Saturday, March 19, 2011

A Call For Prayer - From Fr. Corapi.



Raise your hand if you are not surprised by this.
.
I figured it was just a matter of time...
.
From Fr. John Corapi:
.
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. - Fr. Corapi 
.

.
I hope he lets the beard go natural now - and maybe stop with the 'shaved' look.  People get ideas...
.
Didn't he once claim that death threats were made against him as well?  Yeah.
.
Yes, yes.  I am praying.
.
Photo credit: Fumare
.
H/T to Ray at Stella

Originally posted 12:01AM - reposted 2:30 PM 3/19/11.

53 comments:

  1. This really hit me heavy...
    both him and Fr. E were integral in my "reversion" I am sure this is the case for many.

    I agree though, there is part of me that when I step back I see the writing. True or not, this was a storm brewing.

    Much prayers

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for commenting Joe. I've admired him very much as well.

    For me the alarm went off with the dyed beard last year - I didn't think much of his living alone and the death threats stuff - but I thought, "well if he says so." Now the whole thing is just too bizarre.

    His obedience is to his religious order - it is his religious superiors who pulled the audio on him. I'm not sure about the bishops - but I think something is definitely wrong.

    Where there is smoke there is fire.

    Like I said - I'm praying - but I'm tired of making excuses to my friends about this crap.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Even though the messenger may be flawed, he still carried a powerful message. Who the H knows anymore? I sure don't. God forgive me for saying this if He finds my words offensive, but this is why priests should either serve in a parish, a mission or in a cloister. "Celebrity" priests open themselves up to attack, no matter how many people their message reaches. Others should take notice of this and reconsider how they spend their "ministries".

    Tell me again how the events in Japan and Libya, coupled with this latest kick to the gut, are not ominous signs? (not you personally Terry, the ones with their hands in the sand).

    ReplyDelete
  4. should have read HEADS in the sand, not hands! sheesh!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Agreed Little Way. The message is real and powerful.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I've said what I'm going to say about this, and just shut up and pray for all priests.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I saw him last year and was so disappointed. If I'd been by myself, I would have left quickly.

    He was a powerful speaker, but he talked about himself far too much. He mentioned his personal trainer, "Sheena," several times and made much too big a deal about the fact that he lives by himself on a huge property and rides a motorcycle.

    It was all about him. The dyed beard, constant refrain of me-me-me, and the arena full of moony-eyed people who evidently checked their critical thinking at the door left me very unsettled.

    I've seen messed-up religious things before (praise-n-worship at an arena church in Nashville, my pastor neighbor casting demons out of malfunctioning audio equipment, etc.), but what I saw last May was just plain creepy.

    I wouldn't have been surprised if purple koolaid had been broken out, although I'm sure it would have cost $10 a cup.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous12:19 PM

    Why do you think he dyed his beard?

    I don't mean this as a jab at him, but frankly, I think he looks awful in those two more recent pictures (7 months ago and last month). He looks sickly to me in the one from 7 months ago in particular.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Perhaps I am just naive, but shouldn't we give him the benefit of the doubt until something is proven or admitted? Regardless of the stupid beard, he at least deserves that.

    Agreed on the celebrity priest thing. But look at Fr. Harden, Fr. Groeschel, and of course, Archbishop Sheen. Then again, none of them had a motorcycle, and I doubt they live(d) alone.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Whether the accusations are true or not, his statement is dead on. As you know I have been intimately involved in the "process" and it goes way beyond seriously flawed.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Mercury, good points, but I'm curious if you or anyone else here has ever met Fr. Groeschel or seen him in person. He carries a cross none like I've seen and he never speaks of it. He is anything but a celebrity priest.

    ReplyDelete
  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  13. A Random Friar2:29 PM

    Regardless of the situation or his observance of his poverty, the fact remains that a priest is yanked from ministry at the slightest sneeze of an accusation.

    He may or may not be guilty of what he's been accused of, but it seems every time some priest is accused, whether on the internet or in public, the chorus of "Aha! I knew it!" pops up, again, whatever the credibility.

    To be a priest today, you have to be somewhat paranoid, sadly. And that is a hard way to minister, when you have to assume everything is going to be taken wrong. And even if you are innocent, your priestly life is pretty much over.

    Think of how the vast majority of goodly priests and religious must feel every time someone piles on a priest or religious accused.

