Bengaluru, June 8, 2020: Former Bombay High Court Judge Justice Michael Saldanha has accused Bishop K A William of murder, sexual misconduct and corruption by “letting loose a virtual reign of terror” in his Mysore diocese.
On May 29, Justice Saldanha had sent a legal notice to Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) President Cardinal Oswald Gracias.
He had also sent the legal notice to Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore and Bishop William. Justice Saldanha also accused Archbishop Machado of colluding and covering up murders allegedly committed by Bishop William, Mid Day reported.
Cardinal Gracias, who is also the Archbishop of Bombay, was also copied on the legal notice that read as, “Following the deaths of four priests – two murders, one hanging and one accident, the Bishop of Mysore has let loose a virtual reign of terror in the Diocese.”
Addressing the alleged corruption part of it, the notice stated, “He has used the underworld mafia and protection from the local police… it has already resulted in as much as 23 percent of the Catholic laity leaving the Church. For the last one year, this man has been asked to leave, but he defiantly carries on terrorizing.”
According to Justice Saldanha, Bishop Machado has ignored 17 written complaints “fully backed by evidence,” all of which have come from “men of credibility,” a majority of them being priests.
Justice Saldanha has also accused Bishop William of calling an urgent meeting on a 12-hour notice to pronounce a transfer order against 37 priests, who had complained to Rome about his alleged involvement in criminal offences, misappropriation of of funds and sexual misconduct.
The notice read, “and in three minutes, pronounced a transfer order, which can be defined as revenge transfers targeting the priests who had complained against him, and sending eminent scholars to remote villages where there is not even drinking water.”
Earlier several parishes had filed complaints to Pope Francis against Bishop William accusing him of practicing factionalism, favoritism, illegal parenthood, sexual liaisons and corruption.
Bishop William, along with Father Leslie Moras, was involved in the 2019 Mysore Church sex scandal when a woman, who worked in their church, had accused them of seeking sexual favors.
Speaking to Mid-day, Justice Saldanha said that he had spoken to all the 37 priests, who are the complainants and can vouch for their credibility.
“There has been unabated womanizing by this man and evidence has been produced. There are also instance of him defaulting on church money. Each time he had a problem with a woman, there were large payoffs.”
Melwyn Fernandes, secretary of Association of Concerned Catholics (AOCC), who has been trying to highlight Bishop William’s alleged misbehavior for a year, told Mid Day, “There are allegations of murders of priests being camouflaged as accidents. I call upon the Archbishop of Bangalore Peter Machado and CBCI President Cardinal Oswald Gracias to immediately suspend the Bishop of Mysore and to get the police to institute a high-level inquiry into the murders of innocent priests, as well as the transfers.”
https://www.deccanherald.com/national/former-high-court-justice-accuses-bishop-of-mysore-of-sexual-misconduct-murder-846778.html
These bishops support each other to maintain their power and position. When they do these types of crimes such as murder, misappropriation of church fund and revengeful transfers they think they are doing God’s work. Where as, innocent priests suffer under their tyrannical rain till their death.They do not forgive their own priests. And this behavior causes lot of confusion and disappointment in the heart of priests which lead them to commit suicide or to become bad. There’s no Jesus compassion in many of the Bishops. They live and enjoy the hierarchical power given to them. And in hierarchy there can not be democracy. Therefore I strongly suggest all these Bishops should be elected only for five years and if they are doing good let them be elected for another term. This can reduce lots corruption in the church. If you believe this is true please support it.
If 37 priests of the diocese have made serious allegations against this Bp William, if a person of the integrity and calibre of Justice Saldanha has taken up the matter in right earnest, and there is prima facie evidence of the unnatural death of four priests, and there is photographic evidence of the “wife” of the bishop and his alleged two children, then the CBCI and Apostolic Nuncio cannot remain mute spectators. A DNA test of the children must be conducted to determine their paternity. A proper due diligence audit of the diocesan accounts should also be undertaken.
So far Bp Galela Prasad of Kadapa and Franco Mulakal of Jalandhar have been divested of their offices, but William’s case seems to put them in the shade. I have requested a team of three colleagues in Karnataka to investigate the matter so that appropriate steps may be taken, as we had done in the case of the other two bishops. If anybody has the contact details of Justice Saldanha I would be grateful if they could be communicate them to me.at noronha.kp@gmail.com or mobile number 9415130822. Thanks.
chhotebhai
Convenor, Indian Catholic Forum
I congratulate Justice Saldanha for taking up this matter. The Indian Catholic Forum extends its full support to him.
Please see my 7 comments on this story in November 2019. Our investigation dried up when the woman retracted her story.