After years of silence, reports of sexual abuse at the hands of once-respected Lebanese priests and bishops have recently emerged, leaving a trail of unanswered questions and putting the Maronite and Orthodox churches in the limelight.
Kayyal's is the third such case to emerge in Lebanon in a matter of months, but the church has so far been secretive about the case and has not revealed any details to the public.
The case of Bishop Costantine Kayyal was filed in civil court, not with church authorities.
According to Haber, when the case is brought up in civil court, the church is not involved. If the priest is found to be guilty, however, then the church can choose to intervene.
A court session will be held in April to determine the final verdict in Kayyal's case, his secretary, who requested anonymity, told The Daily Star.
An Orthodox priest close to the case who also chose to remain anonymous told The Daily Star that the accusations leveled against Kayyal were untrue, and stemmed from a personal dispute between the father and the Orthodox bishop that related to investments belonging to the monastery.
Secretary for the Clerical Court Father Melhem Hourani, who is involved in the case, told The Daily Star he was not at liberty to divulge any information regarding either the boy's father or Kayyal, but said the case was being followed up.
...