By Matters India Reporter
Kochi: Laity groups in Kerala on December 13 burnt copies of the 2021 calendar of the Trichur Archdiocese that feature the photo of Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar, who is accused of raping a nun.
The calendar “shows the attitude of Church authorities. Last year also his photo had appeared on the calendar. When protests took place, the authorities said his photo would be taken out next year. But it was repeated this year. It was deliberate,” said convener of the Save Our Sisters (SOS) Riju Kanjookaran.
SOS was formed in the wake of a protest against Mulakkal two years ago.
The calendar carries Mulakkal’s photo in March, displaying March 25 as his date of birth and other details. When contacted, a spokesman of the archdiocese refused to comment.
Copies of the calendar were burnt at Kollam, Pala and Kottayam, said church reformers. They asked the Church authorities not to glorify the rape accused any more. They alleged that a prominent section of the clergy still supported the rape accused bishop.
In Kollam, a laity group burned the calendars in front of the residence of the Quilon bishop. A video circulated in social media groups show lay leaders alleging that the Church has several priests who would put Mulakkal into shame.
The trial against Mulakkal is now underway in a court in Kottayam.
The case against Mulakkal surfaced in 2018 after a 43-year-old nun complained to the police in Kottayam that Mulakkal had raped her several times between 2014 and 2016.
The nun is the former superior general of the Missionaries of Jesus, a congregation under Jalandhar diocese in in the northern Indian state of Punjab. But Mulakkal denied her allegations, saying he was framed after he took action against her for financial irregularities at the convent. Later the special investigation team of Kerala police arrested him after several rounds of questioning.
Before his police interrogation in Kerala, Mulakkal requested Rome to relieve him from the duties of the bishop. Rome then appointed an administrator for the diocese of Jalandhar. However, Mulakkal continues to be the bishop officially.
The SIT had filed the charge sheet against him last year and he reportedly made several attempts to delay the trial. His petition seeking to quash charges against him was dismissed by the Supreme Court in November.