Scandal Rocks Kerala Orthodox Church As Five Priests Face Allegation Of Sexually Exploiting Married Woman For Years

Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church has asked five of its priests to 'go on leave' after a church member alleged that they sexually exploited his wife for years. The scandal broke out after an audio clip of the husband began circulating on social media last week.

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In the audio clip, the man, a resident of Thiruvalla alleges that his wife began facing the abuse even before they were married. However, it took a turn for the worse after she told this to another priest during a confession, which is supposed to be kept a secret.

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The second priest instead of helping her used it to his advantage and sexually exploited her. He then passed on the information to three other priests, one of them who was based in Delhi and the woman was subjected to more exploitation, which continued for years.

All the five priests allegedly kept in touch with her over phone and social media, without the other priests knowing about the affair. The woman's husband got wind of things only in February after the Delhi-based priest flew down to Kochi to meet her at a five-star hotel, where the room was booked using the woman's debit card.

When confronted by her husband, the woman narrated the years of blackmail she went through at the hands of the five priests.

The woman's husband then filed a complaint against the five priests, three from Niranam Diocese in Thiruvalla and the two others were from Pandalam and Delhi with the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church last month.

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The leaked audio clip is a purported conversation between the husband and a church official.

The man who says he did not want to defame the church alleged that his wife has not yet divulged the complete details, but till now at least 5-8 priests were involved.?

"I am told that at best the Bishop will suspend them for six months. I am not going to settle for that. I want their ordinations to be revoked and they removed from the church," the man is heard saying in the clip.

He also alleged that ever since he went public with the allegations, many influential people in the church have tried to threaten and pacify him to withdraw the complaint.

The Kottayam-based Malankara Orthodox Church has since removed the five priests from official duties, pending an internal probe. However, a police complaint is yet to be registered.

A spokesman of the church said some of the allegations were very old and questioned why was there no complaint if the alleged exploitation was happening for years.