Saturday 18 June 2011

The distressing case of Fr. Corapi continues

Fr. John Corapi has announced that he is leaving the active ministry. Those who are interested in knowing more will find information and a video announcement on his website

Having heard the announcement my own view is that he is making a grave mistake. I do not doubt that what he says about the crisis in leadership of the U.S Church (and beyond?) is correct. As you may know there is another priest serving a prison term in America on what very many - including bishops - believe to be false evidence. Personally I believe Fr. Corapi to be innocent but I cannot endorse what he is doing now. The priesthood is more than the public exercise of the ministry, and God does sometimes ask us to become victims. Every priest is called to victimhood. In Fr. Corapi's case this victimhood requires his silence. In spite of all that he has done for the Church, I now believe he is missing an opportunity for growth in sanctification. His priesthood could have entered a new and very fruitful phase. He seems to need a public platform. I think he may be seriously wrong in pursuing this. God may have other plans.


9 comments:

  1. Very sad. He is or was, my favorite Catholic Priest. I will definitely stick by him and buy his autobiography when it becomes available. Maybe I'll send a copy to the Pope!

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  2. What possible chance is there for anyone with ecumenical hopes when the criticism of Father Corapi by so-called loyal Catholics on the www can reveal such extreme and distorted views.

    http://youtu.be/UTa0FsfdJrk

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  3. THE DARK COMPANION…

    “Black dog” was the expression used by Winston Churchill to describe his bouts of depression.

    The first recorded use of black dog as a colloquial term for melancholy is by Samuel Johnson, the creator of the English dictionary, who suffered from what today would be termed clinical depression. Johnson called his melancholia ‘the black dog’ in conversations and correspondence with his friends.

    Writers Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson also made reference to the “black dog” in their lives.

    Black dogs are also a symbol in ancient religions of of death and afterlife.

    Cornelius Agrippa, a philosopher of the 1500s, was persecuted for non-conventional beliefs; his pet black dog was presented as evidence of his sorcery.

    Howling dogs are also seen as omens of death and illness.

    more about the black dog symbolism...

    www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/docs/Huet.pdf

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  4. Check this out! Go to Corapi's website: http://theblacksheepdog.us/

    In the upper right part of the page you will see the partial icons for Facebook and U-Tube. In that order it looks like F U. Did this happen by chance, or was it intentional?

    John Corapi is a mystery, wrapped in an enigma. Good or bad, I don't know, but the man is a GENIUS!

    Some people need to apologize to EWTN.

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  5. Father John

    In checking your blog this evening to see if you had felt it worthwhile to display my comment, I find you have been visited by some names I have not seen before here.
    Things look slightly odd. I am wondering if I may respectfully suggest that you distance yourself from this. It looks as if some are looking for strange conspiracy theories unworthy of your wise blog,

    Might we not apply the Occam's Razor principle-the simplist explanation - the priest is ill.

    Somebody online remarked:
    "To be honest his new website looks sinister. Nothing about his response is congruent with the things he taught over the last 20 years. Nothing about it emits the holiness of a man, who has been called by many a living saint".

    I am, admittedly, not very familiar with this priest's work. However I think I sense the attraction of the subject to the weird brigade and I will pray that you will not become the object of their unwelcome attention.
    Regards.

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  6. Once an addict always an addict. It appears John is doing what most addicts do that are not in recovery, they are not patient, not tolerant, and want what they want when they want it. As I do always, I will continue to pray for all the suffering addicts in the world.

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  7. I am now closing comments on this topic. I think enough has been said, and as others have remarked, our prayers are needed.

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  8. Fr. Abberton's post earlier truly sums up my own feelings. May God have mercy on Fr. Corapi.

    Steve B.

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  9. Thank you, Fr. Corapi, for all your astute lectures on the beautiful Catholic faith. May God bless you and His holy Mother guide you in all your ways.....

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