KALISPELL, Mont. — Father John Corapi, the popular Catholic evangelist, announced on June 17 that he would leave the priesthood and begin a new endeavor outside Church control, focused on a “broader” message and a global audience.
Three months have passed since the religious community Father Corapi belonged to, the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT), removed him from public ministry while it investigated allegations of misconduct leveled by one of his former employees.
Following Father Corapi’s announcement of his plans to leave the priesthood and begin a ministry called “The Black Sheep Dog,” Father Gerard Sheehan, the regional priest-servant of SOLT and the best-selling preacher’s religious superior, issued a public statement reporting that the order had received a letter from the priest earlier in the month, “indicating that, because of the physical, emotional and spiritual distress he has endured over the past few years, he could no longer continue to function as a priest or a member of the SOLT.”
Father Sheehan’s statement stressed that the order’s investigation into the alleged misconduct “had not arrived at any conclusion as to the credibility of the allegations under investigation.” He stated: “We reiterate that Father Corapi had not been determined guilty of any canonical or civil crimes.”
Father Corapi marked his decision to leave the priesthood by posting a video announcement on YouTube and on the website of Santa Cruz Media, the company he heads and which distributes his catechetical materials. The announcement shocked his many supporters. Some of those supporters had vented their anger at the priest’s religious superiors and at EWTN and other media outlets, which suspended his programs after the allegations against him became public. The Register is a service of EWTN.
In response to Father Corapi’s decision, EWTN released the following statement: “EWTN was deeply saddened by the news that Father John Corapi has announced his decision to resign from active priestly ministry and religious life. Unfortunately, his decision makes it impossible for the network to return his programming to the airwaves. We urge our EWTN family to continue to pray for him, for all priests and for the unity of the Church.”
Raising more questions than it answered, Father Corapi’s message did not state the precise reason why he chose to resign from the priesthood rather than waiting for the outcome of SOLT’s investigation of the alleged misconduct.
In an exclusive interview with the Register on June 19, Father Sheehan offered some insight into the unfolding events that led to the bombshell announcement.
Father Sheehan confirmed that the society’s investigation had faced complications created by a civil suit filed by Father Corapi against the former employee who had accused him of sexual misconduct.
“When she left the company, she signed a contract that she would not reveal anything that happened to her while she was at Santa Cruz Media. Father Corapi paid her for this. Father was suing her for a breach of contract,” said Father Sheehan, though he did not specify why Father Corapi had initiated the non-disclosure agreement.
The civil suit against the former employee created a problem for SOLT investigators.
“In canon law, there can’t be any pressure on witnesses; they have to be completely free to speak. The investigation was compromised because of the pressure on the witnesses. There were other witnesses that also had signed non-disclosure agreements,” said Father Sheehan.
“The canon lawyers were in a difficult situation, and Father does have his civil rights and he decided to follow his legal counsel, which he had a right to do,” he said. “We tried to continue the investigation without speaking to the principal witnesses.”
‘Deeply Saddened’
In his subsequent public statement, issued on June 20, Father Sheehan underscored that the society sought to adhere to proper canonical procedures for conducting the investigation into the alleged misconduct.
“At the onset, the bishop of Corpus Christi advised the SOLT to not only proceed with the policies outlined in their own constitutions, but also with the proper canonical procedures to determine the credibility of the allegations against Father Corapi,” said the statement. “If the allegations had been found to be credible, the proper canonical due process would have been offered to Father Corapi, including his right to defense, to know his accuser and the complaint lodged, and a fair canonical trial with the right of recourse to the Holy See.”
In his public statement and in his interview with the Register, Father Sheehan expressed disappointment that Father Corapi chose not to remain in SOLT.
“The SOLT is deeply saddened that Father Corapi is suffering distress. The SOLT is further saddened by Father Corapi’s response to these allegations. The SOLT will do all within its power to assist Father Corapi if he desires to seek a dispensation from his rights and obligations as a priest and as a professed member of the SOLT,” said the public statement.
Father Sheehan requested prayers and “the intercession of the Blessed Mother for the healing of Father Corapi and for any who have been negatively affected by Father Corapi’s decision to end his ministry as a priest and a member of the SOLT.”
