The B.S. has issued a new communique, in which he sketches his new persona, quoting at length from retired colonel -and author, Corapi informs us, of the definitive treatise On Killiing- Dave Grossman:
If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen, a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath, a wolf. But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? What do you have then: A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero’s path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed…
He also promises to do what he can to “sound the alarm and exhort the troops”.
“The hero’s path”? “The heart of darkness”? Emerging” unscathed “? “Exhort the troops”?
Personally, I also would like to sound the alarm: this is going to get very strange before it is done.
You can read the whole sorry thing here: http://theblacksheepdog.us/
For maximum effect, listen to the “transmission”…
“Winning!” – Charlie Sheen
“Be watchful that your country, your state, your church, and your friends and family don’t get eaten by wolves—who very often come clothed as sheep” (from referenced article, – John Corapi).
Ahem.
jn
I’m beginning to wonder if he and his fellow pro-life Catholic hero and friend Euteneuer aren’t cut of the same very anti-life cloth.
There are some very violent and negative energy vibes coming from this guy these days. Sounds like he is building up some sort of violent militia of groupies (who wants to be a non-violent, stupid,emasculated, sheep doing the drone work of society when you can be a killer and a warrior hero for a righteous cause?), and I think if I were his accuser I would be more than a little concerned for my own safety.
He is living in “Montana”. The only place more prone to guns, militias and conspiracy theories is Idaho.
Rather silly statement.
Proud to live in North Idaho…
I live in Idaho too; I love it. But, you have to admit that we have more than our fair share of crazies.
Read the Facebook walls at “Fr. John Corapi” and “theBlack Sheepdog”. These people are very very strange.
Also – have you seen Tom O’Toole’s latest? He quotes from what he says is Corapi’s brief in the lawsuit – which delineates what the accuser said in the letter. It is awfully strange. As in – if it is made up – why would she make this stuff up about herself?
http://www.fightingirishthomas.com/2011/07/corapi-corrupted-part-ii-curious-court.html#more
Justin, I grew up in Montana, and I would agree, except now I’ve spent most of the last 30 years here in South Carolina….
Justin, you can only be talking about the panhandle of Idaho. Down south, it’s Mormons and manure, not militias.
Guess what? We now have flush toilets in North Idaho…
Therese
Its a libel lawsuit. The suit must necessarily quote from what she has written.
You call it strange? Maybe he thinks he charges are strange too, libelous and damaging so that is why he is defending his reputation by suing her. It might not be the way you defend your reputation but suing someone for libel is not in an of itself wrong.
In fact I kind of think its risky business on his part because in libel cases the truth is always a defense. In order to prove his case Corapi has a pretty high bar. He has to prove that his accuser knew her written statements were false. How is he going to do that if she has the truth on her side?
Anyway the types of things being said here strike me as a bit nutty and premature – a rush to judgment if you will. I mean you guys are way beyond judgement. You already know he is guilty and read everything he does in light of that.
Your arguments are just silly. “Wy would she make this stuff up about herself?” In other words your implying that no one would make this stuff up and so therefor he is guilty. Lovely!
I don’t know whether he is guilty or not but the arguments you guys are using are just absurd.
Followthemoney is picking up on “violent and negative energy vibes”. Nichols is filled with paranoia. Justin thinks Corapia is nuts because he lives in Montana “The only place more prone to guns, militias and conspiracy theories is Idaho.” and FrGregACCA agrees.
Whatever you do please refuse your next jury duty request.
Well, James, it appears we are starting out from two very different places entirely if a man embracing the persona “The Black Sheep Dog” and quoting from the author of a book titled “On Killing” and recommending this kind of thought process:
“But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? What do you have then: A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero’s path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed”
and using that line of thinking as a way of “to sound the alarm and exhort the troops”
doesn’t strike you as giving off some violent vibes.
I especially like the part about how unworthy some people are of even wasting oxygen by living: ” They are not leaders, they are delusional oxygen thieves—taking up the space and breathing the air that a real leader should occupy fill.”
Yeah, that sounds just something the other JC would have said! (not) Now, if only we could find a gene for that could detect these unworthy oxygen thieves, we could abort them before they ever even had the chance to steal a single breath from us warriors! Oh yes, that’s just the kind of “Catholicism” this world is in desperate need of from warrior heroes like “The Black Sheep Dog”.
James:
Have you been to Idaho, Montana, or South Carolina, for that matter?
Or would you even notice such things going on around you?
In any event, I was agreeing with Justin about Montana and Idaho (although, at this point, it looks like Corapi is doing everything he can to fit right in with certain circles up there).
Next stop: a return to priestly ministry as part of one of the Sede Vacante sects?
But seriously, y’all: very, very, very seriously. Pray, pray, pray, and pray some more. Over the last few years, his behavior has taken on a depressingly familiar pattern, and this may well turn out to be a situation that somebody like Fr. Amorth will need to handle, if Corapi ever comes to his senses enough to realize this.
Well maybe we are starting out from two very different places but that is beside the point.
Lets talk about your those vibes you are picking up on. Are you saying that youy disagree with Dave Grossmans remarks
“But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? What do you have then: A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero’s path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed” ”
give off violent vibes because the word “violence” is included in his desription of the “sheepdog”. He also characterizes the sheepdog as someone with “deep love for your fellow citizens”. So why are you not picking up on love vibes?
Also. The books title is actually this:
On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War .
I also found this blurb on him (Grossman) and it (the book):
He is the author of On Killing, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize; has been translated into Japanese, Korean, and German; is on the U.S. Marine Corps Commandant’s required reading list; and is required reading at the FBI academy and numerous other academies and colleges. Col. Grossman co-authored Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill: A Call to Action Against TV, Movie and Video Game Violence, which has been translated into Norwegian and German, and has received international acclaim. Col. Grossman’s most recent book, On Combat, has also placed on the U.S. Marine Corps Commandant’s Required Reading List and has been translated into Japanese and Korean.
I dont know. Maybe your vibometer is out of tune. Maybe your a pacifist. That is fine but that does not mean your misreading the vibes. I think all Corapi is saying is that there are sheep, there are sheepdogs and there are wolves.
What is the general point you disagree with?
Also – what I dont get is your guys/gals seem to have a pretty significant personal animosity towards Corapi. Maybe he is has committed some terrible sins. But what has he done to you? Its seems like your side is using a lot of hyperbole in order to crucify him. Saying things like “he is leaving the church” when he is not leaving the church. “he is living the priesthood” when he is not asking to be defrocked.
Whats the deal? You don’t like the sheep dog he uses because it looks scary to you? Ive always thought he had bad taste in art, just look at his other book covers. Pretty lousy if you ask me but I’m not sure that makes him a sinner.
