BRICK TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) — Authorities have accused a
New Jersey priest of charges of sexual contact with a woman and her child.
The Rev. Marukudiyil Velan has been a priest at the Church of the Visitation
in Brick Township since 2001. He's known in the parish as "Father Chris" and a
garden at the church is named after him.
The 64-year-old is held in the Ocean County Jail on $75,000 bail. It's not
known whether the priest has a lawyer.
Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford tells the Asbury Park Press (http://on.app.com/MuIeBe ) the woman and her
child were parishioners and the alleged assault took place at their home.
