BishopAccountability.org
	Trespassing Ex-Parishioner Gets Probation By Lauren Fitzpatrick Southtown Star February 26, 2009 http://www.southtownstar.com/news/1450430,022609papadopoulos.article A parishioner of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church isn't going to jail for trespassing at the Oak Lawn church he'd been banned from. But he's also not going back to his parish of 40 years. Emanuel Papadopoulos, 52, was sentenced to six months of court supervision, convicted of misdemeanor trespassing. He was arrested in February 2008 at the church while attending a service commemorating his dead aunt. He had been banned in August 2007 by the Rev. John Artemas after a feud with the pastor about the church's finances. Papadopoulos faced up to a year behind bars. Cook County Judge Colleen Ann Hyland said she chose the minimal sentence, citing the unusual circumstances of the trespassing case and Papadopoulos' history as an upstanding citizen. "It seems this was an aberration in the life of Mr. Papadopoulos," Hyland said. "Mr. Papadopoulos is deserving of the most lenient sentence the court can give because of his exemplary background." He also will have to pay $230 in court fees and may not return to St. Nicholas until given written permission by the church. A feud had developed at the 1,200-member church in 2005 after a small group of parishioners, including Papadopoulos, asked a former pastor to see the parish's financial statements, suspecting him of mishandling money. Since then, that priest was transferred to another church, lawsuits were filed and dismissed, accusations flew that a priest hit another parishioner, and Papadopoulos was arrested. Seated across the aisle from Papadopoulos' family at the hearing, Artemas said he attended "to show my support for Mr. Papadopoulos" and was was ready to reconcile "under the right circumstances." A relieved-looking Papadopoulos said he also hoped the "whole situation could reconcile." He has been attending services at other churches. He declined to say anything to the judge before the sentence was handed down. "I'm sad about all the events that took place," he said afterward, surrounded by smiling relatives, colleagues and family friends, three of whom had written letters on his behalf to the judge. In January, a jury convicted Papadopoulos of misdemeanor trespassing after he was accused of showing up at St. Nicholas after Artemas had banned him. At the two-day trial at the courthouse in Bridgeview, Papadopoulos questioned Artemas' power to kick him out. He said he'd been targeted because as a contributor to t he church he wanted to see the church's finances. Artemas testified at trial that the archdiocese confirmed that no financial misconduct had taken place. The priest also testified that had he known about the service for Papadopoulos' aunt, he would have granted him permission to attend. After the sentencing, Artemas said he asked the state's attorney for leniency but also for the continued ban. "The door of repentance continues to be open, and under the right circumstances, we would be delighted to welcome him back," the priest said. "He must respect the order and all levels of authority within the church - otherwise there is chaos." Lauren FitzPatrick can be reached at lfitzpatrick@southtownstar.com or (708) 802-8832.
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