ASIA/INDIA - Catholic priest vicar general of Patna diocese dies of stab wounds after weeks of suffering

Saturday, 7 May 2005

Patna (Fides Service) - Fr Matthew Uzhuthal vicar general of Patna diocese stabbed on 11 April at his parish offices died on May 1. The new reached Fides only today. The priest was attacked by a young man who demanded money. When the priest said he had no money to give him the youth stabbed him in the neck and the throat. Fr Uzhuthal was rushed to nearby Nazareth hospital and then later to Kurji Holy Familiy Hospital in Patna for special treatment. After 19 days of suffering his condition suddenly precipitated and his heart stopped beating on May 1.
The local Christian community in mourning has asked for justice to be done. The police are still searching for the suspected murderer Gyan Prakash Das. A diocesan delegation led by Archbishop Benedict J. Osta of Patna accused the local police of incompetence calling on the government of Bihar state to see the criminal is punished according to the law.
Fr Mathew Uzhuthal was from Kerala. In 1953 he moved to Patna and was ordained a priest by Pope Paul VI during the International Eucharistic Congress held in Bombay in 1964. In forty years as a priest he served in three parishes, assisted many needy families while teaching at the diocesan Catechism Centre. Over 3,000 people attended his funeral on 2 May presided by the Archbishop of Patna and concelebrated by 15 local priests. In his homily the Archbishop said “Fr Mathew represents all those innocent people killed with violence because of greed for earthly wealth”.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 7/5/2005 righe 25 parole 247)


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