Kerala: Nun, 2 priests arrested for 1992 murder; one ministered in NY, Michigan

November 20, 2008

Police arrested two priests and a nun yesterday in connection with the 1992 murder of a 21-year-old nun. The two priests, Father James Poothrukayil and Father Thomas Kottoor, are priests of the Syro-Malabar Archeparchy of Kottayam, which is located in the Catholic stronghold of Kerala in southwestern India.

Father Kottoor served as secretary to the archbishop and chancellor of the archeparchy until 1997, when he became director of Knanaya Catholic Mission in the Archdiocese of New York and associate pastor of St. Benedict’s Parish in the Bronx. He then became director of Rockland Knanaya Syro-Malabar Mission in Rockland County (NY) before continuing his studies in Michigan and ministering in the Archdiocese of Detroit at Our Lady of Queen of Peace Parish in Harper Woods. He then returned to his post as chancellor of the archeparchy.

 

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Further information:

• Catholic Priests And Nun Arrested, Remanded In 16-year-old Murder Case (UCAN)
• Priests (Archeparchy of Kottayam)
• Archeparchial curia (Archeparchy of Kottayam)
• Mutholath family Web site
• Knanaya Mission (Dec. 2003, pp. 8, 10)
• Rockland Mission