Families ask police to look at church finances amid Grindr priest scandal

A family of an elderly parishioner has asked police to look at a $700,000 donation she made to a Adelaide priest caught up in a gay dating app scandal.

Father John Christodoulos in Melbourne. Picture: Supplied

Police have been asked by relatives to look into the circumstances under which a senior Greek Orthodox priest obtained huge cash donations from devout elderly parishioners while living a secret double life.

The Sunday Mail can reveal that detectives from the Serious and Organised Financial Crime Investigation Section are conducting a preliminary assessment of the complaint.

The assessment, which will involve interviewing an elderly community member who has given Father John Christodoulos more than $700,000, will determine whether any further investigations are conducted.

Father Christodoulos is not under formal investigation for wrongdoing, and the donations were purportedly given voluntarily.

It can also be revealed that Greek Orthodox Archbishop Makarios suspended Father Christodoulos from ministry following revelations in The Advertiser a fortnight ago about his double life.

Greek Orthodox community members have been shocked to learn that while representing himself as a monastic priest, Father Christodoulos was active on gay app Grindr and meeting other males on the site.

He was also providing graphic descriptions of his sexual encounters and desires with men and sending pornographic photos to potential dates.

It can also be revealed that detectives have met with a relative of one elderly community member who gave Father Christodoulos the huge sum of money.

During the 90-minute interview, the relative gave detectives financial records showing bank transfers of more than $700,000 since 2017, with the majority over the past two years.

The relative said he detailed “the quantum of the donations and the age of the donor”.

“I explained the donations were made at a time when my relative thought Father Christodoulos was a priest acting appropriately, and that she now feels let down and betrayed having discovered he has broken his vows to God,” the relative said.

“They indicated they would need to speak with her, but they have not yet been able to do this because my relative is so deeply upset by the revelations.”

Father John Christodoulos in Melbourne June 2023. Picture: Supplied

The Sunday Mail can also reveal that questions have now arisen over a fundraising event hosted by Father Christodoulos at the home of an Unley Park community member in April at which more than $14,000 was donated. Those present included members of many of Adelaide’s wealthiest and prominent Greek families.

The money was purportedly for the St Andrew parish at Noarlunga, where he was based at the time.

The relative said he felt the church investigation into Father Christodoulos should also examine the fundraising event because of its circumstances, and that it should be completed promptly.

“The archdiocese needs to act swiftly as well in informing the community of their actions in this,” he said.

“The fact the archdiocese has suspended him should have been made public because I’m sure the community just doesn’t know what the archdiocese has done so far.

“They owe it to their parishioners to inform them of the action they have taken so far.”

Another relative of the elderly person said she had told him the money was given to Father Christodoulos with the belief the bulk of it would go to the church and only a small amount was to be used for his own expenses.

“She was firmly of the view the money was going to the church,” the relative said.

A Greek Orthodox community member, who attended the April fundraising function, said he believed those at the event would be “surprised” if the money they donated had not been given to St Andrew parish.

“We were told the money was for vestments for St Andrew, initially,” he said.

He said the ultimate destination of the money raised should be investigated by the church because donors believed it was for St Andrew parish.

“It isn’t hard – the committee (of St Andrew parish) would know if it went there or not. It’s pretty black and white,” he said.

The relative said it was strange that there was no one from the St Andrew parish at the event, considering it was hosted by its priest and was the intended recipient of the money raised.

Father John Christodoulos with the communion chalice at St Andrew Parish Picture: Supplied

L-R Greek Orthodox Archbishop Makarios with Father John Christodoulos Picture: Supplied

“That was the weirdest thing for me. It would be like attending an event to raise money for St John and there was only one person from St John there – it was strange,” he said.

He said although those attending were advised Bishop Silouan was aware of the event, which reinforced its legitimacy, he did not attend.

Almost three weeks ago, Father Christodoulos was moved from the St Andrew parish to a much larger parish at Fawkner, in Melbourne.

He was appointed to St Andrew as parish priest in 2020 after arriving in Australia from Greece in 2011 after being discharged from the army.

He initially joined the Greek Orthodox Community Church of SA, but was sacked 11 months later for legal reasons that cannot be revealed. This has been confirmed by church officials.

Bishop Silouan declined to respond to questions from the Sunday Mail.

Father Christodoulos yesterday said he had no involvement in the money raised at the Unley Park fundraiser in April. “The council and the bishop know everything,” he said.

Fr Christodoulos declined to answer a series of other questions.