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	Popular Former Sacramento Priest Accused of Misconduct By Bill Lindelof Sacramento Bee March 23, 2011 http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2011/03/former-popular.html Father John Corapi, who once served a prominent position in the Sacramento Roman Catholic Diocese, has been placed on administrative leave in Texas after allegations of misconduct. Corapi, 63, is a nationally known speaker and a regular on Catholic television. When he was in Sacramento during the mid-1990s, he served as the director of Catholic Faith Formation and packed churches and social halls with his talks about sin, sacraments and faith. "We have received an allegation that Father Corapi has behaved in a manner unbecoming a priest and are duty-bound to conduct an investigation," said Father Gerald Sheehan of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity based in the Corpus Christi area. Sheehan in his statement noted that the allegation does not imply that Corapi is guilty. The claim of misconduct also does not involve minors and does not arise to the level of criminal conduct, Sheehan said. Corapi said in a statement on his website that a "former employee" sent a three-page letter to several bishops accusing him of "everything from drug addiction to multiple sexual exploits with her and several other adult women." He said that all the allegations in the complaint are false. A spokesman for the Sacramento diocese said the local bishop's office had not received any letter from Corapi's accuser. The local diocese had no comment about Corapi other than to say he no longer had any connection to the Sacramento diocese. While in Sacramento, he spoke with a conservative wit on the new catechism. He lectured against abortion, artificial birth control, missing mass without a good reason, sex outside marriage, masturbation and women priests. After he left his Sacramento position, he tipped authorities to allegedly unnecessary procedures at a Redding hospital. He and other whistleblowers received a settlement in 2005 after federal officials agreed on a series of monetary civil penalties against four doctors accused of performing unnecessary heart procedures and surgeries. Prosecutors said there was not enough evidence to warrant criminal charges. The Bee reported that Corapi received $2.7 million as part of a multimillion dolloar settlement. Before becoming a priest, Corapi said he lived a life of possessions. He had a $1 million house, a red Ferrari and an addiction to cocaine. But the fast life ruined him and his finances, Corapi said. He turned to faith and became much-admired by many within the church. He was ordained by Pope John Paul II at the age of 44. His online biography says he has traveled two million miles preaching the gospel. He lamented in his website statement that the church's protocol to protect minors from sexual abuse is "being applied broadly to respond to all complaints. I have been placed on 'administrative leave' as a result of this." David Clohessy, director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said in a press release that "We've long been skeptical of these sort of 'freelance' traveling priests who seem to foster a cult of personality." Father Sheehan of Corapi's Texas community said that the allegations against Corapi would be investigated internally. "In the event that we learn of any occasion where the criminal civil law may have been breached we will immediately refer the matter to civil authorities," he said. Call The Bee's Bill Lindelof, (916) 321-1079 or blindelof@sacbee.com
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