    And lest we forget, Ven. Pope John Paul II was a "celebrity" pope. St. Padre Pio? a celebrity. St. Andre Bessette? St. Francis? Most saints who were popular in their own lifetimes achieved a measure of celebrity status, welcome or not. Thanks be to God that I remain obscure! That cross would be beyond me.

    ReplyDelete
  14. With the modernist/orthodox thing coming to a head in a lot of places, I can see something like this being "used".

    You know, a good priest, an orthodox minister, and the next thing you know, "he said we were going to dinner, I didn't expect him to do ___________" and YANK!

    Honestly, not that I am important, but I have always wondered if we created a little "revolution" in our parish how they could ultimately stop us... a trump card of sorts and I thought of the "accusation" model. I have actually seen it happen and it does horrors to a person wrongly accused.

    Now I am not saying that is what is happening here... it could be, and God do I hope that's the case. But like Terry said, unfortunately, where there is smoke, there is most likely a fire.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Little Way - by "celebrity" I meant well known priest who the faithful trust to be a guide to truth and holiness. I didn't mean act like a celebrity. I am aware of some of Fr. Groschel's crosses, an I am sure there are more he keeps hidden. He also remains a simple priest in his community despite his fame.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous5:22 PM

    Forgot: Fr. Corapi suffered from a severe Vitamin D deficiency. Guess one way to cure that?

    Exposure to the Sun.

    I suffer from less of a deficiency, but still try to get a good dose of sun daily. Supplements aren't always absorbed well.

    ReplyDelete
  18. michael r.5:49 PM

    Don't have a clue about the accusations, or his culpability, but I agree 100% with what Random Friar & Mercury say. Let's please give him the benefit of the doubt until such time that he is found guilty of something. We still pray for him regardless.

    Think the beard photos would be quirky in a seperate post. Here they seem to point to an aha moment. I don't know that much about Fr. Corapi; probably not exactly my cup of tea (Fr. Groeschel is), but I can certainly think of reasons that he might have tried Just For Men. Didn't he have a serious illness and was hospitalized for a period of time? Didn't Fr. Groeschel ask all of his viewers to keep him in prayer a while ago? I myself have used Just For Men beard, after two brain operations, two rounds of radiation and two lenthy rounds of chemo. I've just recently lost almost all of my hair a second year in a row, and look dreadful. What's a person to do? I think it's common for people to try to tinker with their appearance to compensate for other areas that they have become self-conscious of. All of that stuff takes a toll on a person, even a man, and I assume even on a priest. And, I would assume that he doesn't have a personal stylist. Perhaps he should. If he gets one, please send him/her to me next!

    ReplyDelete
  19. How did I miss this? Fr. Corapi said all the allegations were false. What was I thinking?

    Well that settles it then doesn't it.

    ReplyDelete
  20. We will know soon enough...in the meantime lots of prayer . Ditto to 'The Little Way'..Why are these priests living out of community in either a parish mission or cloister? Accountability is essential for lay people, how much more for those called to the priesthood.
    +PAX

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous8:06 PM

    St Matilde, patroness of those falsely accused, ora pro nobis.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous8:12 PM

    Re: the beard color: Didn't Fr C have some serious illness some time ago, requiring chemotherapy or some such thing? I've heard of people's hair coming back dark after chemo treatment. Could be same for him; maybe?

    ReplyDelete
  23. Yeah - I bet it was the chemo.

    ReplyDelete
  24. It well could be the chemo. I know a fellow who was a balding gray hair before a heavy bout of chemo. Now at 84 he has a head of thick, black hair.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I knew a man that happened to as well. I'm serious. I also knew someone with straight hair and their hair grew back in curly after chemo.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'm not one to point fingers... my carpet doesn't match my drapes either :)

    Michael R--that happened to my mom after chemo for breast cancer....her hair came in juet black...everyone teases her about coloring it..incidently she is 82 years old..michael..if you live near a larger city call around to the high-end salons...oftentimes they will give consults for free...and especially since you are a cancer patient they will often do work gratis. They do want people to feel good about themselves...and high-end salons often will have a stylist or two that has received special training on medical-induced hair loss..god bless you...my dad died of brain cancer so I understand a teeny tiny bit.

    Sara

    ReplyDelete
  27. A Random Friar9:35 AM

    I wish to comment on Fr. Corapi living outside of his community.

