BishopAccountability.org
	Solt Release on Father John Corapi a Hoax? By Scott P. Richert About.com July 5, 2011 http://catholicism.about.com/b/2011/07/05/solt-release-on-father-john-corapi-a-hoax.htm Since EWTN (among others) first posted the July 5 press release in which Fr. Gerard Sheehan drops a bombshell on Father John Corapi, the blogosphere, the Twitterverse, and Facebook have been abuzz with speculation that the press release is a hoax. Some have pointed to apparent contradictions (if Father Corapi has submitted his resignation from the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, how can SOLT order him, "under obedience, to return home to the Society’s regional office and take up residence there"?); others to the timing of the release ("Father Sheehan will not be available for comments as he is attending the SOLT General Chapter from July 5-23"). Still others note (as I did) that the tone of this press release is somewhat different from SOLT's June 21 press release, which seemed more guarded. With electronic communications, of course, anything is possible, and so it never hurts to be skeptical. As an editor, I was convinced by three things: While the tone of the June 21 and July 5 releases is different, the style and substance are the same. There are simply more details in today's release. Many details in today's release match the allegations that Father Corapi sets out in his case against his accuser, a copy of which I received late last week. There are details in today's release that go above and beyond anything alluded to by either Father Corapi or SOLT in the past, but which are consistent with the details that have been released. And so I posted most of the text of the press release, and linked to EWTN for the full text. Since my post, both Creative Minority Report and The American Catholic have spoken with the editors of the National Catholic Register (which also ran the story and eventually the full text of the press release), who say that "multiple sources" have confirmed that the press release is genuine. So what about the contradictions? As I have noted in previous posts and comments, under canon law, when SOLT received Father Corapi's resignation, they were required to confirm that he intended to abandon his priestly ministry. They asked him to do so; there has been no public indication that he has replied. Until he does reply (and perhaps for some time after) Father Corapi remains under his vow of obedience to his superiors in SOLT. It should be no surprise that the tone of today's press release is more direct. Take it all at face value: If what SOLT has detailed regarding both their discoveries and Father Corapi's attempts to obstruct the investigation is true, and Father Corapi has neither confirmed that he wishes to leave the priesthood nor responded to SOLT's attempt to get him to return to Texas and live in community, the biggest surprise today is SOLT has been so gentle for so long. But why release this statement today, when Father Sheehan will not be available to comment until July 23? I think that question answers itself. In case there remains any further doubt, however, Father Sheehan's statement has now appeared on the official website of SOLT, posted at 1:58 P.M. Central Daylight Time.
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