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Goa Church Laments Abuse Of Media Freedom After Priest Is Charged With Child Abuse By SAR NEWS PANAJI, Goa (SAR News)- The Catholic Church in Goa has lamented at the exploitation of press freedom, after the print and electronic media went to town over an alleged molestation by a Catholic priest in the confessional box on Christmas night. Father Olavo Velho Pereira, spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Goa told SAR News August 25 that the media has blown the issue out of proportion, and "crucified" the priest in question without a "fair trial". On August 19, police registered a case of molestation against Father Newton Rodrigues, parish priest of the Our Lady of Help Church, Ribandar, Old Goa near here, after he was accused of molesting a 13-year-old girl, moments before midnight Mass last Christmas Eve . However, police have refrained from arresting the priest fearing a backlash. Father Pereira said, the media as well as the church critics want prompt action on such issues, which are delicate and cannot be decided impromptu. The victim, whose father is employed overseas, was scheduled to play the role of Mother Mary and went a few minutes early for the midnight Mass. At this point, Father Rodrigues reportedly asked the teenager whether she had confessed. Though her response was in the affirmative, the priest reportedly pressed for a confession afresh. According to the girls uncle, Anthony Froys, the priest took her to the confessional, where he allegedly molested her. The complaint however was first filed last week, by a Catholic activist-lawyer Aires Rodrigues, once a staunch disciple of Rajneesh. Aires has in recent years been projecting himself in new light after he took several public-oriented causes and last year filed a public interest litigation in the High Court challenging the appointment of an RSS incumbent to the post of Director of Information. Later, however, he succumbed to RSS pressure and withdrew the petition. In 2000, police records indicate that the lawyer was 35th in the list of goondas, history sheeters and bad characters. "Benefit of doubt ought to be given to the priest because of improbabilities. How would it be possible for the priest to molest moments before the midnight Mass. The complaint says that she was molested at 11.15 p.m. At that time, the priest was at the altar" said an agitated parishioner Michael Fernandes. "It means he molested her in full view of the congregation" he added. He said, "the complaint was lodged eight months after the episode and that too by a third party. Obviously, the complaint is orchestrated to get even with the priest, who has been turning down Aires suggestions for the parish". The allegations against the priest appears to be made with vested interests, says M K Jos, an acerbic campaigner, who said the very background of the lawyer has vertically divided the parish, with a few supporting the priest, and others not certain where matters stand. On August 21, some 350 parishioners went to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief minister Manohar Parrikar's residence and demanded action be initiated against Rodrigues and his associates for creating discord in the village. The memo which targeted the advocate, accusing him of outraging the modesty of nuns of a nearby convent with abusive language and threats of rape, if the principal of the convent-run school was not transferred, according to his demand. The following day, a meeting addressed by Aires evoked a response of about 75 parishioners. Referring to the abuse of Press freedom, Father Pereira pointed out that one daily carried a full page report on the "Ribandar Molestation Controversy" and went further on another page to publish a letter over the issue and the editor's response to the letter. The newspaper also carried an editorial, with the national media tom-toming the claims of Aires without any restrictions. "It was as if it was fait accompli. In the eyes of the media, the priest was guilty. It is unfortunate that the media refused to discern claims, damn lies and potential reality" Father Pereira said. He lamented that the media went all out to make a fast buck at the cost of the sensitivity of the priest, without even waiting for the verdict from the Church authorities despite informing in a press note that the church was studying the issue. He also regretted the attitude of "some individuals", calling a press conference and speaking to local TV news channels. "Natural justice would require that a proper inquiry be made into such accusations by the legitimate authorities, at their own pace. Instead, a total lack of seriousness and responsibility has been displayed by the signatory of the letter, who, according to reliable sources, distributed copies of his letter to all the residents of Ribandar and to all and sundry at the Panjim Bus Stand". Father Pereira said that in a prelude to the allegations, a vicious campaign was launched against the Sisters of Ajuda Convent, located near the parish, giving them intimidating threats and making frequent and obnoxious telephone-calls during the night. Such behaviour reveals not only disrespect for consecrated life but lack of basic sensitivity to the dignity of women, which the letter writer is professing to defend. "His campaign has now moved to the parish priest, who had stood by the sisters in the hour of their affliction" said Father Pereira. Father Rodrigues rushed to the aid of the nuns following noctural telephonic calls of threat to rape the nuns, following Aires' demand to transfer the school principal for sacking a school bus driver, who reportedly approached Aires for legal remedy. **************************************************************** http://www.sarnews.org **************************************************************** ########################################################################## Goa's premier mailing list Goanet - http://www.goanet.org is 10 years old today