    I am in a religious order, and on occasion a friar will want either time to discern anew his vocation, and so he is granted what is called "exclaustration." That means that the friar is dispensed from community obligations. If after that trial period he wishes to leave, either to the lay state or to another order or as a diocesan, he may petition to do so.

    Some good friars have discerned other callings,or have experienced too much difficulty in community life. So be it. Most of them, even the ones who "defected" to other orders are doing fine work in other ministries.

    So in summary: living outside of a community for a religious is not necessarily a case of not following the rules of his order, so long as he is granted permission and dispensed. If he did so out of disobedience, he would not be in good standing with his order. I do not know the particulars of his story, but I ask that we refrain from judging him for this. If we wish to say that how he is living is a little too comfortable for a priest, I think that might be a good discussion, but that could apply to any priest in general, including myself (Many of us walk a fine line between necessity and comfort).

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thanks everyone for your good comments. All of you are obviously much more virtuous and solid in your faith than I am - and your charity is edifying.

    I apologize for my doubts concerning Fr. Corapi. They really began last year when I saw photos of him with the darker beard. I naively recalled Teresa of Avila's warning to her sisters about trusting any confessor who betrays the least hint of vanity. I know - I always take the saints out of context.

    To be sure, I have often appreciated Corapi's works, but I never cared much about the man - though admittedly I was impressed by his conversion. Likewise I was impressed by his apostolate - in the beginning.

    My first doubts concerning him arose when there were copyright issues with his videos - as a Catholic retailer at the time I recall some confusing stories about all of that. As time went on I realized he had a lucrative business going for himself - to the point we are at now. He also won a multi-million dollar lawsuit because of a misdiagnosis. It was a serious event and there was nothing wrong with that - to be sure. But a lot of money came in. Then of course he claimed those death threats against him and got together a security team.

    But it was the changes in appearance I found most disturbing - I too went through something like that just over a decade ago. I know I'm assessing things based on external signs, etc. - circumstantial evidence so to speak. I'm not attenpting to judge his soul, nor am I bending over backwards to defend his honor and make excuses for what possibly may be wrong - or right, and so on. Been there done that with too many priests and religious over the years.

    Unfortunately, I don't believe Fr. Corapi. Sadly I think people are once again involved in a cult of personality - which makes a lot of money for the principals. I may be wrong - but I can't ignore my gut feeling. Yep - it's a feeling - feelings are bad.

    I've tried to be all nice and pleasant about this and going along with many of the opinions stated here - worried if I don't I'll offend my friends and readers and priests whom I admire - but I can't get rid of the doubt.

    I don't believe Corapi.

    Yes I pray for him.

    Please pray for me as well.

    May God have mercy upon us all.

    NB: I reinstated the Followers app so you can all delete yourself after this. Thanks for stopping by.

    ReplyDelete
  29. leorufus11:11 AM

    Rock star priests. All big favorites on EWTN- Corapi, Eutenaeuer (sp), and that guy Father Francis Mary Stone. Fawning EWTN female commentators and male wannabe followers. Women tend to flock to these priests in a fag-haggish sort of way as they are powerful, handsome, inacessible, dangerously safe in the way a caged bear is dangerously safe. But men, gay or not, are easily tempted by sexual desire unless they have submitted to a rigorous formation in asceticism, formation which is evidently lacking in post-Vatican 2 seminaries and monasteries, save a very few.

    I've seen it happen on the street level, even in SSPX at an unnamed chapel in the southwest a priest got himself caught, left the priesthood to be with that woman, another one from the Maronite rite went to Las Vegas, transferred to the Roman rite and got himself caught up in a mess, he is now in prison in Lovelock - ironic name.

    Anyone who has been around a parish for a while can identify the female dynamic at work with the jealously guarding rectory witches that restrict access to Father, answer the phones and generally vex and pester with their all too visible presence.

    This comes with the relaxed attitudes about male and female mixing and working together in modern life, social customs which have no place in parish life. There are definite risk management issues which the Catholic Church has fallen behind on and there should be corporate policies which restrict priests from being alone with female and minor staff.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I have done extensive photo searches on Father Corapi and have found many from just last month. While his beard is darker, it in no way looks like that weird photo montage posted above. That photo has been run through a editing program - poorly I might add.

    Google Father Corapi 2011 in images...

