www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Fr. John Corapi on Administrative Leave

On Saturday, March 18th, 2011, Fr. Corapi stated on his website that he has been placed on administrative leave pending investigation of a claim by an adult female former employee that he has been in a relationship with her and other women and is a drug addict. He denies the allegations as false, the entire process as without justice:

On Ash Wednesday I learned that a former employee sent a three-page letter to several bishops accusing me of everything from drug addiction to multiple sexual exploits with her and several other adult women. There seems to no longer be the need for a complaint to be deemed “credible” in order for Church authorities to pull the trigger on the Church’s procedure, which was in recent years crafted to respond to cases of the sexual abuse of minors. I am not accused of that, but it seems, once again, that they now don’t have to deem the complaint to be credible or not, and it is being applied broadly to respond to all complaints. I have been placed on “administrative leave” as the result of this.

I’ll certainly cooperate with the process, but personally believe that it is seriously flawed, and is tantamount to treating the priest as guilty “just in case”, then through the process determining if he is innocent. The resultant damage to the accused is immediate, irreparable, and serious, especially for someone like myself, since I am so well known. I am not alone in this assessment, as multiple canon lawyers and civil and criminal attorneys have stated publicly that the procedure does grave damage to the accused from the outset, regardless of rhetoric denying this, and has little regard for any form of meaningful due process.

All of the allegations in the complaint are false, and I ask you to pray for all concerned.

From Fr. Corapi's web site:

A Call for Prayer
On Ash Wednesday I learned that a former employee sent a three-page letter to several bishops accusing me of everything from drug addiction to multiple sexual exploits with her and several other adult women. There seems to no longer be the need for a complaint to be deemed “credible” in order for Church authorities to pull the trigger on the Church’s procedure, which was in recent years crafted to respond to cases of the sexual abuse of minors. I am not accused of that, but it seems, once again, that they now don’t have to deem the complaint to be credible or not, and it is being applied broadly to respond to all complaints. I have been placed on "administrative leave" as the result of this.

I’ll certainly cooperate with the process, but personally believe that it is seriously flawed, and is tantamount to treating the priest as guilty “just in case”, then through the process determining if he is innocent. The resultant damage to the accused is immediate, irreparable, and serious, especially for someone like myself, since I am so well known. I am not alone in this assessment, as multiple canon lawyers and civil and criminal attorneys have stated publicly that the procedure does grave damage to the accused from the outset, regardless of rhetoric denying this, and has little regard for any form of meaningful due process.

All of the allegations in the complaint are false, and I ask you to pray for all concerned.

follow up:
Corpus Christi, Texas, Mar 21, 2011 / 05:58 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Popular speaker and author Fr. John Corapi has been placed on administrative leave by superiors within his religious order following recent allegations of misconduct.

Fr. Corapi said in a March 19 statement that a 3-page letter submitted by a former, unidentified female employee was entirely “false.” The letter claimed that the priest took part in sexual encounters with several adult women and engaged in habitual drug use.

Fr. Corapi – a member of Texas-based Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity – is an internationally-known speaker and author who has appeared regularly on Catholic television and radio programs.

He gained a widespread audience with his conversion story. After a prominent career as a wealthy businessman, his life spiraled out of control due to a cocaine addiction, eventually leading to him living on the streets. He later joined the Catholic Church and was ordained a priest.

On March 18, Fr. Gerry Sheehan, Regional Priest Servant for the society, issued a statement saying that Fr. Corapi had been placed “on administrative leave from priestly ministry, in accordance to the Code of Cannon Law of the Catholic Church.”

“We have an allegation that Father Corapi has behaved in a manner unbecoming of a priest and are duty-bound to conduct an investigation in this accusation.”

Fr. Sheehan said it was “important to keep in mind that this action in no way implies Fr. Corapi is guilty of the allegation.”

“It is equally important to know that, based on the information we have received thus far,” he added, “the claim of misconduct does not involve minors and does not arise to the (level) of criminal conduct.”

The broadcast of Fr. Corapi’s homilies and teachings is also being affected by the allegation. The Eternal Word Television Network issued a statement from its CEO Michael Warsaw on March 21. He said that the “troubling situation” will result in the suspension of the priest's radio and television shows until further notice.

“As a result of this evolving story EWTN has deemed it prudent to place Fr. John's TV and Radio programs 'on leave' as well, pending the resolution of this situation,” Warsaw said.

“We take this step reluctantly and hope for a speedy resolution,” he added, saying he joins “Fr. John in asking all our family to not only pray for him but for all who may be involved.”

The 63 year-old priest said that he was informed of the accusations, which were reportedly sent to numerous bishops by the former employee, on March 9.

“On Ash Wednesday I learned that a former employee sent a three-page letter to several bishops accusing me of everything from drug addiction to multiple sexual exploits with her and several other adult women,” he said.

Fr. Corapi – who has been an outspoken critic of bishops' zero-tolerance policy in the wake of sex abuse scandals involving minors within the Church – said that from his perspective, being placed on leave was an equally reactionary move.

“There seems to no longer be the need for a complaint to be deemed 'credible' in order for Church authorities to pull the trigger on the Church’s procedure,” he said on his website.

