KL-CHURCH-COMMITTEES

Syro-Malabar Church to set up internal committees

Kochi, Jan 10 (PTI): Hit by controversies, including

sexual abuse involving priests, the Kerala-based Syro-Malabar

Catholic Church has decided to set up internal committees at

the diocesan level to create a "safe environment" for all,

including children and vulnerable adults.

The decision to implement the "Safe Environment Policy"

was taken at the Synod of the Syro-Malabar Archiespicoal

Church being held here.

This policy is being implemented to ensure safety and

security for all, especially children and vulnerable adults, a

Church official said.

Claiming that the safety and security for all have

already been ensured in parishes, diocese, religious

congregations and institutions of the Syro-Malabar church, the

official said that the implementation of new "Safe Environment

Policy" would further strengthen it.

According to the policy, representation of the laity

should be ensured in the committees being set up in the

diocesan level to solve the complaints.

The new policy was evolved on the basis of directives

issued by the Vatican, Catholic Bishops Conference of India

and the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council, the official said.

The Catholic Church in India has been hit by various

scandals involving priests recently.

Bishop Franco Mulakkal, a senior member of the Roman

Catholic clergy in India, was arrested in September amid

mounting public outrage over allegations of repeatedly raping

and sexually assaulting a nun in Kerala.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)