Father John A. Corapi was
involved in "years of cohabitation" with a former prostitute, repeated
abuse of alcohol and drugs and "serious violation" of his promise of
poverty, according to a fact-finding team appointed by his religious
order.
Father Corapi, who recently announced he would leave the priesthood
because he could not get a "fair hearing" on misconduct allegations
against him, has been ordered by the Society of Our Lady of the Most
Holy Trinity to return to live at the order's regional headquarters in
Robstown, Texas, and to dismiss a lawsuit against the woman whose
accusations prompted the investigation.
"Catholics should understand that (the order) does not consider Father
John Corapi as fit for ministry," said a July 5 news release from Father
Gerard Sheehan, regional priest servant for the order, commonly known
as SOLT.
Although Father Corapi's ministry "has inspired thousands of faithful
Catholics," the news release said, he is "now misleading these
individuals through his false statements and characterizations."
"It is for these Catholics that SOLT, by means of this announcement, seeks to set the record straight," it added.
There was no immediate response to the announcement from Father Corapi.
The order said its three-member fact-finding team had gathered
information "from Father Corapi's emails, various witnesses and public
sources" and had concluded that the priest:
-- "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."
-- "Repeatedly abused alcohol and drugs."
-- "Has recently engaged in sexting activity with one or more women in Montana."
-- "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 this society."
Although he did not name them, Father Sheehan said the fact-finding team
was made up of a priest specializing in canon law, a psychiatrist and a
lawyer, each of whom has a national reputation and "substantial
experience in ecclesiastical processes related to priest disciplinary
issues."
Two of the three were members of religious orders, and the third was a layperson. Two were men and one was a woman, he said.
As the team was carrying out its work, Father Corapi filed a civil suit
against his principal accuser and then offered $100,000 for her silence,
the news release said. Other key witnesses who "may have negotiated
contracts ... that precluded them from speaking" with the team declined
to answer its questions or provide documents, it said.
When the fact-finding team asked Father Corapi to dismiss the lawsuit
and release individuals from their contractual obligations to remain
silent, "he refused to do so and, through his canonical advocate,
stated, 'It is not possible for Father Corapi to answer the commission's
questions at this time,'" the news release added.
Father Corapi, 64, announced June 17 -- two days before the 20th
anniversary of his priestly ordination -- in a YouTube video and blog
posting that he would leave the priesthood.
"For 20 years I did my best to guard and feed the sheep," he said in the
blog posting. "Now, based on a totally unsubstantiated, undocumented
allegation from a demonstrably troubled person I was thrown out like
yesterday's garbage. I accept that. Perhaps I deserve that."
Father Corapi had been highly visible for several years as a speaker and
preacher, including a program on the Eternal Word Television Network.
EWTN took his show off its schedule shortly after his suspension, saying
it would not knowingly put on the air a priest whose faculties had been
suspended.
The SOLT news release said Father Sheehan would not be available for
further comment because of the order's general chapter July 5-23.