Conflicted Message
Father Corapi’s YouTube message did not address his relationship with SOLT religious authorities. Though his statement reads, “I love the Catholic Church and accept what has transpired,” it offered a conflicted message on the respect due the Catholic hierarchy.
On the one hand, Father Corapi affirmed the right of the bishops to implement new guidelines for addressing clerical misconduct. Yet, he persistently attacked the logic and integrity of those guidelines, and sharply criticized Bishop William Mulvey of Corpus Christi, Texas, for taking action to forcibly remove him from active ministry.
The YouTube announcement marked the 20th anniversary of Father Corapi’s ordination and expressed his gratitude for ongoing expressions of support. The priest then stated: “All things change, only God stays the same, so I have to tell you about a major change in my life. I am not going to be involved in public ministry as a priest any longer. There are certain persons in authority in the Church that want me gone, and I shall be gone.”
Echoing themes repeated in recent Santa Cruz Media posts that asserted his innocence, he questioned the motives of his accuser and criticized recent Church policies that suspended priests from active ministry following allegations of misconduct. He presented himself as one of many priests victimized by disciplinary practices established after the 2002 clergy-abuse crisis.
“For 20 years I did my best to guard and feed the sheep. Now, based on a totally unsubstantiated, undocumented allegation from a demonstrably troubled person I was thrown out like yesterday’s garbage,” he stated.
He provided few substantive details regarding The Black Sheep Dog initiative, but sketched out an ambitious mission: “I shall continue, black sheep that I am, to speak; and sheep dog that I am, to guard the sheep — this time around not just in the Church, but also in the entire world.”
He confirmed plans to produce radio programs and publish books, including an autobiography, The Black Sheep Dog. His mention of the book’s imminent release suggested that his bombshell announcement had been planned for some time. Indeed, Catholic bloggers covering the story soon documented that Santa Cruz Media, Inc. filed on April 8, 2010, for a U.S. federal trademark registration for THE BLACK-SHEEP DOG.
Restructuring SOLT
The announcement will likely prompt scrutiny of Father Corapi’s ties to the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT), the society of apostolic life he joined some two decades ago, and raise questions about whether SOLT superiors should have allowed him to live and work apart from his religious community.
In a previous interview with the Register, published after Father Corapi’s suspension, Father Sheehan implicitly acknowledged that the accused priest was not living in conformity with SOLT’s constitution, approved in 1994.
“The founder’s arrangement with Father Corapi was established before that time, when Father [James] Flanagan [SOLT’s founder] believed that every mission should take care of its own needs,” noted Father Sheehan at that time.
During that interview, Father Sheehan confirmed that SOLT had “begun to address the issues of members who joined the society before the new constitution. The society is moving to a more organized structural phase of its existence, with all the Church discipline that entails.” The implication of his remarks was that Father Corapi had not accommodated the discipline imposed by the new constitution.
Father Corapi’s status in the Diocese of Helena, Mont., the location of his home, also raised questions about his legal ability to exercise his ministerial priesthood. In the wake of his suspension, the chancellor of the Diocese of Helena, Father John Robertson, stated: “Father Corapi has a personal residence in Kalispell, Mont. He does not hold priestly faculties in the Diocese of Helena.”
Father Corapi’s YouTube message did not address questions raised by these recent public disclosures. In the message, his ire was reserved for the bishop of Corpus Christi.
“I did not start this process, the bishop of Corpus Christi, Texas, ordered my superiors, against their will and better judgment, to do it. He in fact threatened to release a reprehensible and libelous letter to all of the bishops if they did not suspend me. He has a perfect right to do so, and I defend that right. Bishops aren’t bound by civil laws and procedures in internal Church matters.”
‘Once Called Father’
In his YouTube post, Father Corapi characterized the process that led to his suspension as “inherently and fatally flawed.” He added: “The case may be on hold indefinitely, but my life cannot be,” implying that his decision to leave the priesthood and establish “Black Sheep Dog” was essentially forced on him.
