As both Australia and Indian Catholic Churches are rocked by sexual abuse scandals, the Kerala Catholic Bishop’s Conference (KCBC), the Regional Bishops’ Council for the State of Kerala, has released the guidelines for church personnel aimed at protecting minors or vulnerable adults from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.
The guidelines state that: “No minor child should reside in any church rectory or living quarters of priests unless the minor is accompanied by parent or an adult entrusted by the parent."
It comes on the same day that Pope Francis admitted for the first time that Catholic priests and bishops had sexually abused nuns. The KCBC issued the guidelines emphasising the protection of children and vulnerable adults from being sexually abused. The main intention of the guideline is to create a safer environment in Catholic faith communities.
It begins with the background that all Catholic institutions such as churches, educational institutions, houses of special care and Catholic organizations should be places where all feel comfortable.
Children walk past a mural of christ on the wall of St. Joseph Church in Udayagiri, in southern Indian state of Kerala. Source: AAP
According to the guidelines, “sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults are heinous crimes and grave sins.”
One of the main purposes of the guidelines is to protect the vulnerable from any form of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. The guidelines emphasize the need for reporting any incident of sexual assault or harassment to the church authorities and to the civil authorities as well.
In the guidelines, KCBC has also stated that it will show zero tolerance towards sexual assault or harassment of minors and vulnerable adults.
“The Church personnel shall refrain from viewing and exhibiting any sexually explicit or morally inappropriate material in the presence of minors and vulnerable adults,” says the guidelines.
The Church body has also laid out guidelines for the protection of minors or children below the age of 18 years of age.
It states that when working with minors/vulnerable adults, Church personnel shall ensure that: “No minor child should reside in any church rectory or living quarters of priests unless the minor is accompanied by parent or an adult entrusted by the parent."
The minor is not alone with ahurch personnel in a sleeping facility, locker room, rest room, dressing facility or other closed room or in an isolated area."
The guidelines also states, “Overnight trips with a minor should be avoided. Do not take photographs of the minors when they are unclothed or are dressing”
It further says, “If the Bishop/Major Superior, after studying the results of the investigation by the Sexual Offences Committee, concludes that the alleged offender is guilty and constitutes a risk for minors, the offender is to be immediately relieved of all offices he had been holding......"
Recently, the Catholic Church in Kerala has faced many cases of sexual abuse against nuns and minors. Robin Vadakkumcherry, a priest had been accused of raping a 16-year-old girl and impregnating her in 2017. The priest was arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POSCO). His bail plea was rejected by the Kerala High Court last year.
Later in 2018, Bishop of Jalandhar, Franco Mulakkal was accused of raping a nun multiple times. The issue hit the headlines worldwide when a group of nuns took to the streets demanding justice to the victim.
People hold a protest against Bishop Franco Mulakkal for his arrest outside the Kerala House, on September 21, 2018 in New Delhi, India. Source: Getty
There is speculation the move by the Church comes based on recent incidents of sexual abuse by Church personnel.
