Catholic priest from Kerala arrested in Canada for ‘sexual assault’, removed from pastoral ministry

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A Catholic priest from Kerala’s Syro-Malabar Church has been arrested in Canada on charges of sexual assault and sexual interference and removed from pastoral ministry.

Father James Cherickal was removed pastoral ministry by Archdiocese of Toronto, according to an official statement.

Sexual interference is a term which, in Canadian law, refers to sexual crimes committed against children under 16 years of age.

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, according to a report by The Indian Express.

The archdiocese wrote in a statement that Cherickal had served at several parishes throughout the Greater Toronto Area since 1997, but has been serving St. Jerome’s in Brampton since 2024.

“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,” read the statement.

On December 18, 2025, Peel Regional Police charged Fr Cherickal with one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual interference.

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.