Mumbai, June 27, 2020: A special court designated under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) has denied bail to a Catholic priest charged for sexually assaulting a minor boy.
Offences had been registered against Father Johnson Lawrence in December 2015 for unnatural sexual intercourse under Section 377 of the IPC and sections of the POCSO for sexual assault on a 13-year-old boy.
The 55-year-old priest had sought bail stating that he is diabetic and hence at a greater risk of getting infected with COVID-19. His application said that he has been a priest for 25 years and had deep roots in society. He also mentioned his other health ailments. His plea further said that the jail is overcrowded and he has been in custody since his arrest. His advocate also told the court that he had been granted temporary bail earlier and had surrendered without absconding.
Additional Public Prosecutor Veena Shelar opposed the grant of bail and said that the offence is serious and if released, he may threaten the victim and his family and might also abscond. She also pointed out that three previous bail pleas by the man had been rejected.
While rejecting the bail plea, special judge under the POCSO Act R N Pandhare noted serious offences against Lawrence and mentioned that he had had unnatural sex with the minor victim during his tenure as a priest in the church.
Regarding the medical issues, she said that he is in custody of the jail authorities and that they were responsible for taking care of him in case he needed any medical aid or was facing an emergency.
Source: Free Press Journal
This episode has happened in the jurisdiction of Cardinal Gracias based in Mumbai and who is also the President of CBCI. There is NO APOLOGY from him. WHY? Where is the credibility of the church prelate? He seems to be busy in giving “long and meaningless guidelines” to the dioceses, clergy and laity as to what they should do when they come to church after the lock down is relaxed. The topmost priority for the Cardinal is to “set his house in order”.
The accused priest should abide by the law and should not try to escape from the punishment by giving ‘lame reasons’.