Kochi: The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council has issued strict instructions to the Church personnel to “refrain from viewing and exhibiting any sexually explicit or morally inappropriate material in the presence of minors and vulnerable adults.”
The KCBC issued the detailed guidelines in the light of the recommendation made by the Catholic Bishops’ Council of India requiring every diocese to establish guidelines for Church personnel connected with institutions where minors are given particular care.
The KCBC guidelines covering even ‘vulnerable adults’ says that “sexual exploitation of and sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults are heinous crimes and grave sins.” The guidelines stipulate that Church personnel shall not indulge or encourage sexually offensive humour and conversation in the presence of minors and vulnerable adults. The guidelines state that harassment encompasses a broad range of behaviour, including physical or mental abuse, unwelcome sexual advances or touching, sexual comments or sexual jokes, seeking sexual favours as a condition for employment, promotion, service benefits and compensation etc.
No minor shall reside in any Church rectory or other living quarters of priests unless the minor is accompanied by the parent or an adult entrusted by the parent. The minor should not be left alone with the Church personnel in a residence, sleeping facility, locker room, dressing facility or other closed room or isolated area. There should not be any physical disciplining of a minor. The guidelines also advise to avoid over-night trips with minors and taking photographs of them when they are unclothed or dressing.
If a Church person observes that a minor is being abused by anyone (adult or minor), he/she shall take steps to intervene and provide safe environment to the victim. Church personnel are bound to report cases of sexual offences to authorities concerned and also cooperate with the investigation by civil authorities.
Individuals with the knowledge of commission of sexual offences against minors and vulnerable adults shall report the case to the safe environment director and also the civil authorities as required by the law. The minor is defined as a person below the age of 18 years and a person who habitually lacks the use of reason to be included as minors.
Vulnerable adult is defined as anyone who is physically, mentally or emotionally impaired whether temporary or long-term, or is otherwise unable to function as typical adults expected to function.
Church personnel mean clerics, lay employees and volunteers, men and women religious people and seminarians. Sexual offence or sexual abuse or sexual misconduct means any form of sexual assault or sexual harassment as defined in the PoCSO Act 2012.
