Prayers For Fr. Corapi

[Seven77]

[quote name='Brother Adam' timestamp='1300563404' post='2221760']
I don't find any of the commentary helpful. The man is totally innocent until proven guilty. He has claimed innocence as well. The benefit of the doubt must be given until proven otherwise. That is the only reasonable way for law to function. If we allow it to taint our view of Father Corapi now, Satan wins. This should not change our view of him any more than if I randomly walked down the street and started pointing at random people saying "they sexually abused me". Without the good Father admitting he has done something wrong, or until credible proof convicts him of wrong doing, [b]it is inappropriate to view him in any other light than you did yesterday.[/b]
[/quote]

I agree.

[Era Might]

[quote]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.[/quote]
I'm not sure how a Bishop could allow a Priest to just go on with his public ministry as if nothing had happened. I understand the position someone like Fr. Corapi is in, susceptible to false accusations, but with such an accusation as this I think it's pretty much necessary for a Bishop to suspend the Priest's public ministry while the accusation is investigated. If the accusation is truly not credible then it shouldn't take much time for the Priest's name to be cleared and for him to resume public ministry.

Edited March 19, 2011 by Era Might

[littleflower+JMJ]

[quote name='Era Might' timestamp='1300569989' post='2221790']
I'm not sure how a Bishop could allow a Priest to just go on with his public ministry as if nothing had happened. I understand the position someone like Fr. Corapi is in, susceptible to false accusations, but with such an accusation as this I think it's pretty much necessary for a Bishop to suspend the Priest's public ministry while the accusation is investigated. If the accusation is truly not credible then it shouldn't take much time for the Priest's name to be cleared and for him to resume public ministry.
[/quote]

the key word is credible. the problem sometimes lies within if the accuser is examined and investigated as well first. not from a criminalizing standpoint of course but more of a informative basis. at least to question and understand who it is coming from and what the situation is.

it does no good [b]after[/b] the damage is done to realize the claim had no warrant or basis from the particular person in the first place. (not always the case of course, but it does happen)

of course, we do not know this particular case and how much has been discussed but to talk about lengthy measures with no basis while the innocent waits for something (at times never) to be found is not a fair position to be in and most likely what Fr. is speaking of.

let us pray for our priests. St. Joseph, Pray for us!

[DameAgnes]

http://www.patheos.com/community/theanchoress/2011/03/19/fr-john-corapi-accused/

[MithLuin]

The issue of 'credible'....


The Church's zero-tolerance policy is only supposed to come into play in cases of 'credible' accusations. Meaning, if someone just walks in off the street and says 'this happened' and there is nothing to back it up and the priest denies it...further investigation is supposed to happen [i]before[/i] administrative leave kicks in. I suppose a credible accusation names witnesses (or other victims) and has dates and places attached to it.

That doesn't mean that only guilty people are put on leave, but there's supposed to be at least a modicum of legitimacy to the complaint for starters.

I would not be surprised if in this case, the 'credible' part is simply that she did in fact work for him. No one can deny that she knew him and spent time around him.

The whole thing is just so sad and maddening.

[krissylou]

[quote name='littleflower+JMJ' timestamp='1300571644' post='2221793']
it does no good [b]after[/b] the damage is done to realize the claim had no warrant or basis from the particular person in the first place. (not always the case of course, but it does happen)
[/quote]

I'm not sure that's true.

It seems to me that Cardinal Bernardin's reputation was wholly restored in the end.

Admittedly, that was before the current round of awfulness started about 2002. But still.

(Just realizing that I bet a lot of you don't remember Cardinal Bernardin. Golly I'm old.)

[BG45]

Prayers!

[Debra Little]

[quote name='Era Might' timestamp='1300569989' post='2221790']
I'm not sure how a Bishop could allow a Priest to just go on with his public ministry as if nothing had happened. I understand the position someone like Fr. Corapi is in, susceptible to false accusations, but with such an accusation as this I think it's pretty much necessary for a Bishop to suspend the Priest's public ministry while the accusation is investigated. If the accusation is truly not credible then it shouldn't take much time for the Priest's name to be cleared and for him to resume public ministry.
[/quote]

by then the damage has been done and rebuilding the lost trust a long roe to hoe.

[dominicansoul]

[quote name='krissylou' timestamp='1300574611' post='2221807']
I'm not sure that's true.

It seems to me that Cardinal Bernardin's reputation was wholly restored in the end.

Admittedly, that was before the current round of awfulness started about 2002. But still.

(Just realizing that I bet a lot of you don't remember Cardinal Bernardin. Golly I'm old.)
[/quote]

i remember he had two men accuse him, correct? but then they re-neged and said they only made it up hopeing for big bucks in a lawsuit....(if I remember correctly...)

[MithLuin]

One of his accusers is/was Stephen Cook, a former seminarian. He did retract his accusation against Cardinal Bernardin, but not against another man who had abused him. I don't know if the other person accused was a priest or not.

People can come up with some pretty sordid stuff. I don't...feel the need to give much ear to such accusations, though I do think the leaders of the Church need to take things seriously and investigate. That's part of their responsibility. But for me...I would just be giving ear to gossip.