Former Bishop of Willochra defends priest Thomas Karamakuzhiyil over widow Joan Correll’s will

One of the most senior Anglican clergymen in Australia has defended a priest who inherited millions after befriending an elderly SA woman.

One of Australia’s most senior Anglican Church bishops has defended a priest who befriended a wealthy South Australian widow 50 years his senior and walked away with a trust worth more than $2.2m.

Garry Weatherill was Bishop of Willochra, which covers 90 per cent of SA, when Father Thomas Karamakuzhiyil, 49, started preaching on Yorke Peninsula in 2011.

Fr Thomas, who denies any wrongdoing, developed a close relationship with parishioner Joan Correll in Minlaton.

Bishop Weatherill, who is now the Ballarat Diocese head after being appointed almost a decade ago, has a “high regard” for the priest, who was left more than half of Mrs Correll’s $4.4m estate after her 2020 death aged 88. “I can’t see what all this fuss is about,” he said.

“It has been tested legally and … through the church’s professional standards processes, so I don’t think there is any further business to transact about this matter.

“Fr Thomas … was subjected to great pressure from the Diocese of Willochra, which has resulted in no action and a great deal of legal expense.”

Warning the Sunday Mail to “be very careful” about what was published, he refused to say if he had offered a job to Fr Thomas, who is on sick leave and unavailable for comment.

But former Minlaton parishioner and ex-professional standards member Michael Ford condemned the church’s watchdog as a “pathetic sham”.

“This case … sends a hugely wrong message,” he said.

Originally published as Former Bishop of Willochra defends priest Thomas Karamakuzhiyil over widow Joan Correll’s will