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Inside Vatican II Editor Emeritus John F. Fink begins a series reflecting on the council that transformed and defined the Church, page 10. Serving the ChurchCriterion in Central and Southern Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com October 12, 2012 Vol. LIII, No. 2 75¢ Missing priest makes contact MaryPhoto by Ann Garber with family, plans to Hundreds return home take part in Criterion staff report Respect Life After a week in which his whereabouts were unknown, Father Christiaan Kappes, an Sunday Mass archdiocesan priest pursuing graduate studies in Greece, and annual contacted his family on Oct. 8 to let them Life Chain know he is alive and well in Germany, and By Mary Ann Garber hopes to return to the United States within Faith and love inspire us to help others, a few days. Father Stephen Giannini said in his homily The Federal for the archdiocesan Respect Life Sunday Bureau of Mass on Oct. 7 at SS. Peter and Paul Fr. Christiaan Kappes Investigation, which Cathedral in Indianapolis. had been looking into And faith and love will help us end the his case, has also been in contact with the culture of death in contemporary society, priest. As this newspaper went to press, he said, through our dedication to pro-life Father Kappes’ family did not know when he prayers and service. planned to return to the United States, but “You have accepted the kingdom of said that he was making plans to do so. God like a child, an acceptance that is Father Stephen Giannini, archdiocesan rooted, is founded, is anchored in love,” vicar for clergy, said that the archdiocese is Father Giannini said. “The Lord embraces “elated” to learn that Father Kappes is safe. you and blesses you for your faithfulness “We thank everyone for their prayers and to the Gospel of Love, the Gospel of Life.” support for Father Kappes, and ask that Father Giannini, vicar for clergy and people continue to pray for his safe return to parish life coordinators, formation and Indiana,” Father Giannini said. “We also personnel, represented Bishop Christopher would like to thank Father Kappes’ family, J. Coyne, apostolic administrator, as the the Vatican and all of the authorities who principal celebrant of the archdiocesan have been searching for Father Kappes.” pro-life liturgy. According to Father Kappes’ family, he “Each one of us … respects all called them on Oct. 1 and told them that human life,” Father Giannini said, he feared for his safety because of threats “for God created us in his own image, and made against him by family members of everyone is known to be precious and holy. St. Rose of Lima parishioner Michael Dotson of Franklin holds a red and white pro-life sign Ioanna Lekakou, his translator in Greece. Her “We might have a special calling—a supporting mothers that are experiencing crisis pregnancies during the Central Indiana Life Chain family was also allegedly threatening her in a special place in our hearts—for babies in on Oct. 7 along North Meridian Street in Indianapolis. dispute over an inheritance that she their mothers’ wombs or for the elderly or had received. for those in prison or for refugees,” he ignorance—do not love others who are awaiting the new life to come, how During an Oct. 4 press briefing, said. “… But no matter whom we are or innocent and vulnerable. precious is every single human being to Victoria Nuland, U.S. State Department for whom we hold in a special place in “Some of our sisters and brothers do our God who is Love, our God who loves spokesperson, discussed Father Kappes’ case. our hearts, we love, we love all, for the not see how precious a child is in the deeply and perfectly each one he has Nuland said that Father Kappes had Lord embraces all and blesses all who womb,” he said, “how precious someone is created in his own image. visited the American embassy in Athens on come to him.” who is ill, how precious are those who are “Empowered by the Father, Son and Oct. 1, but left while an official there was Sadly, Father Giannini said, some imprisoned, how precious are those who Holy Spirit, a Trinity of love, so we love,” making a phone call to members of his people—perhaps because of fear or hate or are near the end of earthly life [and] See LIFE CHAIN, page 8 See KAPPES page 2 Pope opens synod by proclaiming that Christ is the answer to the questions of humanity VATICAN CITY (CNS)—To evangelize Gospel through both proclamation In the New Testament, the pope said, means to help people understand that God and charity. “evangelion” is the good news of the himself has responded to their questions, The pope examined the use of the word