Father John Corapi's Conversion Story

In light of all the recent news surrounding Father John Corapi, I have decided to repost his conversion story video. I think hearing this will shed some light on what Corapi was as a preacher and why his story profoundly impacted so many people. It also provides context to the sadness felt by many at hearing his decision to leave public ministry as a priest.

Bishop Emeritus of Corpus Christi Writes in Support of Corapi's Decision

In the interest of fairness, I felt compelled to post this link to Bishop Emeritus Rene Gracida's blog writing in support of Father John Corapi's actions. Bishop Gracida admits he has not spoken to Father Corapi, but he explains how he believes Father Corapi is justified in his actions, especially the filing of a civil law suit against the woman who initiated the accusations of Corapi's alleged misconduct.

Bishop Gracida contends in a response to a comment on this post that Corapi has not left the priesthood, but only SOLT. In fact, the Bishop Emeritus seems to hold hope that Corapi may some day return to his public ministry.

This story is clearly fluid and more information will certainly continue to come out from many sources. I will continue to follow the story and post updates as new insights are revealed.

Regardless, of the outcome of this saga, I continue to believe this is a time for intense Eucharistic adoration and mortification.

Here is also a link to the SOLT News and the order's official statement on the Corapi case.

Lessons & Reflections on the Father Corapi Announcement

My Connection to Corapi

Honestly, it has still not sunk in that Father John Corapi may never preach again as a priest in the Roman Catholic Church. Father Corapi's conversion story, his preaching and teaching have had a tremendous impact on my development and formation as a Catholic man. I can still remember waking up in the middle of the night hearing his conversion story on EWTN. Stacey and I have been to several of his conferences, most recently last August in San Antonio. We own several of his CD's which have aided me in preparing many of my catechetical presentations for RCIA and Joe Catholic.

The Announcement

I was reluctant to write anything about this back at the beginning of Lent when Corapi made the accusations public on his website. Since then, very little had been heard about the status of the investigation until Corapi's announcement yesterday.

First Response

This is my immediate response: these are times for great charity, prayer, mortification and time spent on our knees before the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Not just for Father Corapi, but for ALL priests who come under severe attack from Satan and his minions. As I recently read in another Catholic blog, the devil "hates priests and bishops."

Something Not Right

I don't know if Father Corapi is innocent or guilty of the accusations made against him. At this point, I don't think that even matters. I have listened to his announcement and read the print version on his new website. The one thing that bothered me about it immediately, is his insistence that he will carry on in a new way. He says, "I can only do what I can do. 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. I am, indeed, not ready to be extinguished. Under the name 'The Black Sheep Dog,' I shall be with you through radio broadcasts and writing." 

Disappointment and Disobedience

If he has been asked by his superiors and the bishop(s) to stop his public ministry as a priest, shouldn't he stop altogether? I don't know anything about Canon law but it seems to me that he is towing a fine a line. As another priest noted on his blog yesterday, Corapi is maintaining a "pretense of obedience while he is disobedient." Father Joe Jenkins, the BloggerPriest, goes on to say that once a priest is suspended, he "can neither preach nor teach religion." I think Father Corapi has even said in his talks: once a priest, always a priest. Jimmy Akin, of Catholic Answers, writes "it is hard to read this as anything but a statement that Fr. Corapi plans to ignore ecclesiastical supervision of any kind and continue his pastoral 'sheepdog' ministry."

Final Reflection

To say I am disappointed and perplexed by Father Corapi's actions is an understatement. I don't disagree that there should be some revisions to the judicial process faced by accused priests. Nevertheless, I hoped Corapi would fight THROUGH the process while quietly abiding by his superiors, perhaps even spending hours before the Blessed Sacrament. Instead, he has chosen a defiant path.

I think the following quotation says it all: “We should always be disposed to believe that that which appears white is really black, if the hierarchy of the Church so decides.” -St. Ignatius of Loyola

Father's Day Guest Post: Canterbury Tales

Today's special Father's Day guest post is from Taylor Marshall who lives in Dallas, Texas. Marshall is a former Episcopal priest. He and is wife were received into the Catholic Church by Bishop Kevin Vann on May 23, 2006. He has previously worked for the Catholic Information Center in Washington, D. C. and has appeared on EWTN's the Journey Home with Marcus Grodi. Marshall is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Philosophy at the University of Dallas focusing on the Natural Law theory of Saint Thomas Aquinas.

In addition to working on his very successful blog, canterbury tales, Taylor Marshall has written two Catholic books. Most recently, he published The Catholic Perspective on Paul.

Fathers, Give Your Children a Gift: Pray with them the Rosary 365 days for 18 years!

