Frustrated of inaction by the church and the government, five nuns of the Missionaries of Jesus have, for the first time, joined a public protest in Kochi on Saturday to demand the immediate arrest of Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal who has been accused of repeatedly raping a 44 year old nun.

In June, a nun had complained that the Bishop Mulakkal had raped her 13 times, over a period of two years from May 2014.  Kerala police registered a case on June 28 and questioned Mulakkal last month.

Sister Anupama of  Missionaries of Jesus in Kottayam, who has been actively supporting the survivor in her fight for justice, said, “We have been knocking on the doors of the church and the government. There is nobody to help us in our cause.’’

She alleged that “The bishop has political clout in Kerala as well as Punjab. He is using money to influence everyone.’’  However, she denied to quit the congregation and asserted that they will fight within the church as well as congregation.  The protest was organised by the Joint Christian Council.

The protesting nuns carried placards which read “who is protecting Franco”, “we need justice” and “our life is in danger”.

Meanwhile, in a parallel development, the protesting nuns were forced to cancel their press meet because of the sudden counter press meet held by P C George, an MLA from Poonjar on Saturday.

George criticised the rape survivor in his characteristic foul nature. He even went on to shame the survivor by calling her a prostitute before the cameras. Later Anupama announced cancellation of their press meet saying, “After PC George’s press meet, she is not in a frame of mind for it”.

She further said, “We were not with her when he called for the press meet, we were in Kochi. Her sister was with her and she told us that the nun cried as soon as she heard PC George, and ran into her room. She locked herself up for hours and she was in her room even when we reached back. She did not have any food last night and her condition continues to be the same even today.”

According to a local news website the Catholic Church hs been accused of attempting to bury the rape case. In July a leaked audio conversation revealed Father James Erthayil, attached to Kanjirappaly diocese of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, attempted to bribe and lure Sister Anupama from the Missionaries of Jesus in Kottayam, in return for withdrawing support to the rape survivor.

George Joseph, working president of the Joint Christian Council, said the protest was against the state government and police. “The complainant nun needs justice from the government. Bishop Mulakkal should be arrested. Once he is arrested, the church would be forced to take action against him. Hence, it is the government that should act first,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Mulakkal has reportedly in Jalandhar that he was cooperating with the Kerala Police in the investigation.

However, Kottayam SP Hari Sankar has denied of possessing “required evidence that could lead to the arrest of the bishop”. He said, “We have got some details from the statement of the nun and police are examining this. Last week, we examined all the evidence”.

The post Kerala nuns join protest against rape accused Bishop Mulakkal appeared first on APN News.

A nun in Kerala has filed a police complaint against a Catholic bishop of the of the Syro-Malabar Catholic  church, alleging that he sexually abused her on several occasions over a period of two years (2014-2016), Kottayam police said on 29 June, HT reported.

A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against the Bishop of Jalandhar, Frank Mullakkal, at Kuravilangad police station, Superintendent of Police (SP) Hari Shankar of Kottayam was quoted as saying in a report.

In her complaint to Kottayam district SP Hari Shankar, the nun alleged that she was subjected to sexual abuse 13 times, news agency PTI said. The nun said that she was abused for the first time in 2014 at a guest house near an orphanage in Kuravilangad region in the district.

The nun further alleged that she had raised the issue last year with the church authorities but no action was taken against the accused bishop. She said that since church authorities did not pay heed towards her grievances, it forced her to lodge a police complaint in the matter, police said.

However, the bishop has filed a counter-petition against the nun with the police, accusing her of seeking revenge against him for transferring her. He further added that the nun was blackmailing and threatening to implicate him in a case of sexual harassment.

The accused bishop, Frank Mullakkal, has been serving as bishop of a diocese in north India since 2013 and is posted in Jalandhar, Punjab. He was appointed as the Auxiliary Bishop of Delhi diocese in 2009 and made the bishop of Jalandhar in 2013, the report said.

The victim nun reportedly said if she doesn’t get justice from the church, she would take this matter to the Pope against the bishop. Bishop Mullakkal, hailing from Kottayam, was appointed as the Auxiliary Bishop of Delhi diocese in 2009 and made the bishop of Jalandhar in 2013, the report said.

The district police chief has directed a deputy superintendent of the police-rank officer to probe into the two complaints.

The post Bishop Frank Mullakkal booked by Kerala Police for allegedly raping nun for two years appeared first on APN News.