Church will not protect priests guilty of sexual abuse: Cardinal

The Times of India
March 4, 2017

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/church-will-not-protect-priests-guilty-of-sexual-abuse-cardinal/articleshow/57471121.cms

Kochi: In a sign that ecclesiastical authorities are finally ready to admit the magnitude of the problem, Cardinal George Mar Alencherry, head of the Syro Malabar church, said on Saturday that the church unequivocally condemns clergy members involved in sexual abuse and child molestation cases and will under no circumstance protect the accused.

Referring to the Kottiyoor incident, where a 16-yr-old girl gave birth to a child last month following a relationship with the local parish priest, Cardinal Alencherry said, "The incident cannot be tolerated. It is highly condemnable. The church will not protect such offenders". Pointing out that the accused should be punished under the law of the land, Cardinal Alencherry said, "The church and the entire community of believers should be cautious in avoiding such incidents in the future". The cardinal was speaking after a prayer meeting for Father Tom Uzhunalil, who was abducted in Yemen by suspected Islamic State militants exactly a year ago.

Fr Robin Vadakkancheril alias Mathew Vadakkancheril (48), the parish vicar at St Sebastian Church in Neendunoki near Kottiyoor, is currently in judicial remand on the charge of raping a minor girl. What worsened matters is that the school controlled by the church where the survivor studied, and the hospital where she gave birth, again a church institution, tried to hush it up.