The painful decision was guided by legal counsel, he said: “My canon lawyer and my civil lawyers have concluded that I cannot receive a fair and just hearing under the Church’s present process. The Church will conclude that I am not cooperating with the process because I refuse to give up all of my civil and human rights in order to hold harmless anyone who chooses to say defamatory and actionable things against me with no downside to them.”
Attempts to reach Father Corapi for comment were unsuccessful.
He used his statement of resignation as a forum for airing a range of objections regarding the U.S. bishops’ “zero tolerance” policy — though not all the concerns he outlined seemed directly applicable to his particular case.
Curiously, his statement did not explain why his case could not be resolved with the outcome of an investigation initiated by his religious superiors, and that suggested there may be other issues complicating a timely conclusion.
As with most of the recent posts regarding the allegations and suspension on his site and by Santa Cruz Media, this statement included a marketing pitch for his fans, who were encouraged to visit the Black Sheep Dog website: “I hope you stay with us and follow us into our new domain and name of ‘The Black Sheep Dog.’ Through writing and broadcasting we hope to continue to dispense truth and hope to a world so much in need of it.”
In his closing statement — where he signed off as “John Corapi (once called ‘Father,’ now ‘The Black Sheep Dog’),” he acknowledged that some supporters might turn their backs on him. But given the strong encouragement he received after his initial suspension, it is difficult to predict whether he will hold on to his many supporters — and even make new ones in his forthcoming “global” initiative outside Church supervision.
Joan Frawley Desmond writes from Chevy Chase, Maryland.
‘Prayers for Healing’
Statement issued by Father Gerard Sheehan, SOLT regional priest servant, on June 20.
As the regional priest servant of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT), I issue the following statement on behalf of the society.
On 16 March 2011, the bishop of Corpus Christi, Texas, and the SOLT received a complaint against Father John Corapi, SOLT. As is normal procedure and due to the gravity of the accusation alleging conduct not in concert with the priestly state or his promises as a member of a society of apostolic life of diocesan right, Father Corapi was suspended from active ministry (put on administrative leave) until such a time that the complaint could be fully investigated and due process given to Father Corapi. In the midst of the investigation, the SOLT received a letter from Father Corapi, dated June 3, 2011, indicating that, because of the physical, emotional and spiritual distress he has endured over the past few years, he could no longer continue to function as a priest or a member of the SOLT. Although the investigation was in progress, the SOLT had not arrived at any conclusion as to the credibility of the allegations under investigation.
At the onset, the bishop of Corpus Christi advised the SOLT to not only proceed with the policies outlined in their own constitutions, but also with the proper canonical procedures to determine the credibility of the allegations against Father Corapi. We reiterate that Father Corapi had not been determined guilty of any canonical or civil crimes. If the allegations had been found to be credible, the proper canonical due process would have been offered to Father Corapi, including his right to defense, to know his accuser and the complaint lodged, and a fair canonical trial with the right of recourse to the Holy See. On June 17, 2011, Father John Corapi issued a public statement indicating that he has chosen to cease functioning as a priest and a member of the SOLT.
The SOLT is deeply saddened that Father Corapi is suffering distress. The SOLT is further saddened by Father Corapi’s response to these allegations. The SOLT will do all within its power to assist Father Corapi if he desires to seek a dispensation from his rights and obligations as a priest and as a professed member of the SOLT. We request your prayers and the intercession of the Blessed Mother for the healing of Father Corapi and for any who have been negatively affected by Father Corapi’s decision to end his ministry as a priest and a member of the SOLT.
Father Gerard Sheehan, SOLT Regional Priest Servant
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I am deeply saddened by Father Corapi descion he movated and deepen my faith. I can not agree with his decision and will pray to the Sacred Heart, the Blessed Mother and St. Padre Pio.
Father Corapi needs to let go of earthly material and allow the Holy Spirit guide his life, Father Corapi has help so many souls now he has left the souls wondering if he really had their welfare and salvation at heart or trying to expand material wealth I personal think not. I think that Satan is at work trying to silent his message and discredit him.
