Broken
If I had to guess, I’d say you’ve never heard of Rev. John Corapi, SOLT.
Rev. John Corapi, SOLT
In addition, I found his personal story compelling. Ex-military volunteer in the Viet Nam era, he got through most of green beret training, but an injury meant he ended up doing clerical work. After the army, he got a business degree and was a financial adviser for Tropicana before moving on to Las Vegas to become a real estate magnate, a multi-millionaire in his early thirties.
In Las Vegas he became embroiled in nearly every sin and vice for which that city is famous: sex, drink, drugs, and the odd financial swindle. He ended up a vagrant on the streets, an addict, his fortune gone, a broken man.
Through the prayers of his mother and the grace of God, he had a conversion experience that eventually led him to seminary. He was ordained a priest by Blessed Pope John Paul II in 1991.
I latched on to his story, that of a modern-day Saint Augustine, when my son Tristan was arrested.
Tristan crashed his car into a tree, killing his girlfriend India Escobar while the both of them were under the influence of LSD. Several weeks later, while in a drunken stupor, Tristan was run down by a vehicle in the street, and then run over again by another car. His bones were shattered and his body broken. One of his doctors confided in me that he didn’t understand how he was still alive.
After finally being released from hospital, Tristan pled guilty to vehicular manslaughter in open court and tearfully apologized to India’s family. He went to prison, served his time, and was released. He will live with the physical problems for the rest of his life. While these are bad enough, one can only imagine what the emotional ones must be like.
So you could see how I could take inspiration from Fr. Corapi’s story as I prayed for Tristan’s conversion.
If Fr. Corapi could have such a conversion to Christ, and could then go on to build up the Body of Christ in such a dramatic fashion, then surely it could happen to my son.
You know what’s coming, don’t you?
I’ll spare you the gory details. Here is part of today’s press release from Fr. Corapi’s Order, the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity:
While SOLT does not typically comment publicly on personnel matters, it recognizes that Fr. John Corapi, through his ministry, has inspired thousands of faithful Catholics …
SOLT’s fact-finding team has acquired information from Fr. Corapi’s e-mails, 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 Fr. John Corapi, under obedience, to return home to the Society’s regional office and take up residence there. …
SOLT’s prior direction to Fr. 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 Fr. John Corapi as fit for ministry.
(Source)
When the various allegations came out these past few months, I held my tongue. Here is a man I trusted and admired, whose teaching on the Catechism had affected me profoundly. I could not believe the allegations were true.
But with this press release, I must.
Fr. Corapi betrayed his vows to God, betrayed the Church, and betrayed the trust of everyone who had taken his personal story to heart and found inspiration there. He betrayed me.
I understand how men can fall. I fall constantly into sin, and only the grace of God and the sacrament of Confession pulls me up again. But this is not a story of falling after a conversion.
I fear that this is a story of a confidence man, plain and simple.
Much of his professed biography is now unraveling. His military story is a complete fabrication. Who knows how much of his story was ever true. Was any of it true?
His life was a lie, told on television. He lied to me.
Every profession – every vocation – has people like this: predators, drawn to the vulnerable and the trusting. The priesthood is not immune; in many ways it’s their perfect cover. Wolves in sheepdog clothing.
Fr. Corapi has now renounced his priesthood and cast aspersions on his bishop and his religious order. He’s lawyered up. He’s made several very creepy videos telling his side of the story with a thick, slurred voice-over.
The man is pretty obviously broken, but it’s not too late for him to turn this around.
Fr. Corapi, you know that Christ will have mercy on you if you but ask. I’ve heard you preach on this quite eloquently.
Even now He showers His immeasurable love and mercy on men far more wicked than you. He only asks a contrite heart, for reconciliation and penance. My young son could do as much in far worse circumstances.
For myself, I forgive you. I pray for your conversion, as I continue to pray for Tristan’s conversion, and for the intercession of St. Monnica and her son St. Augustine. As I continue to pray for my own conversion.
The Lord heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds (cf. Psalm 147:3). He can work miracles, and I am confident that He will.
Edited to add:
Perhaps not coincidentally, here is today’s reading from the Rule (July 6):
Chapter 29:
Whether Brethren Who Leave the Monastery Should Be Received Again
If a brother
who through his own fault leaves the monastery
should wish to return,
let him first promise full reparation for his having gone away;
and then let him be received in the lowest place,
as a test of his humility.
And if he should leave again,
let him be taken back again,
and so a third time;
but he should understand that after this
all way of return is denied him.
Both Mark Shea and Fr. Z have good takes on the Fr. Corapi morass. This, however, is the only thing I plan on saying on the matter.
In a larger context, this is a question that a variety of people wrestle with whenever we see this sort of thing happen. How can we trust a priest? Aren’t priest supposed to be above this? Peter Seewald in his interview with the Pope in ‘Light of the World’ discusses this societal ideal of putting priests up on this ‘sinless’ pedestal. And the negative affects of it, since it seems doubly heinous when a priest lies. All human beings are fallen. All human beings are imperfect. Even priests. What we should remember, however, is that it is a testament that Christ has not abandoned the Church since we are able to identify problems like this and rebuke the people, while pointing them toward repentance and forgiveness. That we are able to not only identify and repudiate these problems, but that we take them as a call to turn back to holiness, reprove ourselves, and continually remember that we are fallen.
Indeed it is why we are not ‘saved’, but we must remember the words of St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” This constant introspection is what calls us to the communion with saints and with God above.
I keep thinking of that old saying – you don’t leave Christ because of Judas.
How’s Tristan doing now? I remember when it was all happening…
Hi Jen! Tristan is better than I expected he would be, but then he’s always had a very strong personality. He will be heading down to Portland in the fall to attend the Art Institute there. He got quite a few college credits from Walla Walla Community College while he was in prison.
He’s genuinely excited about the prospect, and he’s got the financials all worked out. Keep praying!
Good! For what it’s worth, I had better financial aid packages at private schools than the state one I went to. I’ve heard a lot of good about that school, too.
While I don’t know this person or his story, I’m gratified that the church chose to publicly denounce him and strip him of any church authority(if I understand what they said), rather than try and sweep it under the rug and move him to another parish to harm more people. It seems the church has learned a lesson from its past.
I’m saddened a man who claimed to be a man of God would act in such a fashion, and besmirch the Body and Christ. While I’m certain both the church and Christ will survive the crisis, it certainly makes our jobs as witnesses harder. I will join you, Thom, in praying for this man.
He seems to be missing heaven by 14 inches. If you’ve never heard the saying, it seems Mr. Corapi has enough book knowledge to impress and educate Thom, but not a word of it has touched his heart.
Father, may this man no longer hear the words of evil whispered into his ear, but Your Words whispered into his heart.
Amen.