Indian Priest Accused of Committing Clerical Abuse
Two weeks after his arrest, 48-year-old Rev. Robin Vadakkancheril has been removed by the bishop of the Mananthavady Diocese from his job as vicar of St. Sebastian church in Kottiyoor, Kannur district. The priest is accused of abusing a teenage member of his parish.
The abuse produced a baby boy that the 17-year-old victim delivered last month. The crime happened only once in the priest's bedroom at the parsonage attached to the church. Rev. Nobel Parackal, media officer for the diocese in Kerala state, said the girl was the daughter of farm hands whom he described as bitterly poor.
The government-backed Childline service for children in distress learned about the girl's plight and promptly called the police after she gave birth in the community's private hospital.
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"Initially, the girl said she was abused by her own father," The Indian Express quoted the police.
However, when her father was taken into custody and questioned for the crime, the girl disclosed Fr. Robin's name.
"The newborn was handed over to a private orphanage in Wayanad district. After the case was registered, the baby was handed over to a government-run orphanage in Kannur,'' the police went on.
Investigators presume that the girl, whose house is near the church, might have been acquainted with the priest. Residents said Fr. Robin had spoken against child abuse during Mass and even alerted police about a sex racket in the region several months ago, the Associated Press reported.
No previous complaints have been recorded against Fr. Robin, who is now prohibited from conducting any priestly functions. Police are also looking for at least five nuns who helped the priest cover up the incident. As a result of the scandal, the diocese in southern India is considering installing security cameras and other measures to monitor the priests' activities.
