The video below is quite sad and will shock his fans. Therein lies the problem "his fans." Should priests have fans (remember fan is short for fanatic)? I have written against the "cult of celebrity" that surrounds some of those who are in the priesthood, not only in terms of how they might celebrate the Ordinary Form of the Mass, but also how they present themselves in ministry.
From all appearances, Fr. John Corapi is a victim of his own celebrity. I don't know if he is guilty or innocent, but in the video below he makes a number of very valid points about due process and justice in the Church when accusations of sexual improprieties with adults or with minors are lodged against priests. The presumption is that the priest is guilty until he is proven innocent and the accuser is allowed anonymity. From our American mindset of justice, this is very unfair.
TRANSPARENCY IS NECESSARY, NOT ONLY IN THE CHARGES LODGED AGAINST THE PRIEST BUT ALSO BY THE ONE LODGING THEM. BOTH NEED TO BE BROUGHT TO THE LIGHT. THE AMERICAN CIVIL AND JURIDICAL SYSTEM OF TRIAL BY JURY AND TELEVISED WHILE SOMETIMES A SIDE SHOW, BRINGS LIGHT TO THE PROCESS AND STILL ALLOWS FOR THE PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.
At any rate, Fr. Corapi is speaking out of both sides of his mouth in this video, especially at the end. He won't function as a priest anymore, but by God he'll continue his ministry of the "cult of the personality" a man with many gifts and oratorical abilities all of which have gone to his head. God bless him.
22 comments:
Grandiose delusions took over in John Corapi's case, it seems to me. This is not an uncommon problem in those who have gone through a "conversion" experience, especially one that involves a history of drug and/or alcohol abuse.
This is what grandiosity looks like:
•He or she has a grandiose sense of self-importance (exaggerates accomplishments and demands to be considered superior without real evidence of achievement).
•He or she lives in a dream world of exceptional success, power, beauty, genius, or "perfect" love.
•He or she thinks of him- or herself as "special" or privileged, and that he or she can only be understood by other special or high-status people.
•He or she demands excessive amounts of praise or admiration from others.
•He or she feels entitled to automatic deference, compliance , or favorable treatment from others.
•He or she is exploitative towards others and takes advantage of them.
•He or she lacks empathy and does not recognize or identify with others' feelings.
•He or she "has an attitude" or frequently acts in haughty or arrogant ways.
I hope he can find peace.
Excellent summarization. the video even looks sinister doesn't it?
The cult of personality is a tool of the addictive personality. He needs followers and enablers. Thank God he was not involved with children.
rcg
What could have possibly possessed him to produce that video?? The written statement was bad enough, but that thing looks like a trailer for a horror movie!
That's disappointing. I like him.
Ho hum...
Sad
I am deeply saddened at John Corapi's announcement. He has been a very effective voice in support and encouragement of those who adhere to the full Catechism of the Church.
I am also saddened by the many online and elsewhere, who despite having no knowledge of the particulars of the case which has hung over John Corapi, nonetheless feel sufficiently righteous to cast the first stone.
Whatever else may be true, John Corapi needs our prayers, our charity, our love, our forgiveness.
He does need our prayers. What is so perplexing is that he would strike out on his own independent of the Church's authorization, given his very orthodox approach to the Deposit of Faith.
Thanks for posting this. If he is innocent and if ecclesiastical justice is unjust, then the virtuous response would have been to offer up the injustice and adopt a life of prayer, fasting and corporal works of mercy. He could've become a saint. Now, he's just creepy.
Given his previous reputation for orthodoxy and moral certitude, as well as conversion from darkness, the image on the video is troubling and looks diabolical to me. I hope he doesn't turn on the Church and use the soap box of his celebrity to do it. There is that former (defrocked) Lifeteen priest in Arizona who began his own non-denominational Church--maybe that is what Corapi will do?
Perhaps your foray into sensationalism would be better titled, "Where there is arson, there is fire." Stop already. Satan doesn't need any helpers.
I agree with Fr Shelton. His own actions make him seem more guilty.
rcg
Orthodox people don’t fare very well in your Blog. You slant your comments against Fr. Corapi and against Michael Voris. I wonder how Athanasius would fare if he were active in this period? Were his fans or followers fanatics?
If Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen were on the air today, he might well be victimized by some slandering accuser. He had many fans in his day. If he were accused of impropriety by someone in the present time, would you throw him under the bus with Fr. Corapi and char.acterize his fans as fanatics?
People on this blog are quite capable of entering into discussion without being energized by prejudicial remarks or titles by the Blogger
Nearly everybody on this blog (that has posted) is orthodox/conservative. What are you reading?
Pinan. Carefully and thoughtfully re-read the comments.
PINAN. My writing must certainly be getting sloppy or assuming too much.
The title, "Where there's smoke, there is fire" is prejudicial against Fr. Corapi. It regards him as guilty!
Re-read the first comment on this issue. Anon's litany smacks of some grandiosity on his/her part.
Frajm. The video even looks sinister implies that Fr. Corapi's remarks are sinister.
Anon. Second Anon. If he's conservative, maybe I should resign from the "conservative" group. He also finds Fr. Corapi guilty by saying, "Thank God he was not involved with children."
Paul? Yuch!
Qwiknes? Yuch!
Pinan. What does your "Ho hum" mean here?
Bill Meyer. Thank you.
Frajm. He did not strike out on his own. He was cast out. What would you have him do? If he speaks and writes, you can bet it will not be contrary to the Magisterium - unlike Hans Kung and others. Fr. Corapi is still a human being with certain unalienable rights. Am I remembering correctly that you, unqualified as you are, even commented about his mental health?
I of course don't know how Frajm or Fr. Shelton would react under the same circumstances, but my bet is on Fr. Corapi for doing the right thing - even with his "dark" past which was confessed and repented of.
Vultures are ugly birds, and seeing folks who are undoubtedly good and holy people stoop to acting like vultures is indeed sickening.
Talk about "muddying up the waters," read back over your comments, and give Fr. Corapi the courtesy of being presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Pinan. Here's another cliche for you, "let he is without sin, cast the first stone."
Anon, my ho hum means that this is garden variety, every day news anymore. It implies that the accusation is probably BS from someone who wants their 15 minutes of fame...and money. I will agree that the "where there's smoke, there's fire" comment does imply that there may be guilt. I doubt if Fr. intentionally implied such...perhaps he should have placed a question mark after the title.
Corapi is sort of a "celebrity" Priest. That is dangerous ground and opens him to such attacks. I am assuming he is not guilty unless some hard evidence (no pun intended) is brough forth.
How can you think that wordsmiths like Frajm and Ignotus do not know and indtend exactly what they are doing when they write things, including the titles?
I give Fr. the benefit of the doubt,not so Ignotus...call it a weakness.
An example of rushing to judgment: FRAJM said: "As far as I can tell, all that Fr. Corapi taught, i.e. the Catholic faith, still stand in spite of or despite his yet to be determined foibles.
June 23, 2011
Frajm, perhaps you might consider moving on to other subjects and let Fr. Corapi’s lawsuit run its course. Move on to other victims more deserving of speculative scrutiny.
While I am saddened by Fr. Corapi’s decision to cease functioning as a Priest and as a member of SOLT, his decision is understandable. Informed by this Catholic Faith and theological credentials, there is much he can do by talking about and writing about our culture.
Left to the snail-like investigation by a part of the Church, the suspension imposed on him by a part of the Church could go on for many years, with justice being stood on its head, abandoning him in a cloud of suspicion and being guilty until proven innocent. No, people, he is innocent until proven guilty.
Perhaps some envious commentators seek to elevate themselves to the position of judge and jury, rather than leave it up to God, the civil court system and even the Canonical process at some point in the too distant future.
To the sanctimonious with their own petty EGOS on display who criticize Fr. Corapi’s ego and who, without the talent or intellect, presume to preach to and about others, please read 1 Corinthians 13, say a sincere Act of Contrition and go to Confession. Bullying doesn't become clergy or laity.
Leave the hypocrisy to the secular world.
His fellow Priests are perhaps in most need of applying 1 Corinthians 13, and obeying Jesus’ admonition to “love one another as I have loved you.” As for those who refuse to apply these scriptures, one might say, “Where there’s soot, there has been (is) fire.”
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