Let Justice Be Done, Mutiny, May 16, 2008

Let Justice Be Done

Mutiny
May 16, 2008

http://mutiny.in/2008/05/16/let-justice-be-done/

Here comes an important development in Sr. Abhaya murder case after 12 years. CBI has submitted a report on the case before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Ernakulam.

""The CBI inquiry team led by SP R M Krishna subjected Fr Thomas M Kottoor and Fr Jose Puthrukayil for the narcoanalysis in September, 2007. Both the priests had associated closely with the St Pius X Convent where the body of Sister Abhaya was found on March 27, 1992. The test result was submitted before the CJM Court on January 21 this year following directive of the High Court on January 11. [Abhaya killers identified? - The Indian Express]""

The local news papers report that the Narco Analysis Test results hints at Fr. Thomas Kottoor as the culprit. News has it that the CBI will submit the final report at the Court on June 4th so we will know the culprits soon.

One of the main speculations about the reason behind 21-yrs old Sr. Abhaya's murder is that she came to know that some of her colleague nuns had sexual relationships with two Catholic priests - Fr Jose Putrukayal and Fr Thomas Kattoor. Now consider this point too - that Sr. Abhaya came from a poor family. I have heard stories (from reliable sources) of how poor nuns are being treated in the convents by their superiors. The nuns from wealthy and known families have special consideration inside the convent and the poor ones are treated badly.

On the other hand, some priests have indulged in sodomy and sexual abuse and affairs. There was a lady staying near my house and a young assistant Vicar used to frequent her house at late evenings. A couple of altar boys (an association of boys who help the priests with services in the church) had found out that the priest was having an affair with this woman. When the matter became public, the woman herself claimed that the priest is their distant relative (nobody has seen this distant relative in the place before he came to serve in our parish, but now we see him regularly even after he left our parish).

There were reports of sexual abuse of minor girls too. This has been happening in many parishes but in many cases the victims do not go public to avoid media attention and such pervert priests escape. In some cases, the local parish community has man-handled such priests. But such reaction from the community happens mostly in the village areas and urban areas tend to ignore such parish/religion related issues (as they are busy with their life).

The Church administration should not hold any sympathy for these pervert priests and should terminate their priesthood when they are found guilty. But the Church is not being ready to do so and these perverts keep on doing it again and again. This is also affecting the reputation and good work of other good priests and results in a bad reputation of the Catholic church.

I hope, at least this time, justice will be done to Sr. Abhaya's family and the guilty will be prosecuted as per law.

PS:For Hindutva brigade's attention - I know that priesthood in any religion has always been corrupted and it happens in all religions. I haven't forgotten the pedophile Babas, sexually-abusing Swamis and murderous Mutt-heads.