Medley Minute with Fr Sam: I am deeply saddened at the news of my brother pri...: "'What do you think? He is your brother priest and part of your order?' people ask me this about the sad news that the sexual allegations a..."
I only want to add that this whole saga has me sad and wondering. When I told my husband that I was sad for all of the grey-haired ladies who followed Father Corapi, he said, "What about me?" Yes indeed. What about each individual who has been helped and led to the better life? God help us all.
It looks like Father Sam could help.
Showing posts with label Father Corapi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Father Corapi. Show all posts
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
SOLT News: Press Release Concerning Fr John Corapi from SOLT ...
SOLT News: Press Release Concerning Fr John Corapi from SOLT ...: "July 5, 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE From: Rev. Gerard Sheehan, SOLT Regional Priest Servant Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Ro..."
This is incredibly sad news. Incredible in that Father Corapi profited greatly from those who consider themselves to be very orthodox Catholics, while clearly leading a life of grave sin. Sad in that so many will have their faith shaken by this. I'm reminded of Sinclair Lewis's Elmer Gantry.
Elmer Gantry was an indictment of revivalism in Christianity. At a time when main-line protestants were seeing a drop in church attendance, revivals traveled the country (and still do via the media) to enhance the spiritual experience. But their ability to bring people back to a religious center is limited, because the revivalist movement is based solely on an ego maniacal obsession with bring-em-in. Make some money, move on. Elmer Gantry had very real accusations against him. Given the above statement by the SOLT, the accusations against Father Corapi are just as credible.
Like Elmer Gantry, Father Corapi gave up the high life for a higher life, for a while. Unfortunately during that time in pursuing the higher life, he found his schtick and descended back into the high life. We need to pray for him.
I remember being shocked when he made repeated reference to being hounded by photographers (and exiting his home, naked, and guns blazing) during his visit to Omaha last year. It was creepy to have those images fleeting through the mind as he spoke. But, of course, it was all about him.
After Elmer's true spiritual foil dies in the fire, he leaves, blessing those gathered in sorrow. Will he continue on the straight and narrow? Will he return to his decadent ways? The reader is left to decide that for himself.
So it goes with Father Corapi. Was he maligned but planning to continue in holiness? Has he been decadent and now wants to continue to be so uninhibited? His followers are left to wonder.
God bless Father Corapi. I refuse to not call him Father. He took the vows. He is no less a priest now than I am any less a married woman, even though less than 10% of my activity would require me to be married.
Sad. And Incredible.
This is incredibly sad news. Incredible in that Father Corapi profited greatly from those who consider themselves to be very orthodox Catholics, while clearly leading a life of grave sin. Sad in that so many will have their faith shaken by this. I'm reminded of Sinclair Lewis's Elmer Gantry.
Elmer Gantry was an indictment of revivalism in Christianity. At a time when main-line protestants were seeing a drop in church attendance, revivals traveled the country (and still do via the media) to enhance the spiritual experience. But their ability to bring people back to a religious center is limited, because the revivalist movement is based solely on an ego maniacal obsession with bring-em-in. Make some money, move on. Elmer Gantry had very real accusations against him. Given the above statement by the SOLT, the accusations against Father Corapi are just as credible.
Like Elmer Gantry, Father Corapi gave up the high life for a higher life, for a while. Unfortunately during that time in pursuing the higher life, he found his schtick and descended back into the high life. We need to pray for him.
I remember being shocked when he made repeated reference to being hounded by photographers (and exiting his home, naked, and guns blazing) during his visit to Omaha last year. It was creepy to have those images fleeting through the mind as he spoke. But, of course, it was all about him.
After Elmer's true spiritual foil dies in the fire, he leaves, blessing those gathered in sorrow. Will he continue on the straight and narrow? Will he return to his decadent ways? The reader is left to decide that for himself.
So it goes with Father Corapi. Was he maligned but planning to continue in holiness? Has he been decadent and now wants to continue to be so uninhibited? His followers are left to wonder.
God bless Father Corapi. I refuse to not call him Father. He took the vows. He is no less a priest now than I am any less a married woman, even though less than 10% of my activity would require me to be married.
Sad. And Incredible.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Responding to Father Corapi, Another Open Letter
Dear Father Corapi,
In your recent audio announcing your plans to become the 'blacksheepdog' you say that all things change, only God stays the same. You also express gratitude for the gift you have been given of the last 20 years. Those 20 years, for those who admire and follow your work, have been important in that they brought us closer to God. If God does not change, then his call to you has not changed. In this dark night of your priesthood, be careful not to abandon Him.
Leaving public ministry could be considered 'laying down and dying' only if you believe that is all you are called to. As a priest, you have been called to much more than just public preaching. Your hands have been consecrated so that you may lovingly hold the Body of Christ in the Eucharist. You have been given the faculty to absolve sins, so that in the person of Christ, you can spread his divine Mercy. You can baptize people into unity with Christ and his church. You preside over the vows of Matrimony in a sacrament that is as inviolable as the vows of Holy Orders which you took.