Padre Pio was faithful to his order during his trials and now he is a Saint. Where is ‘Black Dog’ (Father) Corapi’s obedience to his order? his vows? his faith in the Church? his scrupulous care not to cause scandel? Yes, I learned a lot from Corapi, but also had my ears tickled a lot with his word candy. We should be drawing water (life) from our own wells by now with all the teachers we have had. If you hunger, Jesus/the Holy Spirit will lead you, feed you, guide you in correct paths. Hildy B.
I think all this speculation is terrible. I don’t know his heart and I don’t know what really is going on. Ewtn has set the best example of prudence & that is the path ncregister should take and I don’t think it is.
The whole truth is not being presented for a good reason. We are called to pray as a people for the entire flock, especially our shepherds. We are not called to dig up dirt and spread it all around. I thought secular investigating was for the secular newspapers, not the Register.
Sue: Unfortunately Father’s own statements have been tossing a lot of dirt around on Bishop Mulvey. To give Father a pass on his statements and not get at the truth would be unjust, and it seems that is what the Register is digging for.
I pray for Father Corapi and the person who made statements that has hurt the church. The church has taken a ton of hits but has survied. I pray that Father will reconsider and come back to the church as a priest because God has called Him.
I can understand the frustrations with a slow, bureaucratic process, but many saints suffered at the hands of superiors yet remained faithful to their vows. I just don’t see how the decision to stop ministering as a priest jives with the orthodoxy that Fr. Corapi is famous for. I feel like listening to him now would be like buying a book on having a happy marriage written by a guy who walked out on his family when times got tough.
Fr. Corapi made did the right thing, the Catholic Church in New York has become a joke. Look at Andrew Cuomo, ( What would Jesus do ) Andrew Cuomo should be denied Communion. That’s the only conclusion I can come to after witnessing his brazen efforts to legalize same-sex marriage in New York, directly ignoring and acting against the public pleas and warnings of the bishops of New York.
Andrew Cuomo already is known to be living in sin with his girlfriend. He’s an unapologetic proponent of abortion, and he just signed gay marriage into law
I live in New York, and we have over 300 members who will stand out in front of the Catholic Churches, protesting against the leaders of the New York Church. This will start next week and we hope to have thousands of Christians in a week.
Consider this: A man can discern a vocation, spend 8 or more years in the seminary preparing to become a priest, dedicate his life to the Church, and any person can accuse him of misconduct without proof and totally destroy that priest and his reputation. The Church has left itself wide open to attack and it is not being addressed.
Perhaps, Father Corapi has done exactly the right thing in taking a stand against this type of treatment. I hope and pray that he is vindicated and the Church wakes up to what it is inadvertently doing to its priests.
Our prayers go to Father Corapi. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit guide him for a soon solution to this matter. We would love for Father Corpi to continue his Priesthood.
The bottom line is that John Corapi chose to pursue a civil lawsuit
against his accuser, rather than allow the Church to conduct an
investigation (in which the accuser would not be under duress).
Yes, he would have had to “give up” his “civil rights”.
Evidently, they are more important to him than his Priesthood.
I am not a Catholic but I had become extremely interested in the Church thru the teachings of Father Corapi. I watched him without fail on EWTN for several years and came to know the Blessed Mother thru him. To say that I am saddened by all this would be an understatement. I continue to pray for Father John and am sorry to say that I will stay ‘away’ from joining the Catholic Church at this time!
I have heard many homilies by Father Corapi dealing with Spiritual Warfare in which he has warned us if we’re following Christ, we will be falsely accused. He exhorted us stand firm and fight the good fight. I feel like he didn’t practice what he preached but cut bait and ran. I’m not mad, I’m sad. He was a crown jewel in the Catholic Church and I PRAY WITH ALL MY HEART, he returns to the fold.
INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. I believe Fr. Corapi to be innocent, a victim of libel. [For years priests snarled at me, for I knew not what; no one was honest enough to tell me; then I learned someone had been signing my name to letters all that time without my knowledge or consent. I was totally innocent, but condemned nontheless by their gossip and rash judgment, not given even a chance to clear my name . . . . . .] Corapi deserves to be totally cleared by judicial decree.
@Members of Bible Study Space
Dear friends in Christ,
“I want mercy, not sacrifice!”
