says he's going to continue spreading the message of "Truth and Hope"…seems unusually vague, why not just say "Jesus" since "the truth is not a something it's a somebody"
5) the website refers "John" having "fans", weird language.
6) The new website talks about his whistleblowing in a medical malpractice suit how much money he was awarded, why mention that? very weird
7) The whole half off book sale commemorating his 20th anniversary of ordination coupled with him saying he's not going to be in ministry anymore…also very weird.
Just my initial reaction to the whole thing. Not good.
June 18, 2011 at 1:00 am
It's pretty hard to prove your innocence when you're not even allowed to know who accused you, what they're accusing you of, and what evidence they claim to have.
June 18, 2011 at 1:11 am
Having read what he said about the "process" some of the bishops use when an accusation is made against a priest, allow me to state, from up close and personal experience, that everything he says is absolutely true. As a matter of fact, it can be even worse than what he described.
As to the rest of it? I could care less…
June 18, 2011 at 1:22 am
After reading about the process used by the bishops regarding accusations against a priest, I would not be in the least surprised if they consulted with Child Services social workers. They sure go about their work in much the same manner.
June 18, 2011 at 1:33 am
IIRC, that's exactly what they based it off of, after the pedophile scandals, and Dallas' is among the most expansive.
June 18, 2011 at 1:43 am
Wow. This just makes me incredibly sad. I first heard his talks on the radio when I was in graduate school, and they taught me so much about the faith. I have some of them on CD, too. Now I'm torn about whether to keep them or throw them out.
June 18, 2011 at 2:14 am
Even odder is that his new website was registered via GoDaddy
June 18, 2011 at 2:21 am
This has NOTHING to do with children, please understand. Fr. Corapi's accuser is an ex-employee, a grown woman.
June 18, 2011 at 2:34 am
I would have been more at peace had he been willing to allow himself to be "extinguished" – seems more Christlike that way. I think the saints and martyrs were actually desiring to be extinguished for Christ. Also, I don't accept that the only way he could "win" his case would be by accident! Come on. God is stronger and ultimately in charge! This is very troubling, as are the people who are more attached to him than the Church, regardless of what a great priest he has been in the past, or all the conversions he inspired.
June 18, 2011 at 2:36 am
The only reason why the haters hate him is because he taught the truth and the magisterium. That does not change. They only hate him because they hate the Church. And that's no b.s.
June 18, 2011 at 2:41 am
Kate J –
I'd draw a big difference between being extinguished for Christ and being extinguished by letting an unjust situation go on, especially since it's a situation he's pointed out before.
June 18, 2011 at 2:43 am
Incredible. Fr. Corapi has been in "the business of being Catholic" for years; talk about biting the hand that feeds you. I was surprised to learn that his media company has no affiliation with the Church (don't ordered priests take a vow of poverty?), but in light of that, his announcement today doesn't surprise me. I've met Fr. Corapi, and I fear that pride has taken control here. He needs our prayers.
June 18, 2011 at 2:45 am
Father Murphy was heartbroken and died. Father John Corapi is fighting back.
@Kate J. "God is stronger and ultimately in charge! The martyrs died, God's will be done.
June 18, 2011 at 3:11 am
Mommymagpie and Adrienne are correct. I personally know of an innocent priest that was treated horribly by his bishops (the first is retired now) – they made civil and canon law violations against him and have hung him out to dry. Corapi is right – he should have a "fair trial" via Canon law – I mean come on how insane is the process?? We lay people need to insist on a change or ANY priest can simply be accused. Who'd want to be a priest when you know all it takes is one false, unproveable accusation. Want to see the priesthood destroyed? Just sit back and do nothing. I think we should inundate Corapi's Bishop with letters – even though Corapi says not to do it. Also, you all that comment here don't know exactly what finacial shape he's in – money doesn't grow on trees – and he could live another twenty years having to support himself. No, maybe he's not handling it the best – but give him the benefit of the doubt – how'd you like to be falsely accused and lose your life's work over all of it? By the way, I'm not a big follower of Corapi – just trying to get people to consider that they don't know the whole story AND to realize that we have some VERY BAD bishops in this country. That's a fact.
June 18, 2011 at 3:23 am
The black sheep dog is a reference to this… http://www.blackfive.net/main/2008/12/the-sheepdogs-b.html
People are forgetting that Fr. Corapi is a prior service Special Forces guy. He's using lingo to represent how he feels. He's SO willing to go to battle, to be the fighter we need.
God bless him.
June 18, 2011 at 3:25 am
Since Fr. Corapi was a media personality who apparently would be technologically savvy, I would have thought that his explanation would have been video rather than audio. There are many people who can imitate a voice. Why was there no video presentation? Is someone trying to make money, by masquerading as Fr. Corapi?
June 18, 2011 at 3:31 am
Fr. Corapi has siimply stated: "I am not going to be involved in public ministry as a priest any longer." He did NOT say he is giving up being a priest (which he could not do anyhow) or that he is leaving the church or any of the other things people are now claiming. He has been suspended indefinitely and has accepted that and instead of sitting around the rest of the days is going to do what he is still able to do whilst suspended. Although sad, it really is not that complicated.