I mean what if for his sheep dog image he picked some nice cute puppy eyes. Would the sheep not scoff then as well?
Well I happen to live in North Idaho and you people sound a bit arrogant to me.
James – I agree with you. I
This is the first time I have come to this site and I will not be back. Most of the comments here are mean spirited and cynical. I live in Idaho by the way.
North Idaho here. I’m with you, Leanne…
Thank you Father, for your insight. In “Exorcism and the Church Militant,” Fr. Euteneuer took lightly at times the expelling of demons, and it was of concern to read his nonchalance in this regard. Of course, during the time period of penning the book, he was sexually abusing women in graveyards and/or locked rooms, etc., as he sought to release their demons through exorcisms.
Then we find out that Corapi was Euteneuer’s spiritual director, and Euteneuer even told the “gravely harmed” woman (in the FTE case) that it was Corapi that told him to burn her diary (which held an enormous amount of damning info against Euteneuer) because it would cause Church scandal. Whether or not Euteneuer was telling the truth or not, who knows? But, I agree, Fr. Amorth should be brought in, and possibly sooner rather than later. Weak (but otherwise intelligent) Catholics are falling for this “dog’s” BS left and right.
Elizabeth – you know nothing of the sort – quoting information from Tom O’Toole (ie; that Corapi was Fr Euteneuer’s spiritual director) does not make it a fact. Nor do you have any proof of the diary – except the word of Tom O’Toole, who never has anything but his fat mouth and kindergarten imagination to back himself up.
In fact, Elizabeth, you sound an awful lot like O’Toole’s wife – who has a reputation on many forums for blowing his horn when he is unavailable to do it himself.
Yes, Fr. Corapi was Fr. Euteneuer’s spiritual advisor. And, the diary situation was documented by the woman who was “gravely harmed” by Euteneuer.
“FrGregACCA
James:
Have you been to Idaho, Montana, or South Carolina, for that matter?”
Uhhhh – Yes, No and Yes. But what is the relevance of this question?
It seems like your saying “people with guns=bad”. “Militia -ooooo very bad”. “The Militia is in Montana. Corapi is in Montana therefor Corapi is bad?”
Whats this “Corapi is doing everything he can to fit right in with certain circles up there” . Did you mean “Corapi is doing everything he can to fit right in with certain circles up there wink wink nudge?”
This is what I mean. Objectively speaking is there anything that you know of Fr Corapi that you know to be immoral?
It seems like there is no way on earth in your eyes that he can ever be exonerated. The allegation has been made. He is guilty. We know he is guilty because of his reaction yada yada yada.
James, I assure you that I have NO personal animosity toward Fr. Corapi. We do not have TV access to EWTN, and therefore I have seldom given Fr. Corapi a passing thought. I never dreamed of regarding him in a negative light until this Black Sheepdog nonsense started.
I agree with Fr. Greg that we must pray, pray, pray for him. I do not wish him ill at all. But, at the same time, I hate to see good people being duped and misled by him.
His rants just get sicker and sicker. As Followthemoney noted, now he is contemptuously referring to other human beings as “oxygen thieves.” Do you honestly see no problem with this?
Lord have mercy.
Over the last few years, his behavior has taken on a depressingly familiar pattern
Fr. Greg, can you elaborate on this? Have you seen other cases like this? I confess it’s new to me. (Well, except for the Maciel case…but I get the impression that Maciel was always a fraud.)
James,
I think we ALL have a capacity for violence, when push comes to shove. I feel pretty confident that if either my children’s lives or my own were endangered by an intruder, I could kill easily, quickly, and violently. And not feel one bit guilty for killing the “wolf” who was out to destroy my loved ones.
I don’t think this makes me superior to anybody. I don’t think it makes me special or more godly or more worthy to breathe than those who might not be capable of such a feat. I wouldn’t give any particular religious significance to it at all, actually.
But I don’t think that protecting one’s life is what Corapi is referring to when he is praising those capable of such violence and exhorting the troops. What he seems to be referring to is that there are people who don’t share his particular view of religion and that they are the wolves.
“In twenty years of preaching and teaching in the Catholic Church I ran into many who should know better that did not believe that wolves existed and that there was no need for sheepdogs. They scoffed at the idea of either. They are not leaders, they are delusional oxygen thieves—taking up the space and breathing the air that a real leader should occupy fill.
There is evil in the world; there is evil in society, in politics, in all of the places where men are to be found.”
Well, duh, of course there is evil around. Anybody who has lived on earth for any period of time whatsoever is fully aware of that. But I haven’t seen any of these evil people trying to kill my family lately; has anybody tried to kill you or yours? So it’s not THAT kind of evil that Corapi is exhorting the troops to beware of, at least as far as I can tell. It seems much more likely from his previous statements that it is the evil people within the Church who are out to persecute him that he is referring to.
“Be watchful that your country, your state, your church, and your friends and family don’t get eaten by wolves—who very often come clothed as sheep”
Okay, so these wolves in sheep’s clothing are the ones we (if we are hero warrior sheepdogs and not just drone sheep) should be willing to commit violence against. Who exactly are they?
Anybody—other than an actual soldier in an actual war—who starts to exhort violence toward those they see as “enemies” warrants a bit of concern, don’t you think?
If Corapi were Muslim making these same statements, what would you think? Would you be so sanguine about his intentions? I personally find ANY religious leader becoming so militant a cause for concern. Mixing exhortations to violence with religious fervor seems to pretty much always end up badly.
And finally, this part of the quote actually is more worrisome than just about anything else he had to say:
“A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero’s path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed”
He, being the sheepdog, apparently believes he can walk into the heart of darkness and walk out unscathed. I can’t think of a single saint who wouldn’t quake at the thought of having to walk into the heart of darkness—the holy would do so with great fear and trembling knowing their own weakness.
I see no humility, kindness, or love in anything Corapi is saying these days. I find his comments full of paranoia and persecution complex, delusions of grandeur and a view of himself as a kind of messiah of sorts. Again, if you don’t find that a cause for concern, we are probably coming from such different places that dialogue is pointless.
Followthemoney
The point is your picking on him because of an allegation concerning matters about which you know nothing. The allegation and the possibility that he is corrupt in the imaginations of others allows for your less than charitable reading of his words.
In the end your “sense” may be correct. I hope for your sake that he is guilty. Otherwise I’d hate to be in your shoes.
James,
Who said anything about the original accusation?
