Father Vellian, 84, living in an old-age home in Kerala

Father Jacob Vellian — a Catholic priest who is facing charges of sexual abuse in Michigan, US — is living in an old-age home at Thellakom in Kerala’s Kottayam. Church sources on Saturday said that the 84 year-old priest was yet to be excommunicated or face action within the Church. Efforts to contact Fr Vellian, who is battling age-related ailments, were unsuccessful.
“I don’t know whether he is guilty. He is over 80 and unwell. He is very much a priest,” said a senior priest of the Syro Malabar Church. For priests in Kerala, Father Vellian is a scholar and many remember him as a teacher since he used to take classes in seminaries.
“He is known for his skills in Syriac language. The news about his presence in the state and allegations about sex abuse were there in 2011 itself. We don’t know the truth behind the allegations as the incident is said to have happened when he was in the US for a brief assignment in 1970s,” the priest said, adding that Father Vellian was attached to Kottayam archdiocese. Everyone here thought that the case was over as there was no news about it for years.
The allegation was that he molested a minor girl in 1970s when he was serving in Michigan.