Sex Abuse by Christian School Principal

BANGALORE: Father Mathew used to sexually molest school children for several years. He used to lure them into swimming pool on the pretext of swimming training,  jumped into the pool and allegedly started stroking girl students on the pretext of teaching them how to swim.

This turned Mathew’s St Claret School colleague sick in the stomach, and he soon resigned. “I remember the day we went to Fun World. I felt disgusted,” said S N Anthony.

The sex offender school principal Mathews is Still sbscounding.

So where is Mathew, the principal accused of behaving perversely with his girl students?

Police suspect he is hiding in one of the Bishop‘s palace in his hometown in Kerala. But several sources say he was holed up at a Christian school in Malleswaram.

In September, Std X students and some teachers went to a water park in Vasanthnagar on a school trip.

“The so-called priest forgot what he was, changed into swimming gear, and jumped into the water,” said Anthony. “He then asked the girls to get into the water. Before my very eyes, and in the presence of two women colleagues, he started touching the girls on the pretext of teaching them to swim. That day I decided to quit.”

Anthony wanted to complain to the management, but hesitated as it might hamper the children’s education.

Weird ways

At the school yesterday, parents and Kannada Rakshana Vedike members continued to protest.

A parent said Father Mathew mentally tormented and sexually abused the children.

Sumathi, parent of a Std VIII girl, said, “I always found his rules weird. He would ask my daughter to stand in front of his chamber for hours. The punishment would be for not tucking in her shirt tight.”

Another parent said, “My son was not allowed to attend classes because he went for tuitions without informing the class teacher. They have now threatened not to give him his hall tickets.”

Initially, no one suspected Father Mathew. It was only very recently that the girls and boys of the higher classes began to notice that he was acting lecherous.

When in a group, he would maintain dignity, but during school trips, the mask slipped, girls said.

Staff support

He had the support of two teachers and a peon.

“We thought Surekha ma’am was very close to us and we would tell her how he behaved with us, but she never supported us. She would always say that we were at fault,” said a student.

“Even Sunil, the peon, used to make lewd gestures, stand near the bathroom, and unzip his pants,” said a Std X student.

Church inquiry

Archbishop of Bangalore Bernard Moras said the matter will be looked into.
“Mathew has been with us for six years and has a good track record. But we will co-operate with the police and form a committee to inquire into the charges.

“For now we will transfer him to Kerala so that these children are not affected. We are trying to get in touch with him,” he said. If history is any indication, Vjristian Bishops will protect this sex offender to avoid further embarassment.

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