Catholic Church is facing problems because of some priests who sexually abused children. USA, Ireland, England, Germany, Austria, Holland and Malta have reported abuses. In India some Hindu godmen are facing problems because of sex with their female followers or illegal activities.
Law must take its course and those who commit crimes must face the consequences. However law should apply equally to all. There has to be fairness in media coverage.
There is a sting operation against a Hindu godman who has sex with a woman and there is media outrage against him. Cases are filed against the swami. There is no outcry against violation of privacy.
There is a sting operation against a homosexual professor. The professor loses his job. There is support for the professor from many in the media. There is outcry against violation of privacy. The professor goes to court and gets order for reinstatement. After some days he dies. Those who conducted sting operation are prosecuted.
Many godmen claim they are incarnations of some god or the other. They tell some of their women followers that they were spouses in previous birth. Some women believe and have sex with swamis.
Once a newspaper published photographs of a swami having sex with a woman. The exposure did not stop him from having women followers.
Some in USA say the charges of sexual abuse are to extract money as in USA those who are pronounced guilty have to pay compensation to victims. In other countries there is no such provision. Guilty have to go to jail.
Three bishops in Ireland have resigned for cover-up of abuses. One bishop in Belgium has resigned for abusing a boy about 25 years ago.
Benedict XVI is facing flak for not acting against paedophile priests when he was Archbishop of Munich and Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith.
Secrecy followed by the Catholic Church if paedophile cases involving priests has done great damage. The victims were bound by secrecy. Priests were transferred from one place to another. Secrecy is followed in matrimonial cases as well. It is time to do away with secrecy.
