I got this from another blog from the Dallas area and it is quite interesting. Do we need more drama? Maybe we do have a saint in the making, not that I'm presuming that!
Retired Bishop Rene Gracida of Corpus Christi, who approved the basing of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (Fr. Corapi’s order) in the Diocese of Corpus Christi, and who has many contacts in that order, has some very interesting thoughts on the matter:
As a suspended priest he cannot function publicly as a priest, but he can continue to evangelize as long as he does not present himself to the public as a priest.
Every baptized person is given the obligation of being a witness to the truth, of being an evangelizer. In Father Corapi’s case, the obligation is all the greater in view of the gift of the sacramental priesthood he has been given. Prevented (hopefully only temporarily) from exercising that priesthood in a public manner during his suspension, he is aware of his obligation to be a witness to the truth and to continue to evangelize. He evidently intends to do so until his suspension is lifted not as Father John Corapi but as The Black Sheep Dog.
Now, until his suspension is lifted, he is free from the Church’s prohibition on clerics participating in the political life of the nation. Given his past outspoken criticism of the current slide of our government to become more and more like the socialist governments of Europe, I think that we can expect to hear The Black Sheep Dog speak out more openly on the burning issues we will face in the election year of 2012. I know from my own experience that God sometimes “writes straight with crooked lines” as the Portuguese put it, and so perhaps God is using this new (unwanted) freedom from ecclesiastical restraint to permit The Black Sheep Dog to say some important things in the next 16 months on those burning issues.
I believe that he is justified in not seeking to clear his name through a canonical process; at the present time such processes are very flawed in most dioceses. Rather I would like to believe that he intends to try to clear his name through the civil courts. Since I believe that his accuser is a former manager of his media company who he terminated with some kind termination agreement, and since she has evidently sought revenge for her termination by writing to the Bishop of Corpus Christi denouncing Father John, I believe that it is possible for him to do so and I wish him every success in such an endeavor. The basis for his lawsuit would probably be defamation of character, libel, extortion, breech of contract, or whatever.
Reading some of the comments on his blog I am appalled at the viciousness of some of them. It is obvious that there is very little if any love in the hearts of some of the writers. It is almost as though some of those writers are filled with hatred for the Catholic Church and/or its priests. It is possible to disagree about almost anything without resorting to ad hominem personal attacks.
What many of these hostile commentators seem to be unaware of is the fact that Father John Corapi does not belong to a religious order or congregation. He is not a priest of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, he is incardinated in the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, a diocesan institute I established in the Diocese of Corpus Christi when I was the Ordinary of the Diocese. He has never held an assignment in the Diocese nor has he ever worked in the Diocese. Following his ordination in Rome in 1991 by Blessed Pope John Paul II he has ministered in many places, but not in the Diocese of Corpus Christi. With the permission of his superiors he established his media company in Montana and has lived there ever since. As a member of that Society (The Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity) Father John is not bound by a vow of poverty. He is bound by a promise of obedience to his superior, the General Priest Servant of the Society.
Very interesting indeed!
29 comments:
Bishop Gracida's comments change nothing. John Corapi's contempt for the bishops who hold the legitimate authority in the Church is what needs to change. His "conspiracy theory" (some in the church are out to silence me) is yet another symptom of his psychological unbalance. Name them, John Corapi, and provide the evidence, or remain silent.
In our overly nasty political atmosphere - and the Corapi Affair is political, not theological - it has become common to hear every John, Dick, and Henrietta attack bishops, slander bishops, and make all sorts of vile and baseless charges against bishops. They do this from the comfort of their own home offices or kitchen tables where they live in blissful comfort, knowing 2% (if that) of the "facts" in the cases they rant about.
Too many chiefs, not enough Indians.
Excellent:
http://www.patheos.com/community/diaryofawimpycatholic/2011/06/18/to-fr-corapi-bupkes-to-john-corapi-concern-and-sympathy/
The more I read about this, the more confused I get. If there are any kinds of investigations that need to be handled promptly, allegations of priestly misconduct certainly top the list. Perhaps if this was handled in a more timely manner, we wouldn't have this mess.
