By Jose Kavi

New Delhi: The Missionaries of Jesus congregation is on a fast on September 26 for their patron, who is now in police custody in a sexual abuse case.

The congregation is in “deep sorrow and anguish” that “our innocent father Bishop Franco Mulakkal had to face arrest and jail for a crime he has not committed,” says a September 25 press note from its superiors.

Seeking forgiveness from their patron and the world for his “crucifixion,” Sister Regina, the mother general of the Jalandhar-based diocesan congregation, and her councilors said the entire congregation would fast for the reparation of the “stain of sin” in making the prelate suffer unjustly.

Bishop Mulakkal was arrested by the Kerala police on September 21 and three days later a court in Palai remanded him for 14 days of police custody.

He is accused of sexually abusing the former superior general of the same congregation 13 times between 2014 and 2016 in their convent in Kuravilangad, a town near Palai.

Sister Regina and team allege that a “grave situation” has arisen as the police have targeted their congregation with “a clear agenda” and arrested the prelate without any concrete evidences.

They also allege the police often enter their convents unannounced and force their residents to give false evidence against the prelate apparently under instructions from certain quarters.

The police ignore and insult those speaking for the bishop and threaten to make them co-accused in the case, the superiors further alleged.

They deplored what they said was the investigating team’s move to create false evidences to keep the prelate in the jail.

The Kerala High Court is scheduled to hear the bishop’s bail application on September 27.

“It has come to our notice that the investigating officers have made merry at our Kuravilangad convent until 2 am against the rules of the Missionaries of Jesus congregation. We are afraid this was a clandestine move to create further evidence against our beloved bishop,” the press note alleges.

The superior general and team also allege that the investigators’ activities have put many of their members under great mental strain, leading some to seek medical help.

“The truth will come out whatever is done to hide it. We are looking forward to that moment with hope,” said the handwritten 3-page press note in Malayalam language.