One item not mentioned by NCR is the fact that Fr. Corapi registered The Black Sheepdog trademark (Thanks to Matt Abbott for that info.) over a year ago, on April 8, 2010 to be exact. Is it possible Father had another idea for this before the fat hit the fan? Was he at work on his book about a "sheepdog" whose primary ministry is going after the "black sheep?" Or was he already preparing to be the "black sheepdog" and leave the priesthood over a year ago, almost a year before the accusation of sexual impropriety went public on Ash Wednesday of 2011?
The situation is sad and another blow to dear Holy Mother Church.
Please pray for Fr. Corapi. I've never really followed him and have never attended one of his conferences, but I'm sad when any priest flees the cross and instead chooses the way of the world. Will his new ministry as a layman working outside the Church bring more blessings to the people of God or will it be one more alternative magisterium?
And will it be more beneficial to his soul?
I don't know; I'm just asking. But when I look at the saints, I see men and women who chose suffering, even unjust suffering to the point of martyrdom, rather than the road of personal gain and expediency.
It's a hard choice. After all, who likes to suffer? But in the end I would rather follow laymen like St. Thomas More and Margaret Clitherow than "The Black Sheepdog." Lord, give me the grace to do it. You know well what a coward I am.
I don't know, but I think Fr. C is probably suffering even tho he's leaving the priesthood, given the circumstances. At least we know where to find him. There have been priests that have been sent to Limbo by Bishops over the years; we never find out their status. In fact, there have been a few that I would have loved to have for spiritual direction but could not find a way to contact them. Perhaps Fr. C is able to reach more people in this manner. Does not sound unwise to me.
ReplyDeleteI know a few of those disappeared priests. So much of the on-going scandal can be laid squarely at the door of the American bishops. What sad times we live in.
ReplyDeleteNot Enough Information to draw reasonable judgments in my view. But, that being said, the bishops don't give one confidence that they are good shepherds. That is what is so tragic. They just look like businessmen with miters.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't the question ultimately come down to, "Is there ever a good enough reason for a man to abandon his vows and leave the priesthood?"
ReplyDeleteI guess I feel the same way about a priest's vows as I do about the marriage vows.
And I grieve for the priests I know who have left and I know more than a few. That's not to say they may not be in great pain, and I can understand their decisions. Nevertheless, my heart grieves over their loss.
Actually, three separate trademarks have been created. One for books, one for mp3s and podcasts, and one for lectures. I took screenshots of the US Patent and Trademark Office's entries for all three:
ReplyDeletehttp://easycaptures.com/fs/uploaded/471/4952789551.png
http://easycaptures.com/fs/uploaded/471/0454720144.png
http://easycaptures.com/fs/uploaded/471/3044860465.png
May be of interest
Ray Schneider, I'm with you.
ReplyDeleteI'm starting to feel like I'm in the middle of that game we used to playh at parties when I was a little girl..."Post Office"!
Bishop Gracida has written n article on this affair and has explained many things. I urge everyone to read what he has to say.
ReplyDeleteThe rash judgement of NCR is appalling. I have heard that the priesthood is often very lonely - for Fr Corapi it certainly is. Who knows, perhaps some good changes will happen within the Church through all this. "His ways are not our ways" - let's wait and see what happens - and in the meantime, PRAY.
ReplyDeletejf