Trouble brewing over revoking priest suspension

Ooty: The Ooty Roman Catholic Diocese has landed itself in trouble by lifting the suspension on Fr.Joseph Palnivel Jeyapaul, a priest attached to Ooty diocese, who was convicted by a US court on charges of sexual abuse.  

The Bishop house administration here said that the tainted priest has only been given residence in diocese and has not been allotted any assignment.

Reports appeared in media on Wednesday that US-based SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) has announced  that one of the sexual abuse survivors would sue the diocese and the priest to protest  the diocese's decision to reinstate Fr Jeyapaul. In April 2010 allegations cropped up against Fr Jeyapaul that he sexually abused a 14-year-old girl when he was working at the Diocese of Crookston in Minnesota, in USA during  2005.  

He was promptly placed under suspension by the diocese of Ooty. In  March 2012, he was arrested by Interpol and was sent to  custody in New Delhi. In September 2014, he was extradited to the eUS to face trial.

The trial court in Minnesota in June 2015, sentenced Fr Jeyapaul to an year and a day imprisonment. But, he was already in custody since March 2012. He    subsequently returned to India.  However, the priest's suspension was lifted early this year by diocese of Ooty.

Fr Selvanathen, secretary, Diocese of Ooty (Roman Catholic), told Deccan Chronicle that Fr Jeyapaul has been reinstated to diocese and ministry as per orders from Vatican.

“We have given Fr Jeyapaul a residence in the diocese. He has not been allotted any assignment yet” he said. However, sources in the diocese said that Fr. Jeyapaul is all set to take charge at a church at Balaclava area in Coonoor soon.