Diocese mulls guidelines to prevent sex abuse incidents

Times of India
March 13, 2017

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/diocese-mulls-guidelines-to-prevent-sex-abuse-incidents/articleshow/57609981.cms

KOZHIKODE: The Catholic diocese of Mananthavady, which has been rattled by the arrest of a parish vicar over the alleged rape of a minor girl in Kannur, has come up with a set of guidelines to safeguard the sanctity of the church and to step up its vigil against such incidents.

The meeting of the priests and pastoral council members held at the bishop's house at Mananthavady last week has decided to implement a 12-point guideline to ensure greater transparency and probity in the affairs of the diocese.

Among the decisions taken at the meeting include installing CCTV cameras in all churches and institutions run by the diocese.

Also, it has been decided to constitute grievance cells in parishes to address the complaints at the local level.

The authorities of the diocese, however, refused to divulge the details of the decisions saying that discussions are still under way.

"In the backdrop of the incident, we will undertake serious reforms and will plug all loopholes to ensure that it is not repeated. The discussions are still under way at different levels. We will come up with an action plan and announce it to the public soon," the PRO of the diocese, Fr Jose Kocharackal, said.

Asked about the decision to install CCTV camera on church premises, he said that such a decision was taken earlier and it will be implemented in all institutions under the diocese.

Mananthavady bishop Jose Porunnedom had earlier apologized to the survivor and her family after Fr Robin Vadakkancheril, the parish vicar of St Sebastian Church at Neendunoki in Kottiyoor was arrested on February 27 on the charge of raping the girl. The priest was held from Chalakkudy when he was preparing to flee to Canada after a case was registered against him. The priest had, in a confessional statement given to the police later, admitted to abusing the minor girl in the church during a rainy day in May.

The incident had come as a shock to the people of Kottiyur, where the controversial priest is said to have had a huge influence.

Following his arrest, various social and political organizations had come up in support of the girl.

This prompted bishop Porunnedom to suspend Fr Robin from the post of the vicar of St Sebastian Church.