70 year old Catholic priest on the run after sexually abusing three minors

Kochi: In yet another shocking incident exposing the growing sexual abuse cases by Christian clergy in India, a 70-year old Catholic priest allegedly molested three minor girls when they visited him to seek blessings at his church office in Chendamangalam in Ernakulam district last month, the police said on Friday.

The pedophile priest, George Padayatty, vicar of a Syrian Catholic Church in Chendamangalam, has been absconding after a case was registered against him in connection with the incident, police said.

He has been charged under various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act), IndianExpose has learned.

The incident occurred a month ago when the nine-year old girls went to the priest’s office to seek his blessings after service in the Church.

The moot question is whether the Catholic Church will act on a detention and prevention mechanism