By Matters India Reporter
Tellicherry, June 15, 2020: The Archdiocese of Tellicherry in Kerala has suspended two priests after social media and online papers published audio clips of their debauchery.
Fathers Joseph Poothottal and Mathew Mullappallil have been debarred from exercising their priestly duties amid serious allegations against them, says an explanatory note the archdiocese’s Public Relations Officer released on June 14.
Father Mullappallil was appointed the parish priest of St Joseph’s Church of Pottenplavu, a parish in Kannur district, in May 2019. After the scandal broke out, the archdiocese transferred him to a parish in Kasargod district with effect from June 27. He disappeared from Pottenplavu after the audio was leaked out.
Father Poothottal, a member of the Congregation of St John the Baptist Precursor, served the Pottenplavu parish three years just before Fr Mullapally. He is the current pastor of St Augustine’s Church Rajagiri in Kannur district. He too was transferred following the audio leak.
In both audio clips, the two priests separately narrate to a parishioner, Paul Ambatt, their sexual dalliance with a married woman of the parish. Ambatt, who is in his 50s, is heard coaxing the priests to confess their sexual activities for their own good. He also promises the priests that he would bring them no harm. In some places, he warns the priests that he has videotapes of their activities that he has given for safe custody.
The archdiocesan press note says the Church had removed Father Mullappallil from priestly duties as soon as his audio became public. “The archdiocese has appointed an enquiry commission to look into the allegations against Father Mullappallil the same time the audio came out,” it adds.
The press note also says the archdiocese has asked Father Poothottal’s congregation’s to take necessary disciplinary actions against him.
The archdiocese also asks pardon from its people for the scandals involving priests, who it says should set examples of moral living.
At the same time, the press note alleges that some vested interests use the scandals to target the archdiocese even after it acted with alacrity against the erring priests. “The archdiocese has taken necessary steps to bring out the truth,” the press note says.
Meanwhile, the parishioners of Pottenplavu expressed shock and dismay over the scandals.
“We are sad to hear about Father Mullappallil who had done so much for the parish spiritually and socially,” says John Thoppil, a former parish accountant who has worked with many parishioners since 1980s.
According to him, the 50-year-old priest had won the confidence of the entire parish within two months of his arrival. He started special devotions on Good Fridays and conducted novenas that drew hundreds of people from even neighboring parishes. He had conducted daily Masses during the lockdown placing the pictures of each family on pews, saying he wanted to keep his people close to his heart when at the altar.
“We never knew he had another face,” he added.
Thoppil questions Ambatt’s integrity. “He is extortionist, who honey traps priests,” he told Matters India June 15.
At the same time, Thoppil is happy that such scandals come to light. “The Church needs purification. It has become too corrupt and scandalous,” he added.