    I've reached a point where I don't give a rat's ass what any of these priests and bishops are doing. My goal is to keep my head down and stay out of the fray.

    ReplyDelete
  31. i always assumed fr. corapi's living alone in montana was due to perhaps his doing battle alone; like the hermits did in the 4th century & later ... having been strengthened by community life in the cenobium, then 'graduating' to the eremetical life. maybe i'm wrong. maybe he's exclaustrated as the priest-commenter has said above. who knows. is it really any of our business. to the incident at hand: i've been praying for both fr. corapi and the women making the allegations of misconduct. is it possible he has fallen? of course. is it possible she's lying? of course. either way, pray for all concerned. the bigger they are, the harder they fall. the bigger they are, the bigger the targets are drawn on their backs. pray the truth comes out in God's good time & His healing applied to all involved.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Leo! I missed you - good points.

    ReplyDelete
  33. DB - Yep - I can see how you thought that. Makes me think of Abba Stephanos, the 4th century hermit who had a personal trainer from Alexandria named Vera.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Terry, haha to that last comment. I have no dog in this fight - I have never been a big fan of Fr. Corapi, but I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, just 'cause I'm sick of this kind of crap.

    But yeah, my gut feeling says something is awry, and I'm sure that's the same for a lot of us. The celebrity lifestyle does bug me - the temptation is just too high, and priests in public life are in Satan's eyes like officers on the front lines with their rank indicated on their helmet. Obviously they're top priority to get shot.

    So either priests should avoid becoming celebrities (in the cultic and lifestyles of the rich and famous sense, since obviously there a good and holy famous priests), or wear their ranks on the back of their helmets :).

    ReplyDelete
  35. I offer the following strictly for background. A couple of years ago, the Stolen Valor crowd, vets of various stripes who go around checking the veracity of those who claim to be various kinds of war heroes/special ops/etc, vigorously prosecuted a claim against Fr. Corapi that, contrary to Corapi's numerous public statements, he never served as a Green Beret. In fact, he never did anything more involved than Advanced Infantry Training, AIT, which almost everyone in the Army does. You can find the info here: http://www.pownetwork.org/phonies/phonies344.htm

    I've seen many Fr. Corapi episodes on EWTN where he claims to have been a Green Beret - all those date before this research of his records by the POWNetwork and others. Since then, his bio has changed to list him just being in the Army during the Vietnam period and say nothing about Special Forces.

    There is a post at CosmosLiturgySex that disputes these findings, claiming the Corapi never claimed to be a Green Beret, and it appears even the archive pages have been deleted or gone missing, so you can't check for sure anymore, but I can remember many videos/radio programs where Corapi presented himself as a Green Beret, talked about being dumped in the swamp and living for weeks by his wits during training, with a whole battalion of Rangers after him, jumping out of an airplane into the ocean, etc. His Army records indicate none of that.

    I, too, have seen Fr. Corapi in person in the last year and was quite disappointed with the presentation. You're much better off reading one. I don't know why we have to put these guys on pedastals, why we need something new. It's all there already, just read the Saints - we know their character beyond any doubt, now, anyways.

    Don't mean to cast stones. Fr. Corapi could be completely innocent in every regard, and yes he has done awesome, amazing work in the past.

    I will pray.

    God bless you,

    ReplyDelete
  36. I thought I had a comment post, but it seems to have gone away. Trying again:

    I offer the following strictly for background. A couple of years ago, the Stolen Valor crowd, vets of various stripes who go around checking the veracity of those who claim to be various kinds of war heroes/special ops/etc, vigorously prosecuted a claim against Fr. Corapi that, contrary to Corapi's numerous public statements, he never served as a Green Beret. In fact, he never did anything more involved than Advanced Infantry Training, AIT, which almost everyone in the Army does. You can find the info here: http://www.pownetwork.org/phonies/phonies344.htm

    I've seen many Fr. Corapi episodes on EWTN where he claims to have been a Green Beret - all those date before this research of his records by the POWNetwork and others. Since then, his bio has changed to list him just being in the Army during the Vietnam period and say nothing about Special Forces.

    There is a post at CosmosLiturgySex that disputes these findings, claiming the Corapi never claimed to be a Green Beret, and it appears even the archive pages have been deleted or gone missing, so you can't check for sure anymore, but I can remember many videos/radio programs where Corapi presented himself as a Green Beret, talked about being dumped in the swamp and living for weeks by his wits during training, with a whole battalion of Rangers after him, jumping out of an airplane into the ocean, etc. His Army records indicate none of that.