Jesus called you in the past 20 years to speak. Perhaps He is now testing your fortitude by calling you to silence.
I see in your choice of the Black Sheep Dog a reference to the Hound of Heaven. In Thompson's poem, the dog follows him through his dark walks in search of opium, guarding him as he tries to leave his addictions behind, and return to the Father who loves him. Is that your plan? Or are you running in fear from the dog, that is Jesus who wants only to lick your wounds and heal you?
Or are you uniting yourself to Christ in order to better heal the wounds of the Catholic Church by licking its wounds from the outside?
I can't help but feel that if you abandon your priesthood to continue to preach, you are ignoring God's call. I make no mention of accusations or bishops. None of that is at the crux of this matter. You are a priest. You will always be a priest. Speaking or silent, that is fundamental to who you are.
I ask you now to make the choice of Martha and Mary. Do you keep doing, or do you listen to Jesus?
In your recent audio announcing your plans to become the 'blacksheepdog' you say that all things change, only God stays the same. You also express gratitude for the gift you have been given of the last 20 years. Those 20 years, for those who admire and follow your work, have been important in that they brought us closer to God. If God does not change, then his call to you has not changed. In this dark night of your priesthood, be careful not to abandon Him.
Leaving public ministry could be considered 'laying down and dying' only if you believe that is all you are called to. As a priest, you have been called to much more than just public preaching. Your hands have been consecrated so that you may lovingly hold the Body of Christ in the Eucharist. You have been given the faculty to absolve sins, so that in the person of Christ, you can spread his divine Mercy. You can baptize people into unity with Christ and his church. You preside over the vows of Matrimony in a sacrament that is as inviolable as the vows of Holy Orders which you took.
Jesus called you in the past 20 years to speak. Perhaps He is now testing your fortitude by calling you to silence.
I see in your choice of the Black Sheep Dog a reference to the Hound of Heaven. In Thompson's poem, the dog follows him through his dark walks in search of opium, guarding him as he tries to leave his addictions behind, and return to the Father who loves him. Is that your plan? Or are you running in fear from the dog, that is Jesus who wants only to lick your wounds and heal you?
Or are you uniting yourself to Christ in order to better heal the wounds of the Catholic Church by licking its wounds from the outside?
I can't help but feel that if you abandon your priesthood to continue to preach, you are ignoring God's call. I make no mention of accusations or bishops. None of that is at the crux of this matter. You are a priest. You will always be a priest. Speaking or silent, that is fundamental to who you are.
I ask you now to make the choice of Martha and Mary. Do you keep doing, or do you listen to Jesus?
Monday, September 13, 2010
More on Father Corapi
The truth is that I was deeply disappointed in Father Corapi. I wanted to hear about how to really wage war against evil forces. Instead he reiterated that to fight evil we should:
Instead, I heard the wisdom of the ages. God does not change. Good does not change. Only the glamor of the devil changes, in order to find new ways to distract us from the Truth. So Lady Gaga is increasingly outrageous even as Cher recycles a look from 20 years ago. Isn't it interesting that the shock purveyors aren't any more shocking than they were 20 years ago? Cher taught Gaga a lesson. And she reminded us of Truth. Raunchy, tawdry, immodest clothes haven't changed. They've just become more common, and are worn by younger people.
I thank God that the lessons are the same. I thank God the sinners are recognizable. I'm sorry I'm still a sinner like the rest.
I finally thank God that the sins I see in others are sins I have recognized in myself. It helps me to know that I'm not too proud to pray, and repent, and to forgive.
Wouldn't it be cool to see Julia Roberts in a movie called, "Fast, Pray, Give"? I might actually go see that movie. Maybe that could be Gaga's movie debut... I might have to meet her first and convince her... Like that's going to happen.
- Strive to live in a state of grace by avoiding sin.
- Go to confession regularly, and strive to avoid sin.
- Pray regularly, especially the rosary.
- Go to Mass daily, or at least as often as possible.
- Offer up our suffering, rather than complain or try to reduce the suffering.
- Fast.
- Pray.
- Give Alms.
Instead, I heard the wisdom of the ages. God does not change. Good does not change. Only the glamor of the devil changes, in order to find new ways to distract us from the Truth. So Lady Gaga is increasingly outrageous even as Cher recycles a look from 20 years ago. Isn't it interesting that the shock purveyors aren't any more shocking than they were 20 years ago? Cher taught Gaga a lesson. And she reminded us of Truth. Raunchy, tawdry, immodest clothes haven't changed. They've just become more common, and are worn by younger people.
I thank God that the lessons are the same. I thank God the sinners are recognizable. I'm sorry I'm still a sinner like the rest.
I finally thank God that the sins I see in others are sins I have recognized in myself. It helps me to know that I'm not too proud to pray, and repent, and to forgive.
Wouldn't it be cool to see Julia Roberts in a movie called, "Fast, Pray, Give"? I might actually go see that movie. Maybe that could be Gaga's movie debut... I might have to meet her first and convince her... Like that's going to happen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)