Case against priests: Orthodox church in defensive mode

Kottayam: Malankara Orthodox Church finds it hard to defend its priests as the Crime Branch has filed a case against four priests on a sexual abuse complaint registered against them. Though the church reiterates that the guilty won't be saved, efforts were on to portray them as victims of dispute among the churches.

As the Crime Branch has registered the case, the Church is frowning at it as the justifications are baseless.

Father M.O. John, the church trustee and a member of one of the three commissions constituted for the enquiry into the allegation, has alleged that there are names of non Christians too, in the affidavit given by the woman. Father John's statement has turned into a controversy and has become a setback for the church.

Though complaints against priests are not unprecedented, it is for the first time the church leadership is facing such a grave allegation. It is for the first time their priests are being charged with cases. The happenings have turned gruesome for the church as their four priests face imminent arrest and police custody.

Confession is one of the most valued and holy services in churches. Church prescribes that all the believers shall confess at least once in a year.

A section of the priests is asking, now on how they can ask the believers to confess. The believers are also vexed as to how to face the confessional further.

The church postulates that the confessional secrets will never be revealed and will not be kept in mind ever again.

Meanwhile, a few have pointed out that the commission appointed by the church into the inquiry is no more relevant. The demands to dismiss the priests from service and to produce guideline to avoid the recurrence of such incidents are gaining momentum.

However, a section is suspicious of the act of the lady, who once ran after the priests, now crying victim.