More fodder for the Catholic-hating secular media.
The Bishops that I've heard Corapi express "contempt" (although I wouldn't call it that) are those who don't support, abide by or teach the teachings of the Catholic Church. They're for all intents and purposes dissident Catholics. Shouldn't their actions indeed be held in contempt, as in the case of Abp Rembert Weakland- keeping in mind that we should be ferverently praying for his conversion. Prayer for our Bishops, is something that I've heard Corapi admonish his listeners to do. It's hard to find fault with that. Isn't that the old "Hate the sin, love the sinner" thing?
Hi Ignotus...LOL!
I, for one, will not be so quick to disparage John Corapi because of the course he has selected. The Church is not always right on these matters, her infallibility limited to Dogmatic subjects. I applaud his decision to continue his Ministry as a Lay one. What is wrong with that? Why must we assume it is ego that drives him to do so? Are Lay Ministries less salvic because they are Lay? He is not attacking the Church, he is acknowledging their rights to do what they do, he merely accepts it and moves on, yet his critics wish to portray him badly because he appears to walk away from his role as a Priest, one we rightly hold in high esteem. We are all called by God to do what we can do in his service, and no two callings are alike. As St Athanasius, and Archbishop Levebvre before him have done, perhaps John Corapi will also give credence to what Blessed John Paul II meant when he said "The Truth is not always the same as the Majority Decision."
So is he out of not?
There exist some bishops who seem to have earned contempt, not only from John Corapi, but from all faithful Catholics. Or are we to understand that all bishops are perfect? If the latter, then must we not also embrace and cherish the NO, communion in the hand, and the bevy of banal hymns in "Breaking Bread".
Certitude so often arises from ignorance.
I will simply pray for John Corapi, for our bishops, and for all the faithful.
I wonder if old Anon/Ignotus would exhort us to the same respect and obedience to conservative Bishops?
Frajm. I regard you as much too clever and talented to be so obviously prejudiced. Are we to consider your comments to be clarifying but Bishop Gracida’s reasonable commentary to be “muddying?” You could have easily chosen a complimentary title or at least a neutral title. In your book it must be ok to bash an orthodox/conservative like Bishop Gracida but not heterodox/liberal bishops? Selective tolerance, respect, civility etc? Right out of the liberal playbook?
Seems like everyone is behaving badly. On the one hand, John Corapi takes a very sanctimonious tone, becoming a martyr in the bad sense. On the other hand, much of what he says about the bishops and the system is true. This whole episode illustrates how much of a trainwreck the bishops' response to the sex abuse scandal really is. Perhaps this will lead to a new and badly needed Catholic Reformation along the lines of Trent, though it currently doesn't look like any of us will live to see it.
I see absolutely nothing in Fr.'s post to indicate he is either prejudiced or liberal. You'd better brew up some de-caf...
Pinan. Did I assume incorrectly that Frajm coined the title, "To Muddy the Waters Even More A REtired Bishop of Corpus Christi Chimes In - Very Intersting!?"
If he didn't, I apologize.
If he die, he clearly exhibits a prejudice.
If he did, he is being critical of a retired orthodox and conservative Bishop. Bishop Gracida is both orthodox and conservative, thus the comment about the liberal play book.
If he did, he is being intolerant and uncivil as to the Bishop.
If he did, I have a suggestion for the disposition of your decaf.
St. Athinasius, thank God, had "contempt" for the actions of some bishops.
Did you think Bishop Gracida's comments were "muddying" or helpfully informational?
Ego has driven John Corapi's whole life. And that hasn't changed.
For a time, he allowed the Lord to put it to good use for the Church. Hopefully, he will return to doing that again for the Lord's sake, instead of his own, whether in or out of the ministerial priesthood.
~SqueekerLamb
A lot of people in the blogosphere have wondered why Fr. Corapi filed the defamation suit. He posted this on Facebook:
"I filed the civil defamation suit against the accuser on the advice of Fr. James Flanagan, Founder of the Society of Our Lady; and Bishop Rene Gracida, former Bishop of Corpus Christi. They felt it was the only way I could receive justice."