    I, too, have seen Fr. Corapi in person in the last year and was quite disappointed with the presentation. You're much better off reading one. I don't know why we have to put these guys on pedastals, why we need something new. It's all there already, just read the Saints - we know their character beyond any doubt, now, anyways.

    Don't mean to cast stones. Fr. Corapi could be completely innocent in every regard, and yes he has done awesome, amazing work in the past.

    I will pray.

    God bless you,

    ReplyDelete
  37. Anonymous4:52 PM

    Terry,

    As IF any of your readers would love you less for stating your true feelings! That's the thing most refreshing about your blog!! I, for one, do not idolize Fr Corapi, or any of them. I certainly realize he is not above falling (back to his old pre-conversion ways, for instance), and the celebrity thing is annoying (his website seems to be one big web-store for his books and CDs). However I do appreciate that he is out there on the front line, educating and calling people back to the Faith. Seems to me that is reason enough for satan to put a big ol' target on his (bald) head.

    Satan is out to get whomever is most effective; and that means those on the frontline. Mother Angelica is out of commission due to her strokes. Other effective priests and preachers are either tempted and actually do fall--or if they do not, they are accused of it. Either way, the effect is the same: another good soldier brought down out of the battle. Other priests are having nervous breakdowns, or leaving on extended sabbatical because of the immense pressures placed on them, in the midst of great hatred against the priesthood.

    There's no ignoring the fact that it is a raging war right now. We gotta fast and pray for the Church, the faithful and most especially, for priests.

    Keep doin' what you're doing, Ter-sters. God love ya, darlin'!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Aceman5:20 PM

    As far as priests being "pulled" from their assignments, parishes, or apostolates when an allegation is made, I find it only appropriate. It happens to teachers, police, politicians all the time. Why should a priest be any different? That's what got the Church into this mess in the first place, hiding them, covering for them, moving them around. Obviously the allegations were serious enough to do something.

    Either way, prayers for him and the women. They all need it. Ace

    ReplyDelete
  39. Gette - thanks very, very much!

    Ace - Hi!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Joe L.6:27 PM

    Let's see:

    Priest who tells stories about his past that no one has ever checked out and for which he has offered no proof.

    Priest who tells stories about having his life threatened that no one has checked out and for which he has offered no proof.

    Priest whose ministry is basically about what a kick-ass guy he is and who lives on his own in the country and who doesn't give a *thing* away free - not video/not audio...

    Who dyes his beard and speaks about a personal trainer..

    Is having issues?

    Really?

    Shocked.

    Joe L.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Joe - that is exactly why I said I expected this. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Wait, no one has ever confirmed any of that? That's odd.

    ReplyDelete
  43. A Random Friar10:50 PM

    I am not a fawning fan of Fr. Corapi. I think he preaches on good points, but tends to be kind of one-note, for my tastes. I usually change to the classical station if he comes on Immaculate Heart Radio.

    Let the process work itself out, and pray for everyone involved.

    ReplyDelete
  44. terrynsteve@comcast.net9:02 AM

    Georgette,

    I remember, Fr Corapi once said that Satin goes after priests. No priests, no Eucharist.

    I hope he has not fallen into Satin's grip.

    We do need to pray for him.

    Theresa G

    ReplyDelete
  45. "Like a dream one wakes from..."

    I'm sincerely praying for him - and the accusers/victims.

    ReplyDelete
  46. You commented on Corapi a while back. At that time I remember saying, and still feel, that while there is nothing unorthodox is what he says, that while the lyrics are there the music is missing. I have always felt that there was something that just did not add up about him. His “story” has always been too much with him. It is akin to journalists who become “part of the story”. We stop trusting the story. I remember looking at his site and the prices of his “products” and thinking: whoa, Padre, what is the real mission here? I make these comments, irrespective of his guilt or incense. Hardon had this to say:

    “They are ordained forever. And even if they try to forget, the world never forgets. It knows, as by supernatural instinct, what a priest should be and if he shows himself unfaithful, the whole Church suffers by the counter witness he gives to everyone who enters his life”.