incarnation of Christ, the coming of God’s and that his response—the gift of salvation “evangelion,” the Greek term that is the son into the world to save humanity. in Jesus Christ—is available to them as well, root of the English word “evangelization,” For the people of Israel suffering under Pope Benedict XVI said. and which is itself translated as “Gospel.” Roman rule, it was truly good news that “Our role in the new In the Book of Isaiah, he noted, the God spoke to his people and came to live evangelization is to Hebrew equivalent of the word describes among them, the pope said. News of cooperate with God,” the “the voice that Jesus’ birth was the answer to those who pope told the more than announces a victory, questioned whether there really was a 260 cardinals, bishops and that announces God, whether he knew his people and the priests who are members goodness, joy and circumstances of their lives, and whether of the world Synod of Bishops on the new happiness,” he had any power to change their evangelization. “We can only let people transmitting the situation. know what God has done.” message that People today have the same questions, In a 21-minute, off-the-cuff reflection “God has not the pope said. “Is God a reality or not? during morning prayer at the synod’s forgotten his Why is he silent?” opening session on Oct. 8, Pope Benedict people,” and that he When Christians evangelize, they must spoke of the importance of prayer in the intervenes with remember that their “faith has content,” Church’s push for a new evangelization, the power in history to and that what they believe and seek to meaning of evangelization, and sharing the Pope Benedict XVI save them. See SYNOD, page 2 Page 2 The Criterion Friday, October 12, 2012 Pope authorizes granting of plenary indulgences for Year of Faith SYNOD continued from page 1 VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Catholics who The decree said conditions for the special Haring CNS photo/Paul participate in events connected with the Year of Faith indulgence include the normal share with others is outlined in the creed, 2012-13 Year of Faith can receive a special requirements set by the Church for all he said. They must use their intelligence indulgence, the Vatican said. plenary indulgencs—that the person goes to to reflect on the tenets of their faith and Pope Benedict XVI authorized the confession, receives the Eucharist and prays use their mouths to proclaim it. granting of a plenary, or full, indulgence in for the intentions of the pope. Because faith isn’t an abstract notion, order to highlight the Year of Faith and The decree explained in detail some Christians also must live their faith and encourage the “reading, or rather, the pious specific requirements for the plenary share it with the world through acts of meditation on” the documents of the indulgence: charity and love, the pope said. Second Vatican Council and the Catechism of • Those visiting basilicas, cathedrals, “Being tepid is the greatest danger for the Catholic Church, a Sept. 14 Vatican catacombs or other sacred sites in the form Christians,” he said. “We pray that faith decree said. of a pilgrimage must participate in a liturgy, becomes like a fire in us and that it will The decree, which the Vatican released on “or at least pause for an appropriate time in set alight others.” Oct. 5, was signed by Cardinal Manuel prayer and with pious meditations, The synod formally opened on Oct. 7 Monteiro de Castro, head of the Vatican concluding with the recitation of the with a Mass in St. Peter’s Square. tribunal that deals with indulgences and Our Father, the profession of faith in any During his homily, Pope Benedict said matters related to the sacrament of penance. legitimate form, invocations of the that the “Church exists to evangelize” by Cardinals and bishops attend the opening An indulgence is a remission of the Blessed Virgin Mary and, where appropriate, sharing the Gospel with people who have Mass of the Synod of Bishops on the new temporal punishment a person is due for sins of the Holy Apostles or patron saints.” never heard of Christ, strengthening the evangelization celebrated by Pope Benedict that have been forgiven. • The Catholic faithful in any local faith of those who already have been XVI in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Oct. Pope Benedict established the Year of Church can obtain the indulgence by baptized and reaching out to those who 7. In the first row are Cardinals Kazimierz Faith, “dedicated to the profession of the true attending three sermons at parish missions “have drifted away from the Church.” Nycz of Warsaw, left, and Timothy M.