Eleven years after the discovery of the body of Elisa Claps - on March 17, 2010, in the attic of the church of the Holy Trinity - the theme of the reopening for worship, announced by the archbishop of Potenza, immediately returned to debate, due to the clear opposition from the family, expressed by the student's brother, Gildo Claps.
On 12 September 1993 Elisa Claps disappeared at the age of 16.
Danilo Restivo, currently detained in England for the murder of Heather Barnett, which took place in Bournemouth on November 12, 2002, was definitively sentenced to 30 years for his murder. The "battle" over the reopening of the church in the center. historical from Potenza began after the communication of the resumption of the works made, with a press release, by Monsignor Salvatore Ligorio.
"I am aware of the fact that this note - wrote the archbishop - is sent to the media on the eve of the eleventh anniversary of the discovery of the corpse of Elisa Claps. It is an unwanted coincidence but which nevertheless - added monsignor Ligorio - assumes a certain meaning, in particular of hope for the diocesan Church, for the city and for the mother of dear Elisa with whom I have had contact, assuring her of my closeness in prayer and informing her of the evolution of the project ".
Words that have "embittered" Elisa's family, who intervened shortly after, through another press release, released by Gildo Claps.
"I consider it a bad taste choice to report the phone call between Bishop Ligorio and my mother in which it is implied that the family has expressed full agreement in the choice to reopen the church for worship at the end of the works".
After the restoration and consolidation works (for a total of 2.4 million euros, with funds "of regional origin and of the Italian Episcopal Conference"), the reopening of the church for worship, closed right from the day of the discovery of Elisa's body, eleven years ago, it should take place in the spring of 2022. "It is necessary to underline that - pointed out the Archbishop of Potenza - the resumption of work in the church of the Holy Trinity is the result of the unanimous opinion of the Lucan bishops, who strongly supported the choice give priority to this intervention. When the works are completed - concluded Monsignor Ligorio - the parish church of the Holy Trinity will be reopened for worship as part of the pastoral reorganization planned for the historic center of Potenza ".
A choice that finds "as always" the firm opposition of Elisa's family.
"In these hours - said the brother - we have already received many certificates of solidarity from the community from Potenza. The position of the Claps family remains the same as always. It is not permissible, with a stroke of the sponge, to cancel 17 years of omissions and of lies, offending the memory of Elisa and the sensitivity of those who would never want - concluded Gildo Claps - to return to celebrate religious functions in that church ".