Two priests in Kerala accused of raping and blackmailing a woman surrendered before a court in Thiruvalla town on Monday,\u00a0NDTV<\/a>reported. Father Sony Verghese and Father Jaise K George surrendered a week after the Supreme Court\u00a0ordered<\/a>\u00a0them to do so by August 13 and cancelled their interim protection from arrest.<\/span><\/p>\n On July 27, the court\u00a0asked<\/a>\u00a0the Kerala Police to file within two weeks a status report of the investigation into the charges of sexual abuse against four Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church priests. The priests are accused of raping and molesting a 34-year-old woman for three years by using a statement she made during confession before one of them. Confession \u2013 also known as the sacrament of reconciliation \u2013 is a church practice that is considered a form of penance.<\/span><\/p>\n In a letter to the church in June, the woman\u2019s husband, who hails from Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district,\u00a0claimed<\/a>\u00a0that the priests had used his wife\u2019s confession to blackmail her. He named eight people in the letter and sought action against them. Following the allegations, the church\u00a0sent<\/a>\u00a0the priests on leave.<\/span><\/p>\n