Indian priest crucified by IS: report

Thomas Uzhunnalil’s execution was reportedly confirmed at the Easter Vigil Mass by Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna. (Source: Facebook)

Amid reports that an Indian priest was “crucified” by the Islamic State (IS) in Yemen on Good Friday, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has decided to meet External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to seek clarity.

Father Joseph Chinnayyan, deputy secretary general and director of the CBCI, said the Indian church could not confirm reports of the priest’s death. “We have checked with all reliable sources, no one could confirm the news. I even spoke to the Austrian agency that put out the news. It got its information from informal sources, so it’s not a baseless report,” he said. Chinnayyan said the CBCI would meet Swaraj Monday night.

Reverend Thomas Uzhunnalil was kidnapped in Yemen on March 4 during a raid on a nursing home run by Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, the Washington Times reported.

His execution was reportedly confirmed at the Easter Vigil Mass by Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna.