A Jesuit priest has sought anticipatory bail after police in a southern Indian state registered a rape case against him.
On Oct. 12, a former nun accused Father Rathinam Rajarathinam,
principal of Jesuit-managed St. Joseph’s College in Trichy, Tamil Nadu,
of raping her.
She filed a complaint with the All Women Police Station that
specializes in crimes against women.
According to her case, the priest
raped her in 2006 and in 2008 and continuously threatened her not to
tell anyone.
On Oct. 18, a court in Madurai asked the police to submit the nun’s
original complaint to her congregation and adjourned the case to Oct.
27.
Father Rajarathinam, who belongs to the Jesuit Madurai province, has since resigned from his post.
The news received wide coverage in Indian media and some newspapers in Tamil Nadu carried it on their front page.
Soon, posters appeared in Madurai with some groups demanding action
against the priest while others maintained he was being framed for being
a dalit (former untouchable caste).
A press release from Madurai provincial Father M. Devadoss said
Father Rajarathinam had requested to be relieved for a month pending
completion of an investigation against him.
The nun’s complaint says the priest had invited her to the college
guest house, raped her after sedating her. Later he blackmailed her with
the claim that photos he had taken of the sexual act would be made
public.
It also states that the nun had become pregnant and had undergone an abortion.
Sources in the Jesuit congregation say the nun and the priest had
known each other for some time because they met often at a college for
classical music and dance.
The nun was attending music training and the priest is into classical music and has released a few music albums.
The sources also said the Jesuit provincial had set up a one-man
inquiry committee to investigate the case the day the incident came to
light. However, nothing concrete has emerged.
The police have announced that they are investigating the case and
the local courts have ordered a medical examination of the former nun.
Jesuit Father Susai Pitchai, rector of the college, told ucanews.com
on Oct. 18 that Father Rajarathinam has taken medical leave. “We are
investigating the complaint and awaiting court orders,” he added.
Susairaj Martin, a lawyer representing the nun’s congregation, said
she was expelled in this August after she gave a statement about getting
pregnant and undergoing an abortion.
She was expelled as per canon law, he said and added, the
congregation has nothing to do with this issue and it is very sad they
are dragged into it.
Father Vincent Chinnadurai of the state Minority commission termed
the controversy as “an unfortunate development” that has damaged the
Church’s image.
He also said the controversy teaches priests and nuns to respect each other’s religious calling.
SIC: CTH/INDIA