Your assumption that our reading of his words is “uncharitable” is because we have already determined he is guilty of the accusations is, quite honestly, offensive. To be honest, I have no idea nor do I care (other than that if they are indeed true, a grave injustice has been committed by him and reparation needs to be made for the sake of his own soul) about the original accusations. If it were proven today that the accusations are patently false (which indeed might turn out to be the case), I would stand by everything I have just written.
Get a grip on yourself and read the man’s own words. Forget about worrying about whether or not he is guilty of the accusations (the bottom line is that you nor I nor anybody else here knows one way or another), and don’t waste your time worrying about being in my shoes (do you really hope he is guilty? really?). Read what he has to say, look at what he is actually doing (as in, suing a woman he has said he believes is mentally ill, deranged, and a raging alcoholic) and ask yourself if this is behavior Jesus Christ would advocate in any way, shape, or form.
There is no virtue in hiding behind some false notion of “charity” to save yourself the trouble of using your God-given brains to figure out if a religious figure is actually preaching the religion of God or something else entirely.
You know, James, when it was just a matter of the former Father Corapi being accused of various indiscretions, I can understand how someone who had been moved by his preaching could be defensive. After all, in an age starved for true expressions of the Catholic Faith Fr C presented a basic- though selective- Catholicism, which has its own power.
However, once he started this Black Sheepdog Bullshit (or BS2) I really don’t understand how anyone cannot see that there is something profoundly disturbing going on.
I think that the technical term for this latest manifestation is “batshit crazy”…
I mean really, if this is not passive aggressive, with more than a hint of grandiosity, I really don’t know what to call it.
And as I said in a previous post, I really am not that concerned about the sins of weakness, as disappointing as that is in one vowed to chastity “There but for the grace of God” and all that…
Daniel some people might think your your visceral and violent reaction is a bit “batshit crazy”.
“passive aggressive, with more than a hint of grandiosity” Sounds like your describing a bottle of Merlot.
Anyway you digress. Personally I think you are viewing his actions premised on his guilt. Talk about rose colored glasses. Your glasses are very dark and so you see nothing but darkness. Perhaps that is all there is to see.
This “Black Sheepdog Bullshit” does not strike me as being out of Character for Corapi. Has’nt he always been a bit militant? You did say you never like the guy (or something to that effect). That is fine but don’t go romanticizing his past as if he has gone through some dramatic change. If you are correct he hasnt change he is still the drug using womanizer he has always been.
If your going to condemn him I think the onus is on you to enlighten your batshit crazy charge with something a little more substantial than some expectation that everyone is just suppose to see what you see.
I think all in all you would have had more credibility if you had attacked his beliefs, sermons, character before these allegations. Now it just appears your are piling on.
What is it called – kicking a man while he is down. Or maybe you’d call it kicking a BS dog while he is down.
Go for it!!
“Visceral and violent”? Come on James. And I repeat do not presume his guilt or innocence on the charges; what I question is the veracity of his story.Before all this I only expressed my doubts in private conversation because I had no evidence
for my suspicions. The allegations opened the tale to scrutiny. And of course the direction he has taken with this Black Superdog stuff indicates that he has bigger problems than I had thought…
Diane, although the details are different, this whole thing reminds me a great deal of one case study in “Hostage to the Devil,” that of “Fr. Jonathan”.
Other incidents that it brings to mind are much closer to home and it would be inappropriate of me to speak of them here.
James, for a very long time, I was quite impressed with Fr. Corapi. Now, I am very sad and very concerned.
People with guns, bad? Not necessarily. People with guns who buy into every conspiracy theory that comes down the pike are potentially very dangerous. Lots of them in Montana, Idaho, and South Carolina.
Can he exonerate himself in my eyes? The only thing for sure that I know he is guilty of is going rogue and blowing off his priestly vocation and doing so in a way that is, to say the least, unworthy of a priest. And “oxygen thieves”? What is that? Unworthy of a Christian, let alone a priest.
IMHO, he needs to resubmit to Church authority and let the chips fall where they may even if that means he spends the rest of his life in a monastery. If he is innocent, he will be vindicated. Just look at St. Padre Pio.
He, being the sheepdog, apparently believes he can walk into the heart of darkness and walk out unscathed. I can’t think of a single saint who wouldn’t quake at the thought of having to walk into the heart of darkness—the holy would do so with great fear and trembling knowing their own weakness.
Bingo. That is just so weird and…well, weird.
Fr. Greg, thanks! I’ve never read that book, although I’ve heard good things about it. Will have to get hold of it (if it won’t creep me out too much; I get creeped out easily).
Diane, it is Malachi Martin (speaking of tragedies) at his best, and it is quite clinical.
FrGregACCA – can we back up. I must have missed an episode. You say that he is “going rogue and blowing off his priestly vocation”. What constitutes blowing off his priestly vocation? For one he has publicly stated that he is not seeking to be laisized (sp). He was already suspended so he can’t say public mass for instance. How is he not submitting to the Church? As far as I can tell he is living according to the terms of his suspension.
That he sued the lady is not a violation of any promise nor is it not submitting to the church. His suspension does not bar him from filing suit so I dont get your pont.
Unless your just kind of speaking loosely where has he “blown off” his vocation?
and
Give one example of him not submitting to church authority.
You might not like what he is doing but there is nothing on the public record that shows he is acting contrary to what he has been told to do – or not do.
Again his suspension does not require him to not sue – sorry it just doesnt.
He can sue if likes I suppose James. He’s not seeking to be laicized? Okay, but what is the “Black Sheep Dog” thing and the rest of it?
NOBODY can walk into “the heart of darkness” and “walk out unscathed” and anybody who thinks they can is dangerously deluded.
We are saved, not FROM death, but through death, and that death, if it is to be salvific, is always preceded by Gethsemani. Doesn’t sound like that is where Corapi is at the moment. Not at all.
James — IMO there IS someone that can walk into “the heart of darkness” and “walk out unscathed” and that would be Satan. For Corapi to make this statement is particularly troubling; could he have been consumed by darkness and is now crying out for help? “Heads up” to all of us. We must pray, and pray, and pray.
Isn’t it just so interesting that “Elizabeth” links directly back to Tom O’Toole’s site! Welcome Jeanette O’Toole aka Elizabeth! What a good wife you are to promote your husband’s foolishness for him!
Wow, you are so smart Jack W. You put 2 and 2 together. I thought I had everyone fooled.
I frequently go by “Elizabeth,” also “Mary Elizabeth.” It’s in honor, remembrance and love for my aborted daughter (through a boyfriend long ago).
http://pleaseconsiderlife.com
I don’t always like to use my birth name, though, via commentary on posts such as this (which before you came in was quite civil), because I couldn’t begin to write like Tom nor can I match his sincerity/his love for the Catholic Church, as I’m sarcastic sometimes. Got it Columbo?
