Canonization cause formally opened for Father Kapaun, Korean War hero

Published: 2008-07-17

PILSEN, Kan. (CNS) -- History was made in the Diocese of Wichita June 29 as nearly 700 people witnessed the formal opening of the canonization cause of Father Emil Joseph Kapaun at St. John Nepomucene Church in his hometown of Pilsen. But Father Kapaun's brother, Eugene, said his Korean War hero brother would have been humbled about the gathering and wouldn't have said much about the formalities, just a couple of words, perhaps: "Aw, shucks." Father John Hotze, the episcopal delegate for the cause, also had two words after the ceremony was over: "Thank God!" Father Hotze, who works in the diocesan marriage tribunal, was relieved that many months of work finally reached a milestone. Father Kapaun, a priest of the Diocese of Wichita, died on May 23, 1951, in a North Korean prisoner of war camp. He was serving as a U.S. Army chaplain when he and his men were overrun during battle. In the church's process leading to canonization, the first step is the declaration of a person's heroic virtues, after which the church gives him or her the title venerable. In general, the church must then confirm two miracles before sainthood is declared. The first miracle is needed for beatification and the second for canonization.

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