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Kerala priest rape scandal: Victim's father says he lied about raping his own child to protect priest, Church

By Ganesh Kumar Radha Udayakumar
India Today
March 12, 2017

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kerala-priest-minor-rape-catholic-church-posco-ipc/1/902908.html


[with video]

The father of a minor girl who was allegedly raped and impregnated by a Catholic priest in a Kerala parish, has said he lied about raping his daughter to protect her aggressor and the Church, the Indian Express reported on Saturday.

The victim, a 17-year old student in eleventh grade, gave birth to a baby last month.

Her father said he turned in the priest, 48-year old Father Robin Vaddakumchiryil, after being taken into custody and told he would be behind bars for a long time, the Indian Express report said.

He said the priest "wanted someone to take responsibility" for the baby's birth, the report added.

Meanwhile, the girl's mother told the Indian Express that she and her husband remain "faithfully loyal" to the Church, and their daughter "is determined to fight back by focusing on her studies."

PRIEST CONFESSES, ARRESTED

The alleged crime came to light when the victim made an anonymous complaint on a telephone helpline for children in distress, which was relayed to the police.

Father Vaddakumchiryil, who's the bishop of St Sebastian church and the manager of the school where the victim studies, has confessed to his crime.

He was arrested last month, and charged under provisions of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act (Pocso) and the Indian Penal Code.




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