Oh I don’t know Jeanette/Elizabeth/Anonymous – I think Tommy boy has a bit of old sarcasm in him – I read with great interest as he mocked a blogger last week for a typo….
And by the way – the accuser in the Euteneuer’s case also nearly broke up a co-worker’s marriage well before she met Euteneuer. That speaks volumes now doesn’t it??
And keep your claims coming – the more you speak, the more we are able to see the truth of your agonizing pursuit of fame and (oh fortune too I guess – really the pleas for donations for Tom are kind of – oh I don’t know – PATHETIC?) hits on Tommy’s site.
May God grant you sight to see the error of your ways well before the final day comes….
Jack:
If Tom’s article is fabricating material from Corapi’s brief then I’m sure Corapi will call him on it. If he’s not…I wonder why no one else has picked this up. And where the brief is available. W hat appears in the excerpts seems very plausible to me. Two kind of nutso people hooking up in a weird-long-term savior/servant relationship until it exploded.
I’m wondering if Fulton Sheen would have self-published a collection of his own letters with an image of St. Paul on the cover?
http://t.co/qJVmUNc
I’m thinking…no.
Well, we’ll see, no? My guess is though, that like most Catholics, Corapi sees Tom O’Toole as nothing but another crackpot with a website…to borrow a phrase. And probably has much better things to concentrate on than a fly by night blogger whose wife solicits donations for him for his “articles”.
Well, it seems the crackpot with a website is still standing, while Euteneuer is……….where? doing what, exactly? Even his loyal supporters have had the sense to shut their mouths as his lengthy absence (sex rehab? talk about crackpot!) seems to indicate perhaps there was a bit more to the story than he let on in his apology letter.
And every day The Black Sheep Dog is becoming more and more synonymous with “crackpot”. Seems to me Euteneuer and Corapi might just be calling the kettle black when it comes to throwing terms like “crackpot” around.
I do love irony.
Any priest who blithely states that no longer calling himself Father and no longer publicly ministering as a priest is really not going to be much of a change at all, as only about 10% of what he did in the past required ordination anyway, meets my personal understanding of “blowing off the priesthood”.
I’d hazard a guess that it is not Corapi’s style to seek laicization; it would work much better for his “persecuted holy man” schtick if he basically forces the hand of the Church to strip him of clerical state instead. Win-win.
If a pro-gay priest said such a thing as Corapi about the sacraments, he’d be skewered by the same group of Corapi “fans” who take this statement from Corapi as simply another sign that the holy man has a much more important calling than mere priesthood and that he will be so much more free to fulfill this important vocation from God to bring holiness back to the Church now that the shackles of public ministry—including even the title “father”—have been thrown off.
Given Corapi’s apparent love for litigation, I’m sure he would do more than “call out” Tom O’Toole if he were printing falsehoods. Another libel suit would be right up Corapi’s alley.
We’ll see, eh? As I replied earlier – T O’Toole is hardly worth anyone’s attention. Though I am quite sure God is keeping track of his relentless pursuits of attacking priests at every opportunity. And that may have greater consequences than any libel suit…
I just wish this O’Toole had “attacked” Maciel the same way he is “attacking” Corapi and Euteneuer (maybe he did?—if so, kudos to him for trying to sound the alarm).
Maybe it would have saved me from entrusting my child to a system founded by a pedophile.
Probably not, though—back then I was too busy worrying about others’ sins of “detraction” against priests than in protecting myself and my family from con-men operating under the guise of “orthodox” priests.
Some of just have to learn these lessons the ugly way, I guess.
Follow – I dont’ follow you and others.
When I pointed out the fact that Fr Corapi is not seeking laicization it was to rebut FrGregACCA statement that Fr Corapi has left the priesthood.
So when you rejoin with the remark that you would “hazard a guess that it is not Corapi’s style to seek laicization … ” etc it seems you are you conceding the point that Fr Corapi has not left the priesthood but is now waiting for the Church to defrok him?
Or are you saying that he has somehow sinned against his vows? That has been the charge here and my point is to you that if your going to make or insinuate the charge that you should back it up with something substantial.
I dont think quoting the line “A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero’s path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed” does too much for your case. Its not substantial. Now your just arguing around the periphery.
First of all that is not something Corapi said but is part of Grossman’s article. Even so – lets say you remove the poetry I still think its going over board to say that “Corapi claims he can walk into the heart of darkness into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed.” I see your reasoning – he claims to be a sheepdog and claims that according to the Colonel a sheepdog can do such and such so therefor he claims he can do it also. One could read it as a statement about the ideal. You could similarly say a member of Christs Body (a member of the Church) does such and such and acts in this and that manner. You could paint an ideal characterizing what a member of the Church looks like. If you did that surely you’d be subject to the same criticism. I am a member of the Body of Christ – therefore I must be perfect?
He would probably admit to being an imperfect black sheep dog. Or as you might say he is not just the BS dog but the “I BS” dog.
So anyways – make your case against the man if you will but I think with the various charges you are making you owe us a bit more substance.
May I ask a related question?
I’ve seen reports that Fr. Corapi was charging $1,000 a plate at exclusive dinners where the diners got to meet and socialize with him. Is this true?
If so, it is a red flag roughly the size of Texas. Did no one find it rather odd for a priest to be doing this?
Also, how much did Fr. Corapi charge for tickets to his appearances? Does anyone know?
I get that he had to be self-supporting, because SOLT supposedly wasn’t supporting him. But $1,000 a plate?? Who’s that special?
Heck, I’ve been to a papal audience. It was free. :o
He charged from $30 to $50 for an appearance. Scalped tickets were over $100…
Thanks, Daniel.
OK…he charged $30 to $50 for what were, essentially, sermons.
How is this not simony?
I can see if the ushers passed around the basket for “free will offerings.” But…tickets? $30-to-$50 tickets to hear a Catholic priest semonize?
What is wrong with this picture?
Here’s his explanation for what he gives in a conference:
“Q: Can you share a little bit more about the subject matter of “The Church Persecuted”? What types of persecution, and what else, will you discuss in Boston?
Father Corapi: I’ll start with a historical perspective and show that from the Old Testament forward throughout history that the Church has been persecuted. The main concentration will be on the contemporary situation of the Church. Some of the persecution of the Church is outright and not at all subtle, such as we saw in some Communist countries and we see today with radical Islamic governments or places like the province in India where it is a capital offense to proselytize or preach Christianity. But there more subtle ways in which members of the Church can be persecuted quite simply for their beliefs. This happens every day in Western society including the United States. Anyone who is strongly pro-life will feel a little persecution, and sometimes a lot. So there’ll be a broad spectrum of examples of persecution in the Church. I’ll concentrate on the more subtle forms because they are the more common ones today.
