Indiana priest missing in Greece after warning family

Last updated on: October 5, 2012 at 8:07 am by CNA Daily News

Indiana priest missing in Greece after warning family 2012-10-05T08:07:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Indianapolis, Ind., Oct 5, 2012 / 02:07 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The family of Indiana priest Father Christiaan Kappes and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis are concerned about his apparent disappearance in Greece.

“We are praying for the well-being of Father Kappes and his family and for Father Kappes’ safe return to the United States,” the archdiocese said Oct. 4. “We are concerned that Father Kappes’ family has not been able to contact him in recent days. The archdiocese also has not been able to locate him.”

The 37-year-old priest, a native of Indiana, had been engaged in doctoral studies in Athens on Orthodox Christian theology at the request of the Vatican.

Greg Otolski, executive director of communications for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, told CNA the circumstances of the priest’s disappearance are still unclear.

“There are a lot of questions and no answers,” he said Oct. 4.

The priest’s family members said the priest’s translator and close friend Ioanna Lekakou was involved in a major dispute over her family’s inheritance. Fr. Kappes told them someone had threatened to kill her and he believed he too had become a target.

“He told my dad on Monday, ‘If you don't hear from me in 12 to 24 hours, I'm dead,’” Father Kappes’ sister Nadia Charcap told Fox 59 News.

The priest reportedly sought help from the U.S. Embassy but did not receive the assistance he needed. A priest in Greece said he dropped off Fr. Kappes and his translator at the Athens airport, from which they planned to fly to Indianapolis on separate flights.

It is not known whether either made it on a plane.

The Archdiocese of Indianapolis said it has been in contact with the apostolic nuncio to the United States, who is investigating the matter. U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) is also investigating.

Fr. Kappes was participating in a pilot program set up between the Vatican and the Greek government to study Greek Orthodox theology in hopes of overcoming the historical divisions between the Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church, the archdiocese’s newspaper The Criterion reported in 2009.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

October 5, 2012

'Pro-choice terrorist' sentenced for death threats against pro-lifers

Next Post

October 5, 2012 Rockville Centre diocese converts newspaper to monthly magazine

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did God provide for meat for Israel in the desert?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Fish Quail Goat Beef