KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Authorities are investigating a Catholic priest for sedition in an escalating religious row over the use of the word "Allah", AFP reported.

Police questioned Father Lawrence Andrew, editor of the Catholic newspaper Herald on Tuesday (January 7th) for sedition after he told The Malaysian Insider last month churches would continue to use "Allah" in their Malay-language services despite an October court ruling forbidding it.

Majid Hamzah, head of the prosecution division in the Attorney General's Chambers, confirmed the investigation Thursday.

Andrew's lawyer Francis Pereira said his client's comments were "clearly not in any way seditious".

Revocation of the ban by a lower court in 2009, triggered attacks with Molotov cocktails, rocks and paint on churches and other places of worship, sparking fears of wider religious conflict.