Although he is not being accused of misconduct related to minors, Fr. Corapi added that “it seems, once again, that they now don’t have to deem the complaint to be credible or not, and it is being applied broadly to respond to all complaints.”

“I’ll certainly cooperate with the process, but personally believe that it is seriously flawed, and is tantamount to treating the priest as guilty 'just in case,' then through the process determining if he is innocent.”

“The resultant damage to the accused is immediate, irreparable, and serious, especially for someone like myself, since I am so well known,” he said.

“I am not alone in this assessment, as multiple canon lawyers and civil and criminal attorneys have stated publicly that the procedure does grave damage to the accused from the outset, regardless of rhetoric denying this, and has little regard for any form of meaningful due process,” Fr. Corapi added.

“All of the allegations in the complaint are false, and I ask you to pray for all concerned,” he said.

The Diocese of Corpus Christi, where the Society of of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity's mother house is located, said that although the case is outside its jurisdiction – given that Fr. Corapi is not a priest of the diocese – making the assumption that he is guilty of the allegations “is definitely not in order.”

“Fr. Corapi has done many great things – he should be presumed innocent of these allegations until proven otherwise,” Marty Wynd, director of communications told CNA in a March 21 phone interview.

“There's so many great priests who've done great things,” he added. “We have to be very, very careful here, and not presume any kind of guilt.”

Fr. Sheehan noted that the situation will now be “investigated internally, and unless and until information suggests otherwise it will not be referred to civil authorities.”

“In the event that we learn of any occasion where the criminal civil law may have been breached we will immediately refer the matter to civil authorities,” he added.

I do not believe any allegations against Father Corapi. This is just an example of an attack upon the character of a holy priest!

Oh how I love Father Corapi. He has blessed us with such amazing inspiration. God in heaven please free him immediately from this awful situation. Strengthen Father as he endures the snares of the devil. And please help the accuser that she find the love of God.

While I ain't no fan of Fr. Corapi I do think that the bishops' readiness to bring down living hell on the head of any priest accused of serious misconduct is yet another symptom of clericalism. As I have made clear in the past on this forum I ain't got much use for bishops' ways of handling problems. They used to try and sweep embarassing realities under the rug. Nowadays they like to act like a buncha tough guys in a vain effort to convince folks they've had a collective change of heart.

I still adhere to my suspicion that a lot of what they do they do in order to protect themselves and their cozy, comfy lifestyles. (man, them lawsuits are expensive) I don't for a minute believe it's about Jesus.

I wish I didn't think this way but I do. I ain't gonna be receptive to being labelled as uncharitable on this issue. If I said here all of what I REALLY think, then that might be uncharitable...or not.

And I'll sure pray for Fr. Corapi.

I will add my prayers with the others who are praying.

And I will also add that let's not speculate. If you really need to discuss the way these situations are handled in the Church that's fine, but not with named people.

Many thanks!

And as we have seen even more recently with Fr. Angelus (Melkite) it is an all-too often occurrance. Prayers for everyone involved.

One just never knows the whole truth in these situations, yet I'm not sure on which side those in authority should err.

Case in point- a very popular priest gave ignatian retreats throughout the country and was the spiritual director for the Missionaries of Charity. The priest was accused of child abuse, which allegedly (at the time) had occured some decades prior. Many rushed to his defense and began raising funds for his legal defense. Many of his defenders claimed that he was being attacked because he was a holy and faithful priest. He was later convicted.

During his subsequent appeal, the priest lost a most ardent defender, benefactor, and friend when the latter's 2 sons revealed to their father that the priest had been molesting them when the priest visited their home or when the boys (at different times) had accompanied the priest as his "personal assistants" to different cities where the priest gave these retreats.

Let's pray that the truth comes to light...

Just a note of clarification.

The "bishops" have done nothing in the case. Fr Corapi was placed on leave by his religious superior who then notified the bishop of the diocese where the religious institute is based.

Fr. Angelus had admitted doing the things he's accused of. That's why Archbishop Cyril (Bustros) suspended him almost immediately.

In cases of possible child abouse, "protecting the innocent" is a trick business.

Even if we ASSUME the accused is innocent until proven otherwise. We KNOW that potential additional victims are innocent and in need of protection.

If the reasons for Fr. John's administrative leave were made public, I'd understand his anger and frustration, but the administrative leave in itself might be the lesser of two evils. However, if they were not made public until Fr. John chose to disclose them through his website, then we can hardly blame the church authorities.

This whole scandal is a mess, no matter from which angle you see it.

Shalom,
Memo

I'm hoping these accusations against Fr. Corapi are proven false. Either error is bad... the earlier error was cover it up and move the guy somewhere else, and now, just the accusation can get you suspended, whether it's true or not. Sad.

And rightly so. Eis polla eti, Despota.

The latest development: Fr. Corapi is leaving active ministry.

Read the announcement: http://theblacksheepdog.us/

or listen to it: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheBlackSheepdog1

Reactions:

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/06/about-fr-john-corapi-with-observations-about-our-times/

http://www.ncregister.com/fr.-corapi-has-lost-it.html

http://www.patheos.com/community/di...kes-to-john-corapi-concern-and-sympathy/