Kerala Catholic church’s order against entry of Suryanelli gang-rape victim?

The Suryanelli gang-rape victim and her relatives are said to have been have been banned by a Catholic church in central Kerala from entering the church. The directive has been passed recently by St Francis Xavier Church, Sachivothamapuram near Kurichy in Kottayam district.

The move by the church comes following the revelation of the victim’s identity. “As the residents in the area have come to know the identity of the victim and her family, it is better that they should stay away from the church until all the problems related to the case are resolved,” the church is said to have ordered.

The victim is said to have been described as a “16-year-old Catholic schoolgirl” and Kurien as “a Kerala Christian and Congress party leader” by the Catholic church’s news service, Union of Catholic Asian News,

The church falls under Vijayapuram diocese and was established in 1906.

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