    The other thing that I find very strange is the way these tornadoes hit us, and then, poof, in a week, we hear no more. Like Fr. Eutenauer. How does this Church accomplish this? Do they pay the media off.I know, horrible to have such thoughts...

    ReplyDelete
  47. DB - Yep - I can see how you thought that. Makes me think of Abba Stephanos, the 4th century hermit who had a personal trainer from Alexandria named Vera.

    Terry..you are hysterical !!!Can u send me yr email I lost it?

    rosary@blueyonder.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  48. Anonymous9:12 AM

    Like in any battle the priests on the "front lines" are always in harms way and we need to keep them in prayer. I sincerely hope that the accusations are false and Fr. Corapi can return to his powerful ministry.
    However, due to my own personal observation and opinion, I am not comfortable with priests or religious who dye their hair or wear jewlery. I have known religious who's closets and/or jewlery boxes were crammed full and the dyed hair so obvious it was actually sad.
    May humility be our strongest virtue!
    Please pray for our priests and religious out there fighting for us and our faith.

    ReplyDelete
  49. So, what's the difference between a Latin-mass promoting "rock star" priest who commands his minions from behind a computer screen (or from the occasional pint-guzzling blognik in London or NYC) and a priest living in Montana who travels around doing paid religious talks and sometimes appears on EWTN?

    Not much.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Mary M.6:41 PM

    I've been a "fan" of Father Corapi for several years, enjoying his talks on radio and television, and just kind of laughing off his swagger as eccentricity. I have even credited him, in part, with my own return to the Catholic faith of my youth, and for that, I am very grateful!

    Well, a few months ago, I caught this gripping promo video online:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsvLc3cATzs&feature=player_embedded#at=15

    ...and ordered the DVD right away. You see, I am a recovering alcoholic with six months of sobriety under my belt, thanks to God and the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. I thought Father's teaching would be a great encouragement to me in my newfound sobriety. I was especially interested when he quoted from "the twelve steps" of AA! The DVD was pricey at $15 plus $8.09 in postage, but I ordered it with great expectations, based on the video ad you just saw.

    Well, BOY was I let down-- to say the least! It wasn't like his early teachings. I hate to say it, but the first part of the talk is pretty much just Father bragging about his former physical prowess, with many football and military references. He also mentions his current exercise regime with his "personal trainer," which struck me as odd. Just as things couldn't get weirder, he goes into a long segue regarding a dream he had the previous night! "Everyone loved me... but evil was out to get me, chasing me..." etc. (I dunno-- maybe he's a prophet!) Something like that. The dream part was long and rambling and hard to pay attention to.

    When he *finally* got around to the topic of addiction (the last few moments!), he just re-tells parts of his own conversion story, which is wonderful, but we've all heard it a million times. He does throw in some other anecdotes, but nothing practical that would help the addict. Oh, and guess when he brings up the 12 steps? In the last five minutes! That's how he *ends* the talk! I took absolutely nothing useful away from this DVD.

    The promotional video is SO misleading! I was so upset, I went back to his website to learn how I could send it back for a refund. Of course, they don't have that option! No refunds. :-(

    I felt really icky and deceived and ripped off after this experience. Even so, I wept today when I learned of Fr. Corapi's scandal. I love the Church, I love our Priests, and I hate to see any of them get into trouble. I have been praying for him all day, and I will continue to do so. Maybe he's having a mid-life crisis, or something..? :-/

    "For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world."

    ReplyDelete
  51. Anonymous10:37 PM

    I am not convinced that every time a priest is accused of anything at all they are put on administrative leave. It seems to me that we only hear about those cases for the obvious reason that they have been removed. Surely there are many more who are accused of trivial things, such as being rude, etc., who are investigated without removal. Why would we hear about a case that did not involve the removal of faculties?

    There's a lot of sturm and drang right now about Father C. being removed "just because of an accusation." But as a former investigator myself, I know there is almost certainly more to this story than we've been told about. The bishop, his superior, and the investigator (whoever that is)cannot reveal details in order to protect the integrity of the investigation, but that doesn't mean they don't exist.

    Catherine A.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Ann of Ohio3:48 PM

    Charlotte, I have wondered the same thing. The secrecy of the internet persona is spooky.

    ReplyDelete


Please comment with charity and avoid ad hominem attacks. I exercise the right to delete comments I find inappropriate. If you use your real name there is a better chance your comment will stay put.