Florida: Indian priest arrested on child pornography charges
January 07, 2015
A month after he began ministry as a parochial vicar in the Diocese of Palm Beach, a Franciscan priest from India has been arrested on pornography charges.
After Sunday Mass on January 4, Father Jose Palimattom allegedly showed a 14-year-old boy his cell phone and asked him to help him delete 40 pornographic images of teenage boys. The boy told his father, who called police.
The parish’s “pastor … told deputies that when Palimattom joined, he was told he was to have no contact with minors without another adult present,” the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported. Father Palimattom told police he was “involved with a minor male” in India but not arrested.
“As part of its due diligence, the diocese completed a background screening which also included a screening in India, and received a Certificate of Aptitude from the Minister Provincial in India,” the diocese said in a statement. “During this background process, no prior misconduct was revealed.”
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Further information:
- West Palm Beach priest accused of showing child porn to teen (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
- Diocese of Palm Beach Releases Statement Regarding the Criminal Charges of Reverend Palimattom, OFM
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Posted by: james-w-anderson8230 -
Jan. 07, 2015 7:59 PM ET USA
Prayer for all involved would be more appropriate than humor.
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Posted by: shrink -
Jan. 07, 2015 6:29 AM ET USA
Fr Palimattom needs more training on smart phone file management. He was only trying to have the boy help him find his "Certificate of Aptitude" on his smart phone.
