Fr. John Corapi

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Father John Corapi

Father John Corapi (born 20 May 1947) is an American Roman Catholic priest who has an extensive television and radio ministry and tours North America speaking to groups. He was ordained by Pope John Paul II. He is member of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT). His theological perspectives are those typically identified as orthodox Catholic or conservative, placing a central emphasis on fidelity to Catholic doctrine and teaching.

1 Biography
2 Religious Career
3 Quotes
4 Recognition and publicity
5 External links

[edit] Biography

Father Corapi was born in Hudson, New York. In high school he was a highly successful football star, and considered a career in professional sports. He served in the US Army during the Vietnam era until he was hurt in an accident and was sent to US installations in Germany on administrative duties. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Pace University during the 1970s. Corapi became a successful financial advisor to the Tropicana in Las Vegas, then moved to Los Angeles and became a successful real estate agent. According to his own accounts, he began to use cocaine and eventually became homeless for about 3 years. His mother sent him a prayer card with the Hail Mary prayer and asked him to pray it once a day. He then changed his life, escaping homelessness and drugs, which he attributes to his mother's prayers, and the Blessed Virgin's intercession. At this point, his mother sent him a one-way airline ticket back to New York. After telling his sins to an elderly local priest during the Sacrament of Reconciliation, he announced to the priest, "Father, I think I am being called to the priesthood." He then entered studies to be a Roman Catholic priest. As part of his studies for the priesthood, on 26 May 1990, he was ordained a deacon, by the Bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas. On 26 May 1991, Pope John Paul II ordained Fr. Corapi to the priesthood. Father Corapi is now a perpetually professed priest member of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, and he preaches to missions, retreats, and conferences throughout North America. He has received a Masters degree in Sacred Scripture from Holy Apostles Seminary, Cromwell, Connecticut, and a Doctorate in Dogmatic Theology from the University of Navarre in Pamplona,Spain. He now lives in Montana.

[edit] Religious Career

Father Corapi served as a parish priest in Hudson, New York and Robstown, Texas. He was the Director of Catholic Faith Formation and of the Bishop's Project on the Catechism of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Sacramento, California.

He has become a popular lecturer and radio broadcaster, and recordings of his addresses are widely sold. He frequently appears at conferences and inspirational meetings. He appears on EWTN Television as well as EWTN's radio network. (Viewers/listeners can often identify him by his deep voice and distinctive speaking style.)

[edit] Quotes

"The devil donned a judicial robe." (In relation to the US Supreme Court decision in Roe v Wade which legalised abortion)

"You need to know your faith. You cannot give what you do not have." (On the need for Catholics to study and learn Sacred Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church)

[edit] Recognition and publicity

The story of his life is frequently used in sermons and motivational addresses, both by himself and by other priests and religious ministers, speakers, and theologians in the Catholic church.

In its July 27, 1999 issue (vol. 10, no. 139) the Daily Catholic listed Fr. Corapi as number 98 on its list of "Top 100 Catholics Of the Century" [1].

According to the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, Fr. Corapi was instrumental in exposing an alleged scam in which patients were advised to have unneeded heart-bypass surgery [2]. The coalition described him as a "priest-turned-whistleblower" and a "a key figure in a probe over whether heart surgeons had performed hundreds of worthless heart operations".