My conferences always focus on two things: education and inspiration. You have to have both. Education and knowledge is always good as long as it is authentic. But inspiration is what really puts the edge on the sword. So you have to have both. I think I’ve done my part in the pro-life fight, but I know a lot of people are out on the front lines more than I am, so I’m very sympathetic to that and I consider them heroic in their efforts.”
It seems he feels what he has to offer is more than just a typical sermon, so perhaps that is why he felt it was right to charge 30-55 bucks to hear it?
Incidentally, the whole interview is rather interesting:
http://www.thebostonpilot.com/article.asp?ID=12973
@Follow the Money –
Really, your bitterness is indicative of a greater need – faith, and perhaps healing of a past wound.
May God grant you an open heart, know of my prayers for you.
Dang, nothing like a good pious put down, all sympathetic and stuff.
I can do it too: Jack W, your passive aggressive behavior obviously signals a hurting and insecure heart. I will pray for you…..
Diane, to be fair, I suppose one would have to calculate the cost of renting an auditorium, insurance, security, first aid services, publicity, etc. I have no idea what that would amount to, but I certainly agree it would be interesting to find out how much of the take was profit, and who ended up with it.
Having lived through a decade and a half of the Legion scam, the pious put-down is more than familiar. It takes a lot more than pious uncharity to ruffle these feathers.
It’s just frustrating to watch the same scenario play out again and again, with sanctimonious, finger-wagging fraudsters hawking their religious wares all wrapped up in Truth (Maciel was the King of them, and I would not suggest that Corapi, Euteneuer, or any others come anywhere near his magnitude of depravity or his incredible gift of the con), riling up their loyal followers to believe they are specially persectued for Jesus, and inciting them to all sorts of meanness and uncharity (all the while claiming it is the people who are trying to sound the alarm that something seems seriously amiss who are committing grave sin, of course!). Once the followers are convinced of his holiness, they eagerly embrace all manner of outrageous statements and behavior and completely miss the very clear signs of pride, grandiosity, persecution complex, and in Corapi’s case, bat**** craziness, right in front of their eyeballs.
I guess it’s really true that you can’t help those who don’t want to help themselves, but man is it frustrating to watch this same debacle happen repeatedly because Catholics have been conned into thinking that using their God-given brains to discern right from wrong, truth from falsehood, true Catholicism from something else entirely, is a sin against charity.
There is a reason Christ told us to be shrewd as serpents.
Man, FTM, that is the most eloquent thing I have read since he went BS….
I agree. FTM, you rock!
I agree too, FTM. You *do* rock (and so do you diane), and still people are refusing to hear your words. I think maybe it’s too difficult to realize we’ve been had by yet another fraudulent priest. As one of our commenters said today:
“The longer this uncooked hamburger sits on the counter….. the worse it smells.
Only one question remains….how long has this guy been a phony?”
Padre: Unlike a multitude of priests, Bishops and Cardinals, Corapi ( whatever your view may) is a manly man. Not much use for these fella these day in the Roman Catholic Church. I came across this article this evening which speaks volumes, I think, about the “Corapi affair”:
Bishop Daniel Ryan was in union with Rome despite the fact that the hierarchy knew he was raping teenage boys. Bishop Anthony O’Connell was in union with Rome when the Pope appointed
him Bishop of West Palm Beach, Florida despite the fact that the hierarchy knew he had molested teenage boys. They even made a payment to one victim on his behalf years earlier. The list goes on and on but what’s the point? The point is being in “union” with Rome or your local
Bishop can lead you to Hell. Rome knows full well that Bishops like Cardinal Roger Mahony of
Los Angeles and Howard Hubbard of Albany have lost their faith but still they are in union with
Rome while they destroy their Dioceses. [this was written in 2009].
While bishops and priests in union with Rome have been destroying the Faith – good Holy Priests have been stripped of their faculties for simply defending the faith. Most of you know of a priest who falls into this category.
Fr. John Hardon, S.J. (RIP) was one of the first priests to offer his help to RCF (No one could doubt Father’s orthodoxy). In 1996 Fr. Hardon arranged for me to speak at a Detroit parish and helped RCF raise funds. At the time he was telling anyone who would listen that, according to his Vatican superiors “one diocese after another would be lost UNLESS THE LAITY DID SOMETHING.”
FR. HARDON WAS MAKING IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE BISHOPS WERE CORRUPT AND DESTROYING THE CHURCH”.
I believed that one thing RCF could do was publicly expose this corruption, prick the conscience of the once faithful and maybe then things would change. I was wrong.
It was Fr. Hardon who suggested I use the canonical services of Fr. Alfred Kunz of Dane, Wisconsin. While Fr. Kunz was glad to help RCF, he made it clear that “YOU WILL FIND NO JUSTICE IN THE CHURCH TODAY.” Father’s comments added to those of Hardon’s painted a very dismal picture. But I still had hope that the “system” might work. Fr. Alfred Kunz was brutally murdered in 1998 while he was helping RCF with the case of predatory homosexual Bishop Daniel Ryan. Father’s killer has never been found”.
Good to know, huh?
You can read the rest here @
rcf.org/RCFgoodbye.pdf
While everyone is reveling in his demise. the possibility that he has been hung out to day is in no way far fetched. What ever else I may, or may not believe, about Fr. Corapi, one thing is for sure: the Church is replete now with filth and corruption. If you are waiting for the Bishops to save us, you can forget it.
While everyone is reveling in his demise. the possibility that he has been hung out to dry is in no way far fetched. What ever else I may, or may not believe, about Fr. Corapi, one thing is for sure: the Church is replete now with filth and corruption. If you are waiting for the Bishops to save us, you can forget it.
Maria, no one disputes that there has been a lot of filth and corruption in the Church — although it’s extremely far-fetched to imply that the entire hierarchy is implicated. “The bishops are destroying the Church”? Please. My own Bishop Peter Jugis is a holy, humble man who is doing nothing but build up the Church. And there are many others like him. I doubt that the evil bishops make up even close to a majority. They certainly are not the totality.
Yes, I agree, the laity plays a crucial role in exposing the evil and corruption. But that does not mean we should blindly follow a guy who may well be part of the problem, not part of the solution.
The fact that he’s a “manly man” is irrelevant. The fact that he has, in the past, preached orthodox Catholicism is also irrelevant — in the present case, at least. IMHO, Fr. Corapi is exploiting his manly image and his orthodox reputation to manipulate people into following him rather than the Church Christ founded. He is setting ordinary Catholics against the Church, against the bishops — and, all the while, he is flim-flamming those ordinary Catholics, just as Maciel did. How does this make him morally superior to the Cardinal Mahonys et al.?
