Catholic priest from Kerala arrested in Canada for ‘sexual assault’
Father James Cherickal was also charged with sexual interference — a term which, in Canadian law, refers to sexual crimes committed against children under 16 years of age
Following the arrest of Cherickal, who is in his 60s, and his removal from the pastoral ministry, St Jerome’s Church, where he had been working, cancelled Holy Mass between December 25 and January 3. (File image edited by Gemini AI)
A Catholic priest from Kerala’s Syro-Malabar Church has been arrested by Canadian police on charges of sexual assault and sexual interference — a term which, in Canadian law, refers to sexual crimes committed against children under 16 years of age.
Subsequently, the Archdiocese of Toronto removed Father James Cherickal from pastoral ministry.
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The Kochi-based Syro-Malabar Church is the most prominent Catholic segment in Kerala and one of the 23 Oriental Churches under Rome.
Church sources in Kochi said that Fr Cherickal belonged to the Syro-Malabar diocese of Thamarassery and had been deputed to work in various parishes under the Archdiocese of Toronto for nearly three decades.
On December 20, the Archdiocese of Toronto, said in a statement, “The Archdiocese of Toronto learned of an allegation of misconduct against Fr James Cherickal, a priest in ministry in the archdiocese currently serving as pastor of St. Jerome’s Catholic Church in Brampton. On December 18, 2025, Peel Regional Police charged Fr Cherickal with one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual interference.”
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It further said, “Following our protocols and procedures relating to allegations of misconduct, Fr Cherickal has been removed from pastoral ministry. As with any accused in our Canadian legal system, he is considered innocent until proven guilty and entitled to due process. The Archdiocese of Toronto looks upon any accusation of misconduct as an urgent matter that requires serious attention.”
Following the arrest of Cherickal, who is in his 60s, and his removal from the pastoral ministry, St Jerome’s Church, where he had been working, cancelled Holy Mass between December 25 and January 3.
The archdiocese said Cherickal had worked in various parishes under it since 1997. He moved to the present church in Brampton last year. Besides, he had also served the Syro-Malabar mission in Canada, which had been established for Catholic migrants from Kerala.
Church sources said Cherickal is among hundreds of priests from Kerala who have flown to foreign countries to fill vacancies for priests there. Besides, many priests also work with churches established by the Syro-Malabar Church in Canada, the UK and Australia, where a large number of Catholic families from Kerala are settled. Before moving to Canada, Cherickal had worked with the Diocese of Thamarassery in various capacities.
Following the arrest of Cherickal, who is in his 60s, and his removal from the pastoral ministry, St Jerome’s Church, where he had been working, cancelled Holy Mass between December 25 and January 3. (File image edited by Gemini AI) 
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