Francis Fernandes, a Catholic priest, molested a minor girl in Shivamogga
He is under investigation for violating strict laws meant to safeguard children and people from underprivileged groups.
Who is Francis Fernandes Shivamogga, Karnataka Catholic priest held for s*xually abusing a minor girl
Meet Father Francis Fernandes, a church priest from Karnataka's Shivamogga district who was a principal of a pre-university girls’ college.
Charges: Arrested for allegedly abusing a minor at a college in which he was teaching. He was booked under relevant sections of the… pic.twitter.com/ItCtf6TWRY
— Akassh Ashok Gupta (@peepoye_) July 22, 2023
Indian Catholic priest held for sexually abusing a minor girl
The principal of a diocese-run college in a southern Indian state was held in judicial custody for molesting a young girl. The complaint was filed on July 20 against the Catholic priest.
A Catholic Priest Arrested For Sexual Abuse Of A Minor
Father Francis Fernandes, the principal of Sacred Heart College in the Shimoga district of Karnataka, was detained by police on July 20 after receiving a complaint from a girl who was under 18.
According to local media sources, the priest has been charged in accordance with the strict Protection of Children from S*xual Offences (POSCO) Act and Scheduled Caste (Prevention of Atrocities Act) laws.
The priest was brought before a special court on July 21 after a day-long interview and was put in judicial detention for 14 days.
Laws intended to safeguard kids and vulnerable groups are considered non-bailable offences, although the arrested person may still apply for bail before the court.
According to media sources, the complainant was a second-year student at the college administered by the diocese and is a member of the Banjara community, a nomadic ethnic minority in India.
The priest’s arrest and detention were verified by the Shimoga diocese, which is headed by Jesuit Bishop Francis Serrao.
The Church tries To Clarify Francis Fernandes’ Image
On July 20, police reportedly requested Fernandes’ company’s public relations officer, Father Veeresh V. Moras, to go with them to the police station because “they had to seek some clarifications from him.”
Father Moras said that we are “unaware of the precise charges brought against him.” Additionally, they have sent a lawyer to act as his representative.
According to the early reports, he claimed he was accused of violating both the Prevention of Atrocities Statute and the POCSO.
A protest was organised by members of the Banjara community on July 20 in front of the neighbourhood police station. The protest called for action against the priest, who was reportedly detained by the police.
The CBCI
In February 2020, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) issued a resolution declaring “zero tolerance to s*x abuse” incidents in the Church at its biennial meeting in Bengaluru, the state capital of Karnataka.
192 bishops attended the gathering. The Church, according to them, “will not tolerate any kind of s*xual abuse.”
They also promised to let civil authorities pursue any abuse cases that were found.
🚨एक चर्च के पादरी #Father #FrancisFernandes पर चर्च से संबद्ध कॉलेज में एक नाबालिग के साथ यौन शोषण करने के आरोप लगा I
▪️आरोपी के खिलाफ में POCSO के तहत मामला दर्ज किया गया है।
▪️पादरी को अदालत में पेश किया गया और 14 दिनों की न्यायिक हिरासत में भेज दिया गया।इसपर कोई लिबरल…
— 𝐑𝐚𝐡𝐮𝐥 𝐊𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐫 (@Rahulk123d) July 21, 2023