What if the allegations against him are true? I am not saying they are; I have no idea; but what if they are? Would that not make Corapi part of the corrupt system you decry?
We are a Church of sinners, and we have recently been rocked by horrible scandals, which have left us pretty shellshocked. But neither the scandals nor the Bad Bishops will “destroy the Church,” which Jesus Himself promised would never be destroyed. Anyone who tells you that so-and-so is “destroying the Church” will have to square that with Our Lord’s promise that the Gates of Hell would NOT prevail. Harming it? Sure. Destroying it? No way. I doubt Father Hardon would have really said something so unScriptural.
And I doubt even more that Father Corapi is being called to “save” the Church from the Evil Bishops. When Saint Francis was called to rebuild the Church, he did so as a humble, obedient religious, not as a maverick, defiant “black sheepdog.” Big, big difference.
Fr. John A. Hardon said …
“I am pleading with you to become apostles of the Rosary. Promote the Rosary. Urge the Rosary. Teach the Rosary. Shall I say, advertise the Rosary. It is through the Rosary that we can bring countless souls back to Christ from whom they have strayed. It is through the Rosary that we can make them lovers of Christ through the mediation of His Mother, the Mother of Miracles since the marriage feast at Cana even to the dawn of eternity”
… and what are we hearing from Corapi on the Rosary or Mary? *crickets*
Diane: Re Corapi. Nobody knows anything about the claims. Nobody. We do know, however, that heterosexual priests who are faithul to the Gospel have had a mighty rough go of it for several decades now. I too once had blinders on. There are faithful Bishops; however, they are in the minority. The priest referred to above in the article had his throat slit. He was murdered because of what he knew about a pederast Bishop. Fr. Hardon was offered police protection because of what he knew about actively homosexual clerics and corruptioin at all levels. He declined the bodyguards offered him.
He was fully cognizant of the corruption among Bishops. Diane, understand that the man who asserted that Bishops were destroying the Church, Fr. Hardon, has been declared a Servant of God. He wrote the Catechism as we know it today. Her served several Popes. He knew whereof he spoke. NB: Hardon did not say they had destroyed the Church. He said that Bishops were destroying the Church, the gates of hell not withstanding.
Elizabeth: I would especially add to the rosary, fasting. It drives out Satan.
Maria — you are correct; fasting is a wonderful way to help drive out Satan, but just like suffering is so difficult and few embrace it as St. Pius X noted (and Corapi has selected to run away from as well), Corapi hasn’t mentioned fasting either since his collar changeover, has he?
St. Pius X also said the surest, easiest way to heaven was through the Holy Eucharist, and it seems the Eucharist is nowhere in Corapi’s BS-Dog posts either.
No Blessed Mother
No Rosary
No Eucharist
No Adoration
No Confession
No Fasting
No public Roman collar; but a dog collar instead
Don’t you find these exclusions troubling?
Whether or not every single other bishop in the world is corrupt and trying to destroy the Church is irrelevant to the Corapi story.
Con-men in the Church use this fear people have of homosexual and liberal priests and bishops destroying the Church as a way to shore up their followers and whip them into a frenzy of persecuted self-righteousness.
The hallmark of an expert con is his ability to make his victims con themselves. Those who con under the guise of Truth are the most dangerous of all.
Isn’t this what Christ meant, after all? If the wolf is clothed in lies and false notions of Catholicism, he is easy to spot. It is the wolf who is clothed in reassuring, fear-calming Truth who does the most damage of all.
Maria, you have not proved that Fr. Hardon ever said that “the bishops are destroying the Church.” Can you provide documentation for your claim? If not, then it’s just hearsay. It’s irrelevant that Fr. Hardon is a Servant of God if in fact he never said what you claim he did. ;) (In fact, it’s irrelevant even if he did say what you claim. Even saints have been known to say ridiculous things.)
Moreover, ISTM you are judging the bishops — the entire U.S. college of bishops, wholesale — far more harshly than anyone here is “judging” Fr. Corapi. Can you prove that the bishops en masse are corrupt pervert-enablers who are destroying the Church? Of course not, because it’s not true. It is wild, extreme overstatement.
FTM–thanks; you’ve nailed it. Insightful and eye-opening as always! (And thanks, Elizabeth, too. :))
Fr. Hardon was also a big supporter of the Legion, and I have run across several anecdotes online in which LC priests have shared that they were considering the Jesuits until Fr. Hardon told them they’d lose their vocation,and maybe their souls, if they became Jesuits and that instead they should join Maciel’s Legionaries.
This is not to impugn the personal holiness of Fr. Hardon in any way, shape, or form. But it does indicate that (like JPII), his ability to discern the rot may have been compromised by the razzle-dazzle of holy and orthodox appearances and the manly preaching of the Truth.
Not to beat a dead horse, but the reason Jesus told us to be shrewd as serpents is because these wolves in sheeps’ clothing can deceive the Fr. Hardon’s and JPII’s of the world—even to the point that they will ignore clear signs of deep problems and accusations that have merit because those dazzling holy appearances are like a siren song.
these wolves in sheeps’ clothing can deceive the Fr. Hardon’s and JPII’s of the world
Exactly! That’s what makes it all so very troubling and confusing.
Maria–sorry if I sounded harsh in my last comment. I didn’t mean to. :)
WOW!!!
Father John Corapi has submitted his resignation from the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT), the Register has learned.
Father Gerard Sheehan, regional priest servant of SOLT, said in a press release dated July 5 that the popular priest and speaker has inspired countless thousands of Catholics, “many of whom continue to express their support of him.”
However, Father Sheehan added, “SOLT also recognizes that Father Corapi is now misleading these individuals through his false statements and characterizations. It is for these Catholics that SOLT, by means of this announcement, seeks to set the record straight.”
The press release follows in full:
Father John A. Corapi submitted his resignation from the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) early in June. SOLT is a society of apostolic life of diocesan right with its regional office in Robstown, Texas.
While SOLT does not typically comment publicly on personnel matters, it recognizes that Father John Corapi, through his ministry, has inspired thousands of faithful Catholics, many of whom continue to express their support of him. SOLT also recognizes that Father Corapi is now misleading these individuals through his false statements and characterizations. It is for these Catholics that SOLT, by means of this announcement, seeks to set the record straight.
A woman, well known to Father John Corapi, mailed SOLT a signed letter detailing allegations of Father Corapi’s sexual activity with adult women, abuse of alcohol and drugs, improper sacramental practices, violation of his promise of poverty and other wrongdoing.
