BishopAccountability.org

Challenge for clerics

By Aqela Susu
Fiji Times
July 04, 2016

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=360883

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RELIGIOUS institutions and the congregation should not cover up for pastors, ministers or priests involved in alleged sexual offences, says Fiji Women's Crisis Centre co-ordinator Shamima Ali.Ms Ali made the comment following the release of sexual offences statistics by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for the month of June.

The report highlighted that there were 47 separate incidents of sexual offences, 36 of which were rape offences. Out of this, 22 people were charged. A church pastor was charged with a serious sexual offence allegedly committed on a 16-year-old.

Ms Ali said such acts by church pastors were a betrayal to the victims and society as a whole because they were in a position of great trust.

"There needs to be a zero tolerance policy and processes as to how to deal with this," Ms Ali said.

"The religious institutions must deal with every case severely and not cover up for the rapists.

"In Fiji it is very difficult to get justice when the perpetrator is a priest or when this crime happens in religious institutions. The congregation should support its members, rather than the perpetrators."

She called on church hierarchies to condemn these acts and take a stronger stand on issue because it was becoming prevalent.

"They need to promote gender equality actively and examine the position of women within their religious institutions."

Archbishop Peter Loy Chong of the Catholic Church said earlier that the church had strict rules about priests and minors.

He said if any person or priest was involved in sexual abuse cases, then there were guidelines and policies in the church to discipline them and would also face the full brunt of the law.

Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji media relations officer Kamlesh Arya said the Sabha did not condone such acts or protect the perpetrators of such offences.

"The Sabha treats sexual abuse case as a crime and consistently articulates the position of legal redress by bringing the culprit to justice," Mr Arya said.

"On all deviant behaviour involving sex the Sabha has zero tolerance and willingly allows the law to take its course without harbouring the offender and or mitigating on his or her behalf."

Methodist Church in Fiji's secretary for communications, Reverend James Bhagwan said the church placed a zero-tolerance policy on issues of domestic violence, or any form of abuse, be it physical, emotional or sexual, based on gender or directed towards children.

"The Methodist Church will not tolerate any leader abusing their power," Mr Bhagwan said.

"The Code of Conduct Section 1.5.2 states; Ministry leaders should be aware of the power they have and reject any use of this power to meet their own needs or to force others to agree to what they want. It is a serious abuse of power to use the ministry relationship to meet one's own emotional, sexual, financial or other needs.

"In terms of abuse of 'confidentiality', the code of conduct (2.6.d) clearly states information given in confidence can be disclosed to prevent significant physical, emotional, or sexual harm, or financial loss to another person or persons; or if required by law."




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