MUMBAI: The priests of I C Church in Borivli, where Chrisann Pereira is a parishioner, prayed for her well being and safe return in all its Sunday masses April 23.
A priest said on condition of anonymity, "We are not taking a stand on the merits of the case. We only prayed for her as a member of the community who is in distress. Her mother came to me and narrated the sequence of events, saying Chrisann was framed and is in prison."
Chrisann did attend a few youth group events in I C Church while her mother Premila Pereira arrived for the Women's Day function that was organised March 12. However, priests and group heads do not describe them as "active members" of the church.
Catholic parishes have separate cells and associations for various constituents including youth, senior citizens and women. I C Church is one of the largest parishes in the city with approximately 20,000 parishioners. A senior member of its women's cell said, "Once we realised Chrisann was framed in the case, most of us felt sorry for her. But it is also a lesson for people to be cautious (about acting as couriers while travelling abroad). Our prayers are also with Clayton Rodrigues who remains in jail in Sharjah on similar grounds."
Accused Anthony Paul runs a bakery in I C Colony. Although some residents have called for a boycott, the priest TOI spoke to said, "It remains open. I passed by this morning. Our society has not reached a stage where wrong doers are called out in public."