Sometimes it is hard to see someone that we love beaten up and nobody doing anything. “It looks like I already read this story somewhere. I will not let this happen again”- we say.
Then we read “Learn from me that I am meek and humble of heart”, “Give the other cheek” , and “ Take up your cross and follow me”. “But it is just rhetoric.” –we say.
Until I became a seminarian, my founder was convicted of many sins and I said: “It is not rhetoric. It is true!”.
But I learn when I was a kid that I should make things happen, I should not just receive and not react like a coward. Then I look at the cross, I pray my stations of the cross, I received the news about my founder and I said: “With Christ, it is worth doing it.”
We don’t follow a priest, a bishop or a Pope. We follow Christ who gave us many priests, many bishops, the Popes as his chosen instruments. Thanks be to God many are really good instruments. John Paul II, Benedict XVI, so many others. I am not a Christian for that, though. I am a Christian for Christ sake (I am sorry if it sounds silly). And if I don’t strive to imitate Christ’s actions, especially his actions in his Passion, I am a makebelieve Christian. I am not; even if I fulfill all the commmandments (The Pharisee and the Publican), I may not be justified before God, and “Cuomo” may be…
It is hard, but if we don’t love, we simply are not Christians… And love is patient, kind, merciful. Take a look at the New York Church with this eyes. Protests against the shepherds destroy the unity of the flock, like Luther did. We are Catholics, we love first and after, with our hearts full of love we do the rest.
Why don’t you pray a Holy Hour for the hierarchy instead of protesting in front of the churches next weekends? I bet it is more Christ-like and more fruitful.
I am praying for you as the future of the New York Church. Thanks for your love for the Church, though! It impressed me a lot.
Yours in Christ, Seminarian Roger (New York)
@Faith Ostlie
I hope I answered a little your problem in my last comment.
Are you expecting complete holiness to enter the Catholic Church? Christ himself chose 12 sinners to start with. But the important is not the beginning but the end. They ended up holy (even though one went astray). And holy for us means fully happy.
I am praying for you. In Christ, Seminarian Roger (New York)
Father was a true inspiration to me over the years. But I must be true to state that I felt very uneasy about him living alone in his own home. Why not a monastery, where he would of been more removed from temptations this world has to offer. God bless all our religious. Truely yours in Christ, Patrick
You say that “The implication of his(Fr Sheehan’s) remarks was that Father Corapi had not accommodated the discipline imposed by the new constitution.” But I know that other SOLT priests who have independent earnings have also not been told to stop doing so. The fact that SOLT say they are in the process of rectifying the sitation doesn’t mean that Fr Corapi has disobeyed an instruction to change the handling of his money and put it under SOLT’s control. Perhaps - like the SOLT priests I know - they had not gotten round to him yet? Fr Sheehan’s comments are open enough to leave that too vague to be sure
We need to pray for Fr. Corapi and ask Our Lady to intercede with her son for the Church so much in need of God’s help. St. Michael the Archangel pray for us.
Do find another order Father Corapi.
Remembering your talks that were shown over and over on EWTN, I am so sad
to think you are no longer a priest.
I hope, in time, with God’s support and the prayers of the people, you will find a religious order where you feel comfortable. I would have said more, but America is now the land of the lawsuit and we must be careful.
You were brave enough to be honest and look what has happened. For those who ask why you had the lady sign the paper that she would not talk about or write about you, tell them to walk a block in your shoes. Of course you needed some protection and we should all understand that.
God Bless you and thank you for the blessings you brought into
our lives. I will watch for more of your writings.
Regards,
Ayasha
This is irresponsible journalism. He has not, as his messages have made clear, left the priesthood or the church. Why doesn’t NCRegister revise or update the article? Do they have an axe to grind?
I think Father Corapi is being treated very badly by the Church. Why didn’t The Bishop or SOLT investigate the allegations of misconduct prior to suspension. How come the accuser is still allowed to Harrass Father John Corapi and others? Why didn’t The Bishop look at the criminal records on the accuser(s) If these people are dangerous then The Bishop has an obligation to protect the people and Father John Corapi seems there are too many holes in this case.