After receiving the allegation, SOLT formed a three-person fact-finding team to ensure that it handled this matter in accordance with canonical norms. The team included a priest-canonist, a psychiatrist and a lawyer. Two were members of religious orders, and one was a lay Catholic. Two were men, and one was a woman. All three have national reputations and substantial experience in ecclesiastical processes related to priest disciplinary issues.
As the society was engaging this team, Father Corapi filed a civil lawsuit against his principal accuser. He contended that she had defamed him and breached her contract. The contract, according to [Father] Corapi’s lawsuit, contained a provision binding the woman to silence about him. He offered the woman $100,000 to enter this agreement.
SOLT’s fact-finding team subsequently learned that Father Corapi may have negotiated contracts with other key witnesses that precluded them from speaking with SOLT’s fact-finding team. Many of these witnesses likely had key information about the accusations being investigated and declined to answer questions and provide documents.
When the fact-finding team asked Father Corapi to dismiss the lawsuit, to forbear from foreclosing his mortgage, and to release her and other individuals from their contractual obligations to remain silent about him, he refused to do so and, through his canonical advocate, stated: “It is not possible for Father Corapi to answer the commission’s questions at this time.”
SOLT’s fact-finding team has acquired information from Father Corapi’s emails, various witnesses and public sources that, together, state that, during his years of public ministry:
— He did have sexual relations and years of cohabitation (in California and Montana) with a woman known to him, when the relationship began, as a prostitute.
— He repeatedly abused alcohol and drugs.
— He has recently engaged in “sexting” activity with one or more women in Montana.
— He holds legal title to over $1 million in real estate, numerous luxury vehicles, motorcycles, an ATV, a boat dock, and several motor boats, which is a serious violation of his promise of poverty as a perpetually professed member of the society.
SOLT has contemporaneously, with the issuance of this press release, directed Father John Corapi, under obedience, to return home to the society’s regional office and take up residence there. It has also ordered him, again under obedience, to dismiss the lawsuit he has filed against his accuser.
SOLT’s prior direction to Father John Corapi not to engage in any preaching or teaching, the celebration of the sacraments or other public ministry continues. Catholics should understand that SOLT does not consider Father John Corapi as fit for ministry.
Father Sheehan will not be available for comments, as he is attending the SOLT General Chapter from July 5-23.
Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/father-john-corapi-resigns-from-solt/#ixzz1RFauIKK0
“Catholics should understand that SOLT does not consider Father John Corapi as fit for ministry.”
Says it all; thanks for posting.
Meant to note that my comment above (except for the word WOW ;)) comes from today’s National Catholic Register (link at end).
Story’s already going viral, but some are saying it’s a hoax / that NCR was hacked, etc. I dunno. It sounds professional and rings true to me…although one does wonder why SOLT would take such a huge legal risk in releasing these details. (Unless, of course, SOLT has rock-solid proof to back them up.)
“Story’s already going viral, but some are saying it’s a hoax / that NCR was hacked, etc.”
My DH gave the “eyebrow lift” on that one. Most of this information, however not all, was covered in the brief:
http://www.fightingirishthomas.com/2011/07/corapi-corrupted-part-ii-curious-court.html
Go read excerpts from “Coronary” here: http://books.google.com/books?id=n8-Or6f8GZ4C&pg=PA67&lpg=PA67&dq=john+corapi+tamra&source=bl&ots=8BNazwyF3U&sig=o72LpcW1qIfzpe87jg74RO4jxLo&hl=en&ei=Bm4STv-vAe630AGg7bC6Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=john%20corapi%20tamra&f=false
The whole picture will start to fall into place.
SOLT would not have gone public like this if they didn’t have rock-solid evidence. After all, Corapi has made it well known he has no problem with suing for libel.
Yep, FTM…the Register has confirmed it’s legit, and they have confirmation from multiple sources.
But some die-hards are still defending him. Amazing.
It is so much worse than anyone thought. How long has he been a fraud? Surely he didn’t start out that way?!?
“It is so much worse than anyone thought. How long has he been a fraud? Surely he didn’t start out that way?!?”
Maybe he’ll write a book and tell us all about it.
Have no idea. It seems like going through seminary was a laborious way to make a buck?? But his writings very early on after his conversion clearly show his narcissism and grandiosity and that he was already playing on people’s emotions, even before he became a priest.
I suspect what happened in the beginning of his journey to priesthood is not so black and white. Perhaps he started out with some good intentions, but when you’ve lived the life of sex, drugs, and luxury living, and old friends come calling, it would probably be hard not to get sucked back into the game pretty quickly.
I had been thinking the lawsuit of the con-artist cardiologist was a happy coincidence for Fr. Corapi, but after reading excerpts from Coronary, I suspect that it was more a matter of Corapi and his band of Vegas crooks recognizing a con and an opportunity to make a goodly amount of money. I think it is likely they did their research before Corapi ever showed up in that cardiologists office.
That was 2002.
Thanks to FTM for the excerpts from Coronary.
BTW – SOLT finally put it up. Let’s hope the conspiracy theories will stop. But reading the FB pages…doubtful.
http://www.societyofourlady.net/welcome.html
And the meme is shifting. The defenders are now blaming SOLT. “If this was going on all this time…why didn’t SOLT step in?” “If SHE was a part of it all this time why didn’t she say something earlier?”
Blame anyone – ANYONE – except poor Fr. Corapi.
The basic issue is not the idealization of the priesthood but the infantilization.
Well – I guess the BS dog is a BS dog after all. Sorry to hear it. What a crappy sad state of affairs.
James, I agree 100%. It is sad beyond belief. Lord have mercy.
It’s important not to let our faith be shaken, though. We are all sinners, and the devil attacks priests with special fierceness.
James, amen. It really bites!!
Sin in the Providence of God
John Hardon SJ
On the first level of our consideration is how God wants us to cooperate with His providence whenever we are the unwilling and innocent victims of other people’s sins. But people may still be causing us pain, maybe for years, they not only were but they are now offending God and at least because we hear or read about their sinful conduct they offend us. What does God expect of us? He expects us to pray and sacrifice for these people so they might stop offending Him and depending on the gravity of their sin, might be converted and be reconciled with their God. It is impossible to exaggerate the practical importance of this reading of divine providence. God wants every sinner to repent and return to His friendship. He wants every priest who has rejected his priesthood and turned his back on Christ to be reconciled with his Master. He wants every religious who has been unfaithful to his or her vowed commitment to make their peace with God. He wants every husband who has sinned against his wife and children to repent and be saved. He wants every woman who has killed her unborn offspring to be converted. Every prostitute to reach heaven. Every thief and murderer to one day see the face of God. He wants the Church’s persecutors, wherever, and in our own country to love the God they are now opposing among the faithful. In a word, God wants sinners to return to the One they offended and finally to save their souls. But all of this means that we must do our part, we must pray and sacrifice in order to obtain from God’s mercy the grace that sinners need, desperately need, to stop sinning and start serving God. They will, they will stop offending God, but I repeat, we must do our part. The more patient we are in bearing the wrongs of others, the more forgiving we are, the more ready we are to pay the price of being maybe deeply agonizingly hurt by a sinner, the more grace God has in store for that sinner. My generosity, my patience in bearing wrong is the divinely ordained condition for obtaining God’s merciful forgiveness even for the worst crimes that people will commit. It is up to us to never count the cost in order to obtain the mercy of God for those who have sinned. And the more deeply we have been hurt, the more agonizingly we have suffered injustice, hear it and don’t forget, the more we hold that sinner’s salvation in our hands. Our patient endurance of suffering is the price that Jesus wants us to pay to bring sinners to that heavenly kingdom reserved only for those who have tasted the mercy of God”.
