Church blames 'consumerism' and 'temptations of body' after Catholic priest 'rapes 15-year-old girl'

[Heddi]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/catholic-priest-rape-15-year-old-girl-kerala-india-mathew-vadakkacheril-consumerism-temptations-sex-a7613406.html

The Catholic Church has sparked outrage in India after it blamed "consumerism" and bodily "temptations" for the alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl.

Priest Mathew Vadakkacheril, from Kerala in India, was accused of raping the child and later arrested.

The girl was allegedly raped several times and became pregnant, according to India Today. The child has since been delivered at a private hospital and since taken to an orphanage, reportedly without the mother's consent.

...
“Daughter, why did you forget who a priest is?" read an extract in the Sunday Shalom, according to an India Today translation. "He has a human body and has temptations. He may have forgotten his position for a few seconds, my child who has taken the Holy Communion, why didn't you stop or correct him?"

Father Paul Thelekat from the Bishops’ Council, also commented on the incident and blamed consumerism for the rape.

[HoneyBadger]

1. What will the Pope say?

[Heddi]

2. Priest arrested, charged with rape in Kerala after teen delivers child

https://www.ncronline.org/news/accountability/priest-arrested-charged-rape-kerala-after-teen-delivers-child

Police in southern Kerala state arrested a 48-year-old priest and charged him with rape of a minor after a teen girl in his parish delivered a baby.
Civil rights activists alerted authorities, who questioned the girl, leading to the arrest of Syro-Malabar Father Robin Vadakkancheril, vicar of St Sebastian's Church in Kottiyoor.

The Mananthavady Diocese barred the accused priest from performing priestly duties. On Feb. 28, the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council reiterated that the church has a "zero tolerance" policy on deviant sexual behavior of clergy.

[trotsky]

3. "why didn't you stop or correct him?"

This is so infuriating.

[Fix The Stupid]

4. "I'll never step foot in a church in India"..n/t

[edhopper]

5. So after I surf Amazon

I should feel like raping?

[Nitram]

6. That's right, blame the victim. If anything, a priest should be held more accountable...

...than any other rapist for taking advantage of the moral authority of the Church to exploit a child.

[Act_of_Reparation]

7. Y'all don't get lascivious whenever Apple announces a new iPhone?

Guess it's just me then.

[Iggo]

8. Let's hear it for the catholic church everybody!!!

Helluva bunch!