The father of Holy Father John Paul II
He prayed nightly on his knees 

Tomorrow is Father's Day. Fathers, consider giving a gift in return. The best gift you could give to your children is to lead them in praying the Rosary every night with your family: for each child that's the Rosary 365 nights a year for 18 years. That's 348,210 Hail Mary's with "pray for us...at the hour of death"! (multiply that number times how many children you have)

• Also, praying will become for your children as natural as getting dressed or brushing their teeth. 
• When they go to college, they'll have a habit of praying the Rosary. 
• They will also have the life of Christ thoroughly memorized because of the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. 
• Everyone in your family who participates in the daily family Rosary can potentially receive a plenary indulgence every day (the usual conditions apply). 
• You're family will come together around Jesus and Mary every day - great memories. 

Blessed John Paul II said that he owes his vocation to seeing his dad praying on his knees every night. How many children have never seen their father on his knees in prayer? Why not make this a daily practice and lead by example? 

Happy Fathers Day. Be a father, and hold the spiritual reigns of your home.

ad Jesum per Mariam,

Taylor
PS: Having a hard time establishing the daily Rosary in your home? Here are 12 tips for praying the Family Rosary daily (please click here).

Father Corapi Update & Guest Post

Father Corapi and me in Austin, TX. Alexander House Event

Fr. Corapi Update
I am working on putting together a post reflecting on and commenting on the recent announcement made by Father Corapi.

Taylor Marshall on Fatherhood
Additionally, and not related, we will have a special guest post from Taylor Marshall tomorrow about Father's Day from a great Catholic perspective.

[Editor's Note: It's obvious by the amount of traffic this minor post has received, that people are still interested and praying for Fr. Corapi. I don't have any new insights or information. I can recommend the Father John Corapi website, which contains a number of his talks in YouTube format, and the Fr. Corapi Facebook page. These are the closest things to having regular information and places for people to share their prayers for Fr. Corapi. None of the sites are officially associated with Fr. Corapi.]

The Black Sheep Dog

You may know by now that Father John Corapi had been placed on a administrative leave because of an accusation made by a former employee. Today, just two days shy of his 20th anniversary as a priest he announced he is quitting his public ministry as a priest. Listen to his announcement.

The Fathers Know Best

If you have ever watched the program, The Journey Home on EWTN, you will discover a trend among the guests who share how they have entered into the Catholic Church. (I highly recommend watching this program; it will help you in your discussions with our non-Catholic brothers and sisters.) Many of them, including a great number of former Protestant ministers, were led back to the Church through their study of the Early Church Fathers. 

Jimmy Akin's new book, The Fathers Know Best collects a number of writings and quotations from the church fathers. It is a great read for learning about the early years of the Church and how the leaders dealt with many heresies that arose during that time (some still lingering around to this day) and how that resulted in councils and creeds. It's important to note that one of the great lessons to learn from the work of the Fathers of the Church is that the Church's teaching has been consistent since its inception. The statements were written in response and to clarify, not to create new teaching. 

My favorite statement about the Church Fathers was one made by a Catholic apologist who said, "would you rather heed the words of someone from the 1500's or someone who was around in the early years of the Church"?

If you are interested in reading more about Church history here are some recommendations:

The Fathers Know Best by Jimmy Akin

Triumph, The Power and the Glory of the Catholic Church by H.W. Crocker III

Ten Dates Every Catholic Should Know by Diane Moczar

St. Josemaria Escriva: Saint of the Ordinary Life

Picture provided with permission from Opus Dei.

Life and Death
Saint Josemaría Escrivá was born in Barbastro, Spain on January 9, 1902. He had five siblings: one older sister named Carmen, three younger sisters who all died very young and a younger brother, Santiago. His parents, Jose and Dolores Escrivá raised their family in devoutly Catholic faith and home.

Footprints in the Snow

In 1915, Josemaría’s father’s textile business failed and he relocated the family to the town of Longroño. Here Josemaria had his first inkling that God was calling him do something. One evening when he was fifteen, he was walking home, and he saw the bare footprints of a monk in the snow. This experience moved him to feel God’s call to serve Him. Though he was not yet completely certain of God’s will, Josemaría discerned that the message would be more clear if he joined the priesthood.

Universal Call to Holiness
He was ordained in Zaragoza on March 28, 1925. He was first assigned to a rural parish and in 1927 moved to Madrid to study law. On October 2, 1928, God showed him what he wanted him to do - establish Opus Dei (the Work of God) and help ordinary Christians seek sanctity through and in their daily ordinary lives. In essence, God called him to lead others in the mission of the laity to pursue universal holiness nearly forty years before this concept was put forth by Vatican II. From that point forward, Josemaría dedicated his entire life to the foundation of the Work.

Canonization
Opus Dei received the recognition of the Holy See in 1950. Josemaría travelled throughout Europe and Latin America to nurture the growth of Opus Dei until his sudden death in Rome on June 26, 1975. His cause for canonization was opened in 1981 and he was beatified in 1992 by Pope John Paul II. Ten years later he was canonized on October 6, 2002 by Pope John Paul II who said, “Following in his footsteps, spread in society the awareness that we are called to holiness, without distinction of race, class, culture or age.”

Prolific Writer
True to his surname, which sounds like the Spanish word to write , Josemaría wrote a number of books including The Way, Furrow and The Forge. Other recommended reading: Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace, Scott Hahn.