Fr. Joseph Palanivel Jeyapaul

Ordained: 1982
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Crookston MN

From India. Arrived in the Crookston diocese in 2004. The Diocese knew rumors of his behavior by 8/2004. Jeyapaul abruptly returned to India in 9/2005 and was given a job by the bishop overseeing schools. In 2006, a girl told the Crookston Diocese that he abused her many times when she was age 14 in 2004-2005, including rape and forced oral sex. The Diocese deemed the allegations credible. She sued in 7/2009; settled in 9/2011 for $750K. Another girl said he sexually assaulted her on her 16th birthday in 2005. Sued; settled. The Vatican recommended laicization; the bishop in India refused. Suspended from ministry in India in 2010. Arrested in 3/2012 on an Interpol warrant. Extradited to the U.S. in 11/2014 to face charges in both cases. Pleaded guilty in 5/2015 to the 2005 sexual assault of the 16-year-old girl; sentenced to 1 year; freed due to time served. No conviction in the other case due to a plea deal. Deported to India. Bishop Arulappan Amalraj in Ootacamund, India lifted Jeyapaul’s suspension in 1/2016, citing consultation with the Vatican’s CDF. MN victim filed fed suit in 4/19/2016 against the India diocese. She won in 10/2016. As part of terms, Jeyapaul was removed by his Diocese.

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