I'm guessing that His Excellency Gracida knows the lay of the land and the intimacies of the workings of these things in his diocese. Perhaps this makes it a "horse of a different color?"
Rob
Anon. Another undocumented "psychiatrist" holds forth. Ignotus would not hold with your ascribing a motive to Fr. Corapi for his ministry - which has been a very stellar and effective one.
Pinan. Here goes again, this one for Squeeker: Let he/she who is without ego, cast the first slur.
Hey, Anon, Fr. merely made an observation that the Bishop's comments further "muddied the water." That observation, in itself, is not prejudicial. When something like this happens, a whole lot of people, both lib and conservative, comment. The waters always get muddied. So, big deal. I found the Bishop's comments to be helpful but, in part, speculative. Speculation muddies the waters. Now, about that decaf...
Anon, re: Bishop Gracida - There is nothing pejorative in Fram's title. In fact, the Bishop's comments don't seem to to resolve the issue especially since so much of what is being talked about is not released. Hence the muddy water.
I will say that Corapi has a point that there is precious little effort put being into proving if anything even happened, much less if he did it. Conversely, he is taking advantage of the fact that such details are not released to the public to glamourise his martyrdom.
So I would say there is a lot of mud in the water and the Bishop as well as Corapi have added their share. No offense to either.
rcg
Bishop Gracida's comments muddy the waters of the presumed crystal clear fact that John Corapi was wrong in "leaving" the priesthood and no longer being called "father." Bishop Gracida gives another view that many have not contemplated. I don't cast aspersions on the Bishop at all, in fact applaud him for his novel approach to this scandal. It is something to consider. John Corapi has not been excommunicated, although he is suspended from exercising his priestly functions. He should still witness to the faith according to his state in the Church.
Thanks Frajm. What is his state in the Church? If he can't act as Priest, can he be an active "layman" and engage in evangelizing, preaching, writing, etc. so long as he does so simply as "John Corapi?" This is in no way a "come back" to your comments. I really want to know what his status is and what he can and cannot do and remain faithful to Canon Law, etc.
The waters are muddy on what a suspended or even a laicized priest can do. I know that laicized priests are not suppose to act as lectors or communion ministers at Mass so what could John Corapi legitmately do? A former pastor at St. Joseph, left the priesthood married his secretary here, was properly laicized and married in the Church and was well known in catechetical circles and publishing of books, giving talks, etc. Bill or William Coleman was his name. He is deceased now.
Anon. Thanks, but I was hoping for more help if you will. I am obviously capable of misreading and misinterpreting things, but usually not so badly. Although in limbo, the decaf is not currently a threat.
I'm glad to hear that Fr. Corapi has started the defamation suit, putting the matter in the civil arena, which is where the Bishops should have shunted it to in the first place. The "piggy bank needs to be closed."
I personally hate decaf. It is like kissing your sister.
More "muddy waters", I guess.
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/corapi-accuser-promised-to-destroy-priest-after-being-fired-claim/
Corapi's claim about a disgruntled employed seems to be corroborated.
Disgruntled employee: so what? I have a hundred employees and am vulnerable to anyone of them being 'disgruntled'. It's how you run you operation that offers you solid ground for dealing with the person fairly, and baring the person responding fairly, then dealing with them justly. Hint: it's NEVER about you.
rcg
What goes around, comes around. Judge not, lest ye be judged.
Fr. Corapi's defamation suit against the otherwise anonymous accuser will provide more truth than a Church investigation.
Pinanv. My sister and I resent your comparing her to decaf. She is intelligent and stimulating.
Indeed, Anon, I was not comparing the person of one's sister to decaf coffee, only the experience of kissing a female sibling. You must admit that the experience of a full-bodied Italian or French in the morning brings fire to the belly and life to your limbs. The experience is exhilarating, stimulating, and life renewing. Their coffee is also very good...
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