Ernakulam Rural police in Kerala arrested a Christian priest on Sunday for reportedly raping a minor boy. The accused was identified as Fr Joseph Kodiyan (63), the vicar of St. Thomas Church Edambadam, Varapuzha. The accused is a native of Chendamangalam, Paravoor.
Last week, the 13-year-old victim went to the Catholic priest’s residence to give him food. The parish goers take turns and send home-cooked meals to the priest. Kerala Police said the priest sexually assaulted the minor boy. How many minors Kodiyan has raped, assaulted, or indulged in unnatural sex is unknown. Such predators are the ones that teach holiness to our young ones.
The boy reported the assault to his parents, filed a complaint on Saturday evening, and registered the FIR at night. According to police, the accused has been booked under sections 7 and 8 (acts with sexual intent which involves physical contact without penetration) of the POCSO Act. Upon his arrest, Kodiyan complained of high blood pressure, pretended to faint, and was admitted to the Paravoor Government Hospital. On Monday, the priest was remanded in judicial custody.
‘Mainstream’ visual media outlets shunned the incident, and the print media tried their best to hide his appearance. Courts in Kerala also have a habit of freeing accused priests and bishops, mentioning that the victims did not mention penile penetration! Such denial is probably why Evangelist atrocities against minors are rising in Kerala.