Elizabeth and Diane– He seeks our mercy, not our judgement…
“What does God expect of us? He expects us to pray and sacrifice for these people so they might stop offending Him and depending on the gravity of their sin, might be converted and be reconciled with their God.” –Fr. John A. Hardon
“Our patient endurance of suffering is the price that Jesus wants us to pay to bring sinners to that heavenly kingdom reserved only for those who have tasted the mercy of God” –Fr. John A. Hardon
“Elizabeth and Diane– He seeks our mercy, not our judgement… –Maria”
Maria — It’s always good to quote Fr. Hardon (he was personally recommended to my husband by Mother Teresa as the one to go to for answers on the Catholic Church’s teachings), so yes, pray, always pray, and suffer for our priests …
And how is it that you are not judging me?
Let’s hope for a bit of that mercy for Corapi’s accuser from his loyal followers. So far I haven’t really seen a bit of sympathy, much less mercy, for the woman.
“He wants every woman who has killed her unborn offspring to be converted. Every prostitute to reach heaven.” –Fr. John A. Hardon (from the quote Maria left above)
True. She needs prayers (and mercy) too.
`And the meme is shifting. The defenders are now blaming SOLT. “If this was going on all this time…why didn’t SOLT step in?”’
I’m in no way a defender of Corapi, I’ve never listened to him. And obviously he’s the one at fault. But one wonders how SOLT could not have seen the danger signs that others discerned. Did they not know of his property, cars, boats,etc.? Perhaps that will become clear in coming days.
He probably built up a system of protection that made him pretty untouchable–that would be my guess. But it will be interesting to find out more about if and how SOLT tried to rein him in over the years (obviously without success).
My question goes back even further, though. Why was such a man every ordained in the first place? There were obvious signs of problems even back in the 80s………
FTM–amen!! I am more than willing to extend mercy and compassion tob Fr. Corapi. I am a sinner, too, in desperate need of God’s Grace and completly dependent on His Mercy.
But what about Fr. Corapi’s victims? Don’t they count, too? Do not they also merit our mercy and compassion?
VICTIM(S)? Let me ask you – are you perfect? do you sin? if it is true than he made a mistake! maybe a big one but did you ever make a mistake? He is just a fallible human being and he made some mistakes that’s all.
Hoo boy. :o
Have I claimed to be perfect? No. I am a horrible sinner.
But that’s not the point. The point is that this con man is flim-flamming a whole lotta people. And continuing to do so. It is perfectly OK to point that out. In fact, it’s necessary. Should we let him go on conning people??
As for victims–yes, I meant what I said. He is suing his accuser’s shoes off. He is a multimillionaire. He has the wherewithal to sue his accuser into the ground. All because she told the truth. That makes her a victim.
All he people he duped and deceived are victims, too. Including those who refuse to take the blinders off.
Do you guys really not get it? Yet??
Laugh a little, people.
Stereotypes have their place in conversation. Montana and Idaho are “known for” their conspiracy theorists. Perhaps the conspiracy theorists can’t see that. :-)
Just like: Portland, Berkeley and San Francisco are known for parading rampant “liberalism”.
Exceptions do apply. ;-)
jn
Elizabeth AKA Jeanette O’Toole
Why Penance and Reparation?
If we ask, why penance and reparation, the first answer is: Because God wants it.
But if we press the question: Why does God want it? Then we must say, because in His mysterious wisdom, His justice requires it. We may legitimately say, without really understanding it, that He has no choice. Having given us a free will, if we abuse liberty, we must use our freedom to repay to God the love we have stolen from Him (which is penance) and repair the damage we have done (which is reparation).
Notice, all along I have been using the first person plural, “we”, because penance and reparation are owed to God not only because I have individually sinned, but because we human beings have sinned and are sinning, in our day, on a scale never before conceived in the annals of history.
We know better than Cain after he killed his brother, Abel. We are our brother’s keepers. We are mysteriously co-responsible for what other people do wrong. There is a profound sense in which all of us are somehow to do penance and make reparation, not only for our sinful misdeeds, but for the sins of our country and, indeed, for the sins of the whole human race.
We return to our question: Why penance and reparation? Because, in Christ’s words, “Unless you do penance, you shall all likewise perish”.
Is it any wonder that on Pentecost Sunday, after Peter preached his sermon, and rebuked the people for their sins, and they asked him, “what must we do,” his first word to the multitude was the imperative verb, “Repent!”
Is it any wonder that Our Lady of Fatima’s message to a sinful world in our day, may be summarized in the same imperative, “Do penance.”
Indeed, the calamities that we have so far seen in this present century: two world wars with more casualties than in all the previous wars of history, and the threat of a nuclear holocaust that hangs over us like a tornado cloud. All of this is God’s warning to do penance and reparation. Why? Because God is not mocked.
You do not offend God with impunity. You do not sin without retribution. You do not ignore the will of the Almighty and expect the Almighty to ignore what you do.
What bears emphasis, however, is that this retribution is either to be paid willingly, with our penance and reparation, or will be paid unwillingly within the divine punishment.
The divine logic is simple, awfully simple, and all we have to do is learn what God is telling us. Either we do penance and reparation because we want to, or we shall suffer (against our will) the consequences of our sins in this life, and in the life to come.
But remember, this penance and reparation is to be done not only for what we have personally done wrong. It is for all the pride and lust, for all the cruelty and greed, for all the envy and laziness and gluttony of a sin-laden human family.
God is merciful and in fact as our Holy Father has told us, Jesus Christ is the Incarnation of divine mercy. But God’s mercy is conditional. It is conditional on our practice of penance and reparation.
John Hardon SJ
Why not focus a little less on Corapi and a little more on reparation?