A man, a priest and servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, through the ordination of the Holy Catholic Church, has been accused of wrong doing and misconduct in the eyes of his peers and the flock to whom he has served faithfully for 19 years. This priest, Father John Anthony Corapi, ordained by Blessed John Paul II himself, has been accused of betraying the trust of those to whom his ministry is directed by way of alleged sexual misconduct and the alleged abuse of drugs. To what improper end has this been done and for what gain are these charges leveled by the accuser? We as Catholics, also citizens of the United States of America, live in a nation of due process, as we are a nation of laws and not of men, whereby the accused are afforded the opportunity and right to confront their accuser and to know the nature of the charges and accusations brought against them both civilly and criminally. In circumstances where basic human rights are adhered to, any accused in normal proceedings are always presumed innocent until proven guilty through processes of evidential discovery and witness testimony in addition to the allowance for cross examination by both accused and accuser or their legal counsel. I propose that the matter of Father John Corapi is no longer a matter of internal Catholic Church affairs, but principally involves the violation of basic civil and human rights and I believe that the primary offenders in this entire incident are the Bishop Michael Mulvey and various members of the Diocese of Corpus Christi of Texas. Either by action or inaction, hierarchal members of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, through the directives of the Bishop, have violated the civil and human rights of Father John Anthony Corapi by permitting the public defamation of his reputation and character and have attempted either through negligence, obstruction or indifference, to bring about the ruin of both his vocation, occupation, personal reputation and public life. In respect for these fundamental human rights which as Americans and persons we hold dear, it is my personal intent to withhold any and all financial support from the Catholic Church and its various branches and extended endeavors both within and without the Diocese of Corpus Christi of Texas until such time proper settling of these matters has taken place. This includes and is not limited to, a complete list of the actual charges leveled against John Anthony Corapi, the public release of the original letter of complaint, any and all corroborating evidence and the public release of the name of the complaintant and the offering of a complete and public hearing for both parties. The gates of hell itself cannot prevail upon the Holy Catholic Church, but the spirits of truth, justice and equality must, lest the Catholic Church or its members within become violators of human rights given to wanton character assassination. This letter, written June 18, 2011, is for your notice and consideration. All efforts and cooperation to bring about a prompt resolution to this crisis are greatly appreciated.
Father has good reason to believe the investigation will be lengthy since he has enforced confidentiality contracts forced upon his employees, which barred them from talking. If he wanted a speedy resolution as he claims, he should allow his present and former employees to talk to the investigators.
Their are way too many unknowns here, & quite frankly, I’m not sure what some of your terminations mean, either. I read 2 slangie comments someone blogged, then received the same terms written by Raymond Arroyo,on Face book. It seems this is becoming a back biting & or childish behavior. I’m really embarrassed, for the actions & splitting that everyone’s doing. Stand together for the truth. The Truth has no agenda.
Mr. Corapi’s story smells like 3 day old fish that’s been left in the sun.
May God have mercy on him.
I believe Father John Corapi is telling the truth and the church hierarchy is using this accusation to shut him up. I believe Father Sheehan caved in on his dession that the founder of the SOLT community Father(James) Flanagan said that every mission should take care of it’s own needs noted Father Sheehan at the time. For shame on the church hierarchy in trying to silence it’s important and vocal and intelligent member(s). I believe that if or when investigated that there’s politics involved because some heads were ruffled up and Father John Corapi said something that was truthful and somebody complained about it and went to the Bishop or vise versa. Sincerly Yours H.H.
Father Corapi is God’s child like all of us and has always been a “moreso” person:
Before he entered the priesthood , he did nothing halfway ,
after he entered the priesthood he was not happy till his ministry and help reached the whole world, and
now with things in flux, he is not able to breeze about in limbo, and so he chooses to change lanes to satisfy his “moreso” drive.
The Bible warns us against being Lukewarm - NOT the problem with Father Corapi, it’s just that the rest of us can get scalded or chilled if we do not watch out for ourselves in it all from him !
:-D
May the Holy Spirit continue to inspire us all in the matter and make the best life on Earth and path to Heaven !
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