The Shepherd, rather than the sheepdog

"He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If any one serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him." John 12:25-26

I heard it said, although I no longer remember who I heard utter the words, "So far as you are from Peter, so far are you from Christ." In my old, schismatic days, I heard Fr. John Corapi say "If you believe what the Catholic Church believes and teaches, you are morally obliged to unite yourself to her." He also said many things, on many occasions regarding authority, obedience, submission, and faithfulness. He was direct, non-glossy, hard-hitting, and clear: The Catholic Church is the Bride of Christ, and for any of her human blemishes, she is the bride chosen by the Lamb -- and woe to those who stand against her.

The many such things said by Fr. Corapi caused me no small amount of discomfort as I sat in the midst of my personal rebellion against the Church. I had managed, for the most part, to dupe myself into believing that my exodus was not only justifiable; it was even a call from God to serve Him in another "part" of His Church. This line of rationalization afforded me what I came to believe was the freedom to accept ordination with an independent Anglican community.

Like many good "Anglo-Catholics," I sought out Catholic input for my preaching and teaching. My input of choice was various programs aired on EWTN. Often, I would sit watching Fr. Corapi while squirming uncomfortably. His words carried a Truth that burned like fire, and cut like a two-edged sword. His chapter-and-verse knowledge of both Scripture and of the Teachings of the Church left me at a loss to dispute his assertions. Here was a man, a priest grounded in Truth, standing firmly upon The Rock; that which he said was not simply his own words. It was the Truth.

So, what do I make of the "important announcement" Fr. Corapi made yesterday via YouTube? How does his statement square with what I have known of this man, this priest over the years?

To be fair, I required of myself that I should review Fr. Corapi's statement several times. Each time, my initial reactions were confirmed and deepened. His statement seems dark and frightening.

He appears to hide behind an image that, to me, conveys fear and evil; the very dark, piercing eyes of some animal -- supposedly a "black sheepdog" -- bearing stationary reflections of sheep. The image does not seem to convey the idea of this animal as a brave protector; rather it is possible, based on the image, that the sheep might have a good deal to fear from the one whose eyes are so intently trained upon them.

Imagery aside, Fr. Corapi's actions are disturbing. Has he rejected the authority of those to whom he has vowed and promised obedience? Has he stripped himself of his office and title as priest, and has set himself up as the speaker of Truth? If so, he has committed nearly all of the essential steps of apostasy, and may be well on the road to formal heresy should he at some point expand his "truth" beyond that which has been revealed.

The Fr. Corapi who has made this recent statement, and taken these actions seems to run far afoul of the Fr. Corapi who has, in the past, taught faithfully the unvarnished Truth of the Catholic Faith. His present course does not seem to correspond to his many previously made admonitions with regard to authority, obedience, and Godly submission.

Has he fallen victim to the most dastardly temptation of all? Has he set himself up as the sole authority over John Corapi's life? If so, he sets himself at odds with the Church; and thus at odds with the Shepherd. Is he indeed a guardian sheepdog, or he has become a lone wolf; answerable only to his own thinking.

If Fr. Corapi has divorced himself from that which made his previous words true and powerful, we must certainly pray for him. We must even more certainly be vigilant so as not to follow where he presently seems to have gone.

If given the choice between the black sheepdog and the Shepherd; I will stay close to the Shepherd.

"Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." John 12:35-36