Minnesota, April 07: THE noose is tightening around Rev. J.P. Jeyapaul, a priest who is evading the long arm of the law for his sexcapades in the US. The priest is accused of sexually abusing a 14- year- old girl during his ministry in Minnesota in 2004.
Jeyapaul is currently at his home diocese in Ooty, where he functions from the Bishop’s house and looks after churchrun schools.
He was asked by the Archbishop of Madras on Tuesday to return to the US for investigations.
A group of clerical abuse victims has also called for his suspension and return.
The priest has come under attack not only from the laity, but also from the clergy. He is reportedly unrepentant and claims to be innocent.
While some insisted that the facts of the case were yet to emerge, Madras- Mylapore Archbishop M. Chinnappa was more forthcoming. “ The priest has to oblige, return to the US, if necessary, for investigations.
There is no way out. I have also asked the Bishop of Ooty to comply with the demands of the case,” he said, adding the church should not be seen sheltering such people.
Anger is palpable among the lay leaders too. Some even suggested a signature campaign against the priest to force him to submit to the law.
“ It is atrocious and it is only the tip of the iceberg. Keeping him in the Ooty diocese would only prove that the church hierarchy is insensitive to abuse charges,” Henry Tiphagne, a lay leader and rights activist said.
“ Whenever such issues come up, the religious superiors are only interested in shielding the guilty,” he said, adding it was the women in the religious orders who suffered the most.
Martin, a Trichy lawyer, said sexual abuse cases involving priests were on the rise. “ The sad thing is that most ( such) cases are settled by the church authorities,” he said.
Many believe no lenience should be shown to Jeyapaul.
“ If the priest claims he is innocent, let him prove it in the trial. Why hide here and bring disrepute to the local church?” asked Alex, a Dalit historian and Madurai lay leader.
–Agencies