SHILLONG, Oct 23 - The Christian Brothers today said they are probing the allegations levelled by a woman against two clergymen for sexual abuse as part of the #MeToo movement.
In a press statement, J Johnson, Society Protection Officer, Professional Ethics Commission of the Congregation of Christian Brothers in India, said the congregation came to know of the allegations of sexual abuse recently, and that the inquiry was set up subsequently.
�The Christian Brothers stand in solidarity with and in support of any survivor of sexual abuse. We are committed to a just and fair hearing to both the complainant and the alleged abuser, through a formal process as laid out in our Protection Policy � �Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults�,� Johnson said.
He further stated that the policy looks into all cases of abuse, past and present, so as to �ascertain with compassion the truth and support the survivor towards achieving a peaceful closure while taking appropriate action against the alleged abuser if found guilty.�
Johnson further stated that �due procedure will be initiated as laid out in our said Policy to take this serious allegation forward towards arriving at the truth and assisting the survivor with necessary help to attain due closure.�
Further the congregation stated that while the internal inquiry was on, it would also cooperate with the agencies of the law.
A few days back, a woman accused Brother Francis Gale of the Christian Brothers and Brother Muscat, who belongs to the Salesians of Don Bosco order, of molesting her for seven years since she had been five years old.
