Albany Times Union
March 24, 2011
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Texas-based-order-puts-priest-from-this-area-on-1277894.php
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| The Rev. John Corapi |
ALBANY -- The story of the Rev. John Corapi has been told many times.
The Hudson native went from Green Beret to millionaire in Las Vegas. He had a mansion in Malibu, a Ferrari and a yacht -- then lost it all with drug abuse that left him homeless in Los Angeles.
In 1991, at the age of 44, Corapi was ordained by Pope John Paul II. He has appeared on cable television.
His story has been one of redemption -- until now.
Corapi, 63, of Montana, has been placed on administrative leave amid allegations of affairs with women and drug use. His Texas-based order, the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, announced the action March 18.
"We have received an allegation that Father Corapi has behaved in a manner unbecoming of a priest and are duty-bound to conduct an investigation in this accusation," the Rev. Gerald Sheehan, the society's regional priest servant, said. ""Based on the information we have received thus far, the claim of misconduct does not involve minors and does not arise to the (level) of criminal conduct. Consequently, this matter will be investigated internally, and unless and until information suggests otherwise it will not be referred to civil authorities."
Corapi's website, http://www.fathercorapi.com, announced the leave under the headline, "A Call for Prayer."
It stated Corapi learned March 9 that a former employee sent a three-page letter to several bishops "accusing me of everything from drug addiction to multiple sexual exploits with her and several other adult women."
Corapi added: "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 ... all of the allegations in the complaint are false, and I ask you to pray for all concerned."
Corapi's website and past news articles state he was once at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hudson, where he was born.
David Clohessy, who directs the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP, called on Bishop Howard Hubbard to "seek out anyone who may have suspicions or knowledge of misdeeds by Corapi in the New York area."
"We don't know the age or gender of Corapi's accuser, nor do we know anything about the allegations against him," Clohessy said. "But we do know that America's Catholic hierarchy has repeatedly pledged to be 'open and transparent' in clergy sexual abuse cases. That's not really happening here."
Ken Goldfarb, a spokesman for the Albany diocese, said Corapi was never assigned to the diocese. He understood Corapi lived in the St. Mary's rectory while working on his doctorate and occasionally performed Mass.
As for allegations against Corapi, Goldfarb said, "we have not heard any more about him than we're reading about now."
Reach Robert Gavin at 434-2403 or rgavin@timesunion.com.
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