Bishop says he believes priest kidnapped in Yemen is still alive (Crucifixion rumor doubtful)

The Pilot ^ | 03-28-2016 | CNS

[NRx]

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The bishop who leads the apostolic vicariate that includes Yemen said he has "strong indications" that Salesian Father Tom Uzhunnalil "is still alive in the hands of his kidnappers."

Bishop Paul Hinder, head of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, told Catholic News Service March 28, "I have no confirmation that anything happened Good Friday" and added that the rumors appear to be untrue.

Father Uzhunnalil, an Indian, was kidnapped March 4 from the home for the aged and disabled run by the Missionaries of Charity in Aden, Yemen. Four Missionaries of Charity and 12 others were murdered in the attack.

Speaking from his office in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, Bishop Hinder said it appeared that in late March a rumor began in India that militants connected to the so-called Islamic State group planned to crucify Father Uzhunnalil on Good Friday. The rumor spread around the world through social media.

Leaders of the Salesian order in India said March 21 that there was no evidence to support the reports and asked people to refrain from "spreading false rumors."

Rumors that the murder was carried out began to circulate after Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna mentioned Father Uzhunnalil in his homily at the Easter Vigil March 26. The next day, the Vienna archdiocesan website posted a piece quoting Bishop Hinder and Indian Salesians as saying there was no evidence the priest was killed; Cardinal Schonborn had spoken to church leaders in the region and believed "there is still hope."

Bishop Hinder told CNS March 28, "Nobody knows exactly what is happening." However, he said, "I have sufficient reason to doubt" the reports of Father Uzhunnalil's death.

The bishop refused to comment further, saying the situation is "too delicate."

[headless_thompson_gunner]

Phew.... I didn’t think ISIS could be that barbaric. /turbo-s

[wyowolf]

I kind of doubt it only because they love to broadcast such things if they did...

[I want the USA back]

We can hope, but it’s like putting a rabbit in a cage with a snake and hoping that the rabbit escapes alive.

(savage subhumans are lower than the bacteria that feed on dead dung beetles)

[Huntress]

I think it would depend on how Fr. Tom handled himself. If he were praying Catholic prayers to his last breath, it would ruin their snuff film and they wouldn’t broadcast. If they could somehow get him to denounce Christianity, they’d have it up ASAP.

[Mrs. Don-o]

If they murdered him in a spectacular way, e.g. crucifixion, it's probable they'd release a terror-inspiring video. The fact that as of now they haven't, makes me think they may be holding Fr. Tom for different purposes.

It is not unusual for jihadis to kidnap high-value hostages in order to demand ransom. I wouldn't be surprised if that's what they'd want to do with Fr. Tom.

[little jeremiah]

I pray that the priest is alive and will get saved from the hands of the subhuman fiend mozlems.