The New (& the Old) Evangelization The temptations of a Catholic celebrity – part one

Jul 22, 2011

The scandal and uncertainty surrounding the once highly acclaimed preacher, Father John Corapi, still lingers in cyberspace and among casual conversations around kitchen tables.

As Catholics recall Corapi’s teachings that regularly aired on Catholic radio and EWTN, they often ask: How can a world-renouncing priest, faithful to Christ, devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and obedient to the Magisterium of the Church, leave the priesthood? Especially with so many unanswered questions about his character and fidelity! Whatever the truth may be, the circumstances surrounding the investigation, the reports and Corapi’s response to it all, does not look good.

As God only allows evil- be it sin or misfortune -to exist for some greater good, it would be to our advantage to try to learn what that greater “good” might be for those of us who have been inspired by the message and witness of John Corapi (absent the title- Father), as he is now called. As a matter of fact, the lesson to be learned has a lot to do with becoming the victim of our own success; that is, the victim of a successful mission which God uses to fulfill the spiritual needs of many souls. With public recognition and human applause, we sometimes believe ourselves to be better than we really are. As such, we might be inclined to let down our guard and relax our spiritual defenses. But when a member of the clergy succumbs to this illusion, the consequences can be damaging.

To begin with, as a result of John Corapi leaving the priesthood under such dubious conditions, the temptation may arise among many to think that holiness is either unattainable or not real. People might wonder: When the teachings of then-Fr. Corapi inspired me to consider the priesthood or religious life, or when his sermons led me into the Catholic Church, was this inspiration for real? After all, if it was for real then why didn’t he live up to the same inspiration and grace that I received? If what he taught was true, then why did he leave the priesthood?

Herein lies the tragedy of scandal and the reason why our Lord spoke of it in the severest of terms. For instance, he said, “Woe to the world because of things that cause sin! Such things must come, but woe to the one through whom they come!” (Matthew 18:7) And the word of warning to those who do commit scandal is justified because of the doubts and questions it provokes among onlookers. People may even ask themselves: Do holy men even exist?

The short answer is: Yes, there are many holy men and women in this world. However, these unsung heroes, more often than not, are better appreciated in hindsight; especially after their departure from this earth. Pope St. Gregory the Great said that virtue acts quietly but it is the whip (i.e. trials) that stirs up the reputation of virtue. In other words, greatness is often revealed by adversity. And the appreciation of that greatness among the people comes only after the passage of time. According to the wisdom of the saints, no one should be crowned before having carried the cross all the way to Calvary. But quite often Catholics have prematurely canonized gifted leaders and preachers in the Church before they have died or before they have been tested by trial.

Keep in mind that many saints have been tested by the same temptations as John Corapi and other highly esteemed men who have left the priesthood within the last decade. And one such temptation among high profile Catholic speakers (or even gifted homilists at the local parish)is the constant attention, praise and adulation they receive from their admirers. No doubt, the side effects of being a celebrity in the Catholic world can be just as seductive as they are in Hollywood or in the entertainment industry at large.

This brings us back to the greater good that can come from all of this: With every peak there must be a valley and with every rose, a thorn. This truth is beautifully expressed in a 19th century Catholic periodical called “The Rambler." It reads as follows: “It is in the struggles against difficulties that all that is best in man is nurtured into vigor and preserved from decay. Through labor we live, in enjoyment we die."

This is not to say that enjoyment and the pleasures of life are to be avoided all together. Rather, it is quite often the case that difficulties, trials and yes, even suffering, makes us better human beings precisely because it keeps us humble and it keeps the need for God alive.

Well loved priests who have the aura of sanctity and are gifted preachers naturally attract admiration and followers. With this kind of celebrity status the temptation to feel entitled to special treatment from others and even to presume God's mercy is a temptation that can be overwhelming. To be sure, its snare can be subtle and virtually undetectable. But as we already mentioned, there is a remedy for this.

Part two will be published on Friday, July 29