INDIA
Merinews
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) expressed concern over reports that on February 27, a Christian priest in Kerala, Mr Robin Vadakkancherry, was arrested on charges of raping a minor-girl.
The incident came to light when the Childline (1098), the crisis helpline for children in distress in India was informed of the rape. The survivor got pregnant and last month, she gave birth in a Church-run hospital in Kerala.
In Focus
It has been reported that hospital staff and the nuns working at the institution tried to cover up the crime and shield the priest. It has also been reported that the accused and the Church tried to conceal details of the newborn from the authorities. The cover-up by Church authorities is apparent as the police have booked 8 people, including 5 nuns and the doctor, of the hospital where the survivor gave birth.
AHRC said that this is not the first time that the Church has been in the centre of a storm of sexual abuse and cover-up allegations. In 2015, another priest, Mr Edwin Figarez, was accused of raping a teenage girl and the priest was suspended by the diocese.
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