Meghalaya: Post Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Priests, Shillong Church Body Assures ‘Fair Hearing’ For Victim

After a woman from Meghalaya accused two members of the Christian clergy namely, Francis Gale and Muscat of Don Bosco sexually abused her since she was a five-year-old kid, the Congregation of Christian Brothers in India (CCBI) has come out and assured a fair hearing to a victim reports, The Hindu.

“Christian Brothers stand in solidarity with and in support of any survivor of sexual abuse,” the CCBI said in a statement issued on Tuesday (23 October).

The 40-year-old victim had accused two Catholic priests – Brother Francis Gale of St Edmund’s School and Brother Muscat of Don Bosco as having sexually abused her when she was a child.

The CCBI statement did not make any reference to the name of the accused brothers but said that "We will ensure just, and fair hearing to both the complainant and the alleged abuse as per guidelines laid out in their Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults policy”.

The victim in her post alleged that she was sexually abused from the age of five till 12 and subsequently attempted suicide thrice as a teenager. She claimed that her poor background made her an easy target.

Also read: Church In The ‘Spotlight’: Woman Alleges Sexual Abuse By Shillong ‘Brothers’ Since The Age Of Five