BOSSIER CITY (LA)
KSLA, Ch. 12 [Shreveport LA and Texarkana TX]
May 24, 2021
By Rachael Thomas
BOSSIER CITY, La. (KSLA) – A pastor from Bossier City is facing charges after being accused of possessing and distributing images and videos of sexual abuse of children, and sexually abusing animals.
Attorney General Jeff Landry’s office made the announcement Friday, May 21.
“My office and I will continue doing everything we legally can to protect the children of Louisiana. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to bring child predators to justice,” Landry said.
Seby Chemmampallil, 36, is charged with the following:
- Possession of pornography involving juveniles under the age of 13 (2 counts)
- Distribution of pornography involving juveniles under the age of 13 (2 counts)
- Sexual abuse of animals (2 counts)
Chemmampallil was booked in the Bossier Parish Maximum Security Jail.
The Diocese of Shreveport released a statement Friday on Chemmampallil’s arrest.
“Father Seby Shan, CMI, associate pastor of Christ the King Church, Bossier City has been accused of violating the Diocese of Shreveport’s Policy concerning Sexual Abuse of Minors. While the allegations against him DO NOT at this time, involve physical contact with minors, they nonetheless constitute serious violation of the law. Bishop Malone has immediately removed Father Seby from serving as a priest in the Diocese of Shreveport and has informed his superior in the Carmelite Order of the same.
“Bishop Malone takes this opportunity to remind everyone of the Church’s concern for all those entrusted to our care, especially minors. Should you be aware of any suspicions of the sexual abuse of minors, please contact either the Diocesan Victim Assistance Minister at 318-584-2411 OR the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation at 225-326-6100. Both these telephone numbers are available by contacting the church office.”
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) also released a statement Monday, saying they hope Catholic officials will use all resources at their disposal to share the news of Chemmampallil’s arrest with the community in which he worked so anyone who may have witnessed his crimes can come forward to make a report with police.
Read the full statement from SNAP below:
“A priest from the Diocese of Shreveport has been arrested and charged with child pornography and sexual abuse of an animal. We hope Catholic officials will use all resources at their disposal to share this news with each community where this cleric worked and urge anyone who may have seen or suspected crimes to come forward and make a report to police.
“By our count, the arrest of Rev. Seby Shan Chemmampallil is the tenth arrest this year of a Catholic priest or staffer on charges related to sexual abuse. While Rev. Chemmampallil has not been accused of directly harming a minor, child pornography is nonetheless a serious crime that perpetuates the abuse of the child depicted in the images. We are grateful to the law enforcement officials who have intervened in this case and hope that this arrest helps stem the scourge and spread of child pornography.
“We are encouraged that Rev. Chemmampallil was immediately suspended from his position when Catholic officials learned of the allegations against him. Now that this step has been taken, we hope that Church leaders in Shreveport will use every resource at their disposal to share the news about Rev. Chemmampallil and encourage others who may have been victimized or have suspicions to come forward to police.”
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