Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) that found a mention in the Academy Award winning film Spotlight, has extended its support to the All India Christian Forum (AICF) that is helping Mary get justice in the Loyola College sexual harassment case.
In a message to the founder of AICF Mr. Savio Rodrigues, who also runs the goachronicle.com, Mr. Tim Lennon, President of the SNAP Network said “Mary, a faculty member of Loyola College, seeks justice in the courts yet is blocked by inaction. We call on the court to provide a path to justice for her.”
Mary, a senior faculty member of Loyola College, Chennai was sexually harassed by Father Xavier Alphonse, the former principal of Loyola College who was also the former Director for Loyola College Alumni Association.
SNAP Network is an independent, peer network of survivors of institutional sexual abuse. It is the oldest, largest and the most active support group for women and men wounded by religious and institutional authorities (priests, ministers, bishops, deacons, nuns, coaches, teachers, and others.
Mary had revealed in her petition to the Madras High Court that the Loyola College administration had warned her against approaching the Tamil Nadu police to file a sexual harassment complaint against Father Xavier Alphonse.
In her petition Mary said that she was continuously harassed by Rev. Fr. Xavier Alphonse over telephone as well as in person at the college campus and that wheever she brought it to the attention of the college authorities she was dissuaded from pursuing any action against Father Xavier Alphonse stating that it will impact the college’s reputation. The authorities had informed Mary that action was being taken on the Father by transferring him to another location.
In addition to this, not a not a single Internal Complaints Committee was setup by the Loyola College as mandated by the Sexual Harassment Act.
Mr. Rodrigues also noted that the Loyola College administration and alumni have remained mute on this case despite the fact that the sexual harassment survivor is known to most of the senior members. He has been helping the survivor get justice by offering legal support through AICF.
Source: Goa Chronicle