By Matters India Reporter

New Delhi: Catholic laity groups in India have welcomed the news that the Vatican has initiated a probe into allegations against Bishop Kannikadass Antony William of Mysore.

The Vatican has finally set up an enquiry commission to look into all the allegations against Bishop William, says a press note from the Association of Concerned Catholics, a pan-Indian group that raised the allegations initially.

According to the association, the three-member commission is headed by Archbishop Leo Cornelio of Bhopal.

“It is a long pending issue which warranted urgent action given the seriousness of the allegations,” Melwyn Fernandes, the association’s general secretary, told Matters India on February 27.

Welcoming the Vatican move that has come after “our persistent demands,” Fernandes expressed the hope that the Vatican commission “will get to the bottom of the issue and do justice.”

Bishop William, who turned 56 on February 27, was accused of being a womanizer and father of two children. He alleged have had two of his priests murdered, used the police and other unfair practices to coerce or threaten victims and witnesses and tried to extract forced confession from one of his priest.

Other allegations against him are that he was involved in the kidnapping and sexual molestation of one of his employees, large scale misappropriation of some relief funds and threatening and harassing an elderly priest.

Bishop William has denied the allegations which he said were the handiwork of a group of priests who oppose his administrative reforms in the diocese. According to him, the “heinous charges” against him were baseless and an attempt to tarnish his image.

Meanwhile Joseph Sodder, founder member of Association of Concerned Catholics and senior advocate of High Court of Bombay, has welcomed the news and requested Cardinal Oswald Gracias, head of the Catholic Church in India, to urge the probe team to examine him as a witness in Mumbai.

“I wish to be examined as a witness by the inquiry team in Mumbai, as I fear for my life in Mysuru (new name of Mysore), also the air ticket to Bangalore is expensive. I have visited Mysuru several times with regards to this case and know the ground reality with regards to the facts of this case,” he wrote to the cardinal February 27.

Sodder wants Bishop William’s DNA test to be done in Mumbai to avoid someone tampering with the results.

Another person who wants to meet the probe team is Justice Saldanha, a former Judge of the High Courts of Bombay and Karnataka who has been highlighting the case for the past two years.

In a letter addressed to Cardinal Gracias with copies to Archbishop Cornelio and Peter Machado of Bangalore, the former judge urged the Church leaders not to make the probe confidential known only to the Church circles. He also wants them to ensure the safety and security of those deposing before the Vatican team. No revengeful action should be taken against them later, he adds.

Last year, the Indian Catholic Forum, another laity group, had urged the papal representative in the country to set up a seven-member committee to probe various allegations against Bishop William.

The committee members “should be mandated to make public their report within thirty days of being commissioned to do so,” said the forum’s July 31, 2020, letter addressed to Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Giambattista Diquattro.

The forum wanted the probe committee to include experts in financial and legal matters, besides two priests and three lay people, including women. The forum also wanted Bishop William suspended from “exercising episcopal office” and “extradited” from the territory of Mysore diocese, considering the gravity of the charges against him.

13 Comments

  1. John. 2:14-15 says, “In the temple court Jesus found merchants selling oxen, sheep, doves and money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of codes, he drove them all out of the temple court together with the oxen and the sheep…..” Today the money has become a main factor to save from all shorts of immoral, unjust and irregious acts in the church and various kinds of bargaining is done with the evil in the church. God wants to clean up it in the church but unfortunately no one or very few are interested to take challenge to go for it.
    I think, whenever there’s an allegation of this short, the concerned higher authority of the church should take some steps to find out the real thing and solve the matter according to the law of justice than lingering. As a result the church will be not affected in its faith aspects. Otherwise the concerned accused person will suffer and the church of particular geographical territory will be at loss of money, dignity, faith, etc due to that single person. Because he or she will utilize the church money and people for his or her defends on the other side the church gets divided and looses it’s dignity and faith.

  2. We all know that justice delayed is justice denied. Still sensitivity of the church to take immediate steps is not seen.that gives negative impression on the church. People think, church administration is supporting its workers. It is true to some extent because scripture says not to high light the fault of others.As result number of culprits is increasing. See the case of ctc bbsr diocese, many years passed no higher authorities are taking the case seriously. I became deeply saddened at the mysore bishop’s news because of unexpected happenings .culprits should be exposed and rectified. Otherwise the church members must be weakened mentally & spiritually.

  3. Good to read this encouraging news that the Vatican is very proactive. Based on the present scenario, we, the priests, religious and laity of the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, Odisha remain hopeful that the next leg of the probe would be our pathetic situation.

  4. The law of the land is not concerned with his sexual escapades other than those done without consent of the victims. But it does with regard to charges of abduction and murder. I wonder why the police have not moved against him so far. If these allegations are found to be true then the cops responsible for saving him must also be booked.

  5. I am really glad read this news. I too have the evidences against the bishop of mysore. He approched me through a person to know the where abouts of the lady who had alleged bishop of kidnapping and herrasing sexually. He promised me to pay huge amount to find her and change her mind to withdraw the case. You can please contact me for further details.

  6. Justice should prevail but I have noticed that protestant it Pentecostal churches wrong doings are not criticised and published in the same way as that of Catholic church. Catholic church 8d stoned on many other occasions and other churches protected and misdeeds not coming out in the same light in this forum

  7. why is he afraid of dna test and giving a correct statement of accounts collected for coorg victims

  8. This is a sinister move of vested interest to oust a Tamil Bishop
    I wish Vatican to apply same yardstick to all complaints against Bishops
    Let this be a neutral probe

  9. Hope the vatican commission will also include the language politics in karnataka and the rector murder in their investigation

  10. Glad to know the decision taken by Vatican to probe the issue of Mysore Bishop.
    In chikmagalur Dioceses , bishop T. Anthony Swamy has transferred the property of Saint Joseph Educational society in Benami name and was caught when GB Members noticed a sale transactions when advance was taken . T. Anthony swamy and Vicar General Shantharaj are involved and subsequently Vicar was dismissed from the society. and it was stalled by the members of the society.
    This has brought to the then Nuncio but of no use so one of the member approached the honorable court ,
    A criminal case was filed and matter is in progress stage in the court.
    Hope at least now Vatican can initiate an Enquiry on the said matter and build the confidence in the diocese of chikmagalur.

  11. Action was long overdue

  12. This is totally ridiculous that the Vatican has considered ordering a probe after 2 whole years. Oswald Graciaels and Filip Neri are two milennial Pilates who not only washed their hands but also sanatised them. This only helped & encouraged William to continue with his escapades and test his virility!!

    It is a sheer waste of precious time, money & effort at this juncture. Too much hungama!! It takes just 3 letters of the Aplhabet to resolve this grave issue of plaguing the Catholic Church – DNA!!

  13. Glad u have published the truth

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