Catholic Church liable for abuse by its priests : UK High Court ruling

Ashadh Amawasya , Kaliyug Varsha 5114

London (England) : Priests of the Roman Catholic Church might be hiding their faces as England’s ‘Court of Appeal’ has upheld a ruling that the Roman Catholic Church can be held liable for the wrongdoings of its priests.

The England Court of Appeal has upheld the decision, which raises an issue of claims against the Catholic Church by the victims of sexual crimes by Catholic priests. The ruling was uphold on 12 July 2012.

Last year on 8 November 2011, Justice MacDuff decided in favour of a woman, now 48, who claimed she was raped and assaulted as a child by a late priest Father Baldwin of the Portsmouth Diocese.

This special ruling has made the Catholic Church responsible for wrongdoings of its priests. Also victims of clerical sexual abuse will find it easier to bring compensation claims against the Catholic Church. The ruling also exposes the dirty criminal face of the Catholic missionaries and what actually they are ‘spreading’.

Last year, England high court judge Macduff gave a decision in favour of a woman, known as JGE, who claims she was sexually assaulted by a Portsmouth priest at a children’s home in Hampshire. The judge said although there had been no formal contract between the church and the priest, the late Father Baldwin, there were "crucial features" that should be recognised.

It was the first time that a court has ruled that the relationship between a Catholic priest and his bishop is similar to an employment relationship.

The trustees of the Portsmouth Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust – the defendant “standing in the shoes of the bishop” – were given leave to appeal against his decision and that challenge was heard by three judges in London in May 2012. The appeal was dismissed by a two-to-one majority.

A statement issued by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth said, "The diocese is committed to creating a safe environment for all. It added that the appeal was brought to achieve clarity “as to the nature and extent of the bishop’s liability for the actions of diocesan priests”.

The Court of Appeal judgment said the diocese could not appeal against the decision until a similar case at the Supreme Court on 23 July had been concluded, reports BBC.

Most recently, Outlook, one of India’s reputed national weeklies has exposed the truth behind Churches in Kerala. Taking major references from three books published by three different persons of Christian religious background, the magazine has carried the cover story on Churches in its latest issue. The story find its roots in three books- “Amen: The Autobiography of a Nun” – by Sister Jesme, “Oru Vaidikante Hrudayamitha (The Heart of a Priest)” by Father Shibu Kalamparambil and”Nanma Niranjavale Swasthi(Peace to the One filled with Grace)” -autobiography by Sister Mary Chandy. The books have exposed the real face of Christianity in India.

Source : News Bharati