The Catholic church in Kerala has been losing credibility over allegations of sexual abuse by those in power in the recent times. The church, too, had come under fire for its haste in condoning the crimes of its own and even shielding the accused. The Syro Malabar Church's move to issue a warning against Father Augustine Vattoly who joined the nuns who were staging an agitation against Bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of sexually abusing a nun, too caused much harm to the image of church.
It only seems fitting then that Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) takes certain steps to ensure that the church's reputation is not corroded any further. The apex body of Catholic church in Kerala recently came out with a set of 'Guidelines for safe environment program for church personnel connected with institutions where minors or vulnerable adults are given particular care'. It says that priests found guilty of abusing minors can be dismissed from the clerical state.
According to the KCBC, the guidelines were issued in “the light of the recommendation of the CBCI (Catholic Bishops' Conference of India) requiring every diocese to establish a Guideline for Church Personnel connected with Institutions where minors are given particular care, so as to ensure a safe environment in the Church”.
The guidelines note that "sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults are heinous crimes and grave sins", and add that these intend to “protect them (minors and vulnerable adults) from any form of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse”. There is an assurance that “necessary ecclesiastical disciplinary action” would be initiated against offenders.
There have been instances when the church would rush to blame the victims for transgressions of the priests. In the wake of allegations of sexual assault involving a minor girl against Father Robin Vaddakumchiryil, parish priest of St Sebastian's church in Kannur, Sunday Shalom, a Catholic weekly, tried to pin the blame on the victim. “Before the Lord, it is you who will have to answer first. Daughter, why did you forget who a priest is? He has a human body and has temptations. He may have forgotten his position for a few seconds, my child who has taken the Holy Communion, why didn't you stop or correct him,” the article read.
The latest guidelines from the church body, however, acknowledge that victims of sexual abuse by priests need to be helped and rehabilitated, and not blamed and shamed. The guidelines intend to “address the spiritual, physical and emotional case of the victim, its family and the affected community”. They further state that the church will “show zero tolerance towards sexual assault or harassment of minors and vulnerable adults.”
According to the guidelines, anyone who is below 18 and "a person who habitually lacks the use of reason" is counted as minors. It defines "vulnerable adult" as an "adult who is physically, mentally or emotionally impaired, whether temporary or long-term, or is otherwise unable to function as a typical adult is expected to function". It further states that the clergy, staff and volunteers of such institutions will be given a training to ensure the code of conduct.
The guidelines further state that minors under the care of clergy should not be subjected to corporal punishment. “Disciplinary problems must be handled in co-ordination with the parents of the minor.”
It says that a preliminary enquiry committee will look into the allegations. The three-member committee would be appointed by the diocesan bishop in the cases involving diocesan priests and the major superior in cases involving religious priests. In case the victim is a female, the committee should have a religious nun.
If found guilty, the document states, the “offender is to be immediately relieved of all offices he had been holding and it should be examined whether he needs to be advised to request to be reduced to the lay state.”
Father Jolly Vadakkan, secretary, media commission, KCBC, told THE WEEK that the guidelines were issued and distributed to bishops all over India during the Syro Malabar Synod held in Kochi in June 2018. He claimed that the church always had “zero tolerance” towards crimes involving minors and there were always provisions to bring guilty priests to the “status of a lay person” which would mean they would not be allowed to perform any more religious duties.
When asked what happens when a priest is found guilty of a crime and relieved of his religious duties, Father Vadakkan said the church won't offer any assistance to him and he will be subjected to the law of the land. Father Vadakkan said that even if a victim does not approach the church to file a complaint, but chooses to register a complaint with the police, the church will constitute a commission to look into the allegations and initiate necessary action.
