TORONTO (CANADA)
Toronto Sun [Toronto ON, Canada]
December 23, 2025
By Jordan Ercit
Accused, Fr. James Cherickal, had been serving at St. Jerome’s Catholic Church in Brampton since 2024
A priest posted at a Catholic church in Brampton has been removed from pastoral ministry after being charged with sex crimes, the Archdiocese of Toronto said.
The archdiocese announced the charges and the priest’s removal in a statement on its website Saturday, saying that Fr. James Cherickal had been charged by Peel Regional Police last week on one count of sexual assault and another of sexual interference.
For reference, a sexual interference charge pertains to a victim under the age of 16.
Cherickal had been serving at St. Jerome’s Catholic Church in Brampton since 2024 when he was charged, the statement said, with the Archdiocese of Toronto saying it learned of the allegations last week.
“Following our protocols and procedures relating to allegations of misconduct, Fr. Cherickal has been removed from pastoral ministry,” the statement said. “As with any accused in our Canadian legal system, he is considered innocent until proven guilty and entitled to due process.
“The Archdiocese of Toronto looks upon any accusation of misconduct as an urgent matter that requires serious attention. … We pray for all those who are affected by this painful situation.”
An email to Peel police seeking confirmation of the charges and other information related to the case was not immediately returned.
Police, however, told The Canadian Press on Tuesday that “the individual in question was arrested and charged.
“As the matter is now before the courts and to protect the integrity of the investigation, no further information can be provided at this time,” Peel police told The Canadian Press in a statement.
The Archdiocese of Toronto said Cherickal has also worked at St. Patrick in Mississauga (1997-2004), St. Joseph in Mississauga (2004-05), Precious Blood in Scarborough (2005-06, 2010-12), St. Mary in Brampton (2006-10), St. Thomas Syro Malabar Mission (2010), St. Anne in Brampton (2012-18) and St. Francis Xavier in Mississauga (2018-24).
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