TIJUANA – Authorities investigating the disappearance of a Catholic priest found pornographic material in his house, Baja California's deputy attorney general for organized crime announced Thursday.

The priest, Salvador Ruiz Enciso, 51, was reported missing after church staff went Monday to his house, which was in a state of chaos, but did not find him.

The deputy attorney general, Fermín Gómez, said there's no indication the cleric was kidnapped. He said authorities are in contact with family members, who said they have not received a request for ransom.

"All we have until now is a disappearance, which we're investigating," he said.

Gómez said that investigators found compact discs containing pornography in the priest's house and are conducting tests to ascertain ownership and origin.

Ruiz Enciso officiated at the church Divino Rostro de Jesús, in the Cortez neighborhood of the La Mesa District, a few blocks from where he lived.

Tijuana Archbishop Rafael Romo expressed his concern at the disappearance in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Ruiz Enciso, who became a priest 27 years ago, "is characterized as being a simple man with values, a man committed to his ministry," said Antonio Beltrán, the archdiocese's media coordinator.

On Wednesday, an archdiocese spokeswoman said the priest is known for using marionettes as part of his Mass to help explain passages of the Bible to children.

Crimes against priests are not common in this city. In 2005, a Catholic priest, Luis Velázquez Romero, 51, was shot to death. His body, with hands tied behind his back, was found inside his car near the Plaza Fiesta shopping center.

Omar.millan@sandiegored.com