Another miscarriage of justice in India?
By Marc Artzrouni
SNAP- Europe Coordinator
The victim reported the crime in 2018 - but following months of protests, Mulakkal was charged only in 2019. The charges included "wrongful confinement, rape, unnatural sex, and criminal intimidation". Nuns who had joined the protests against the attempted cover-up of his crimes were disciplined, transferred, or even expelled from their congregation.
The not-guilty verdict was based on the fact that the victim's statement was made of "exaggerations and embellishments". The judge helpfully added that "The claim [...] that she was raped on 13 occasions under duress cannot be taken reliance on the basis of her solitary testimony. There is no consistency in the statement of the victim.”
By blaming the victim and casting doubts on her testimony the Catholic Church (through the legal system) sends once again a chilling message to future victims: "See what happens when you accuse us of sexual abuse?". Indeed, what victims in the future will have the courage to report these crimes when they know the legal system will blame them and let the perpetrators off the hook?
No words describe the appalling moral bankruptcy of a church and legal system which allow clerics to get away with unspeakable crimes against those who put their faith in an institution that so completely betrays them.
The verdict, which has been appealed, has sparked waves of protests and a letter-writing campaign of support from hundreds of citizens, nuns, and Bollywood celebrities.
Most strikingly, a former executive secretary of the Commission for Women of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India is quoted as saying that "[....] misogyny in the church has won. The verdict reinforces the idea that a powerful man can't be brought to justice". What to say when the "powerful men" are supposed to uphold the highest standards of morality and virtue but betray them in the vilest possible way?
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
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