By Matters India Reporter
New Delhi, June 1, 2023: Pope Francis on June 1 accepted the resignation of Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar, who was acquitted in a rape case 18 months ago.
A press note from the New Delhi-based apostolic nunciature announcing the resignation says the Vatican “respects the verdict of the Additional District and Sessions Court Kottayam, Kerala, acquitting Bishop Mulakkal from the allegations concerning him as well as the appeal against the acquittal which has been admitted by the Kerala High Court.”
The nunciature further says the Vatican requested Mulakkal’s resignation not as a disciplinary measure but for the good of the diocese that needs a new bishop especially since the case against him still faces a “divisive situation.”
The Vatican embassy also clarifies that Bishop Mulakkal has no canonical restriction to exercise his ministry as a priest.
Meanwhile, a video message circulated by a clean-shaven Bishop Mulakkal among his friends and associates says Pope Francis has accepted his letter of resignation written after consultations with his superiors and prayers.
“Let me inform you this with joy and gratitude,” says Bishop Mulakkal who goes on to thank those who have loved him, prayed for him, shared in his pains, and stood with him during his difficult times.
“On this occasion, I offer all the sufferings that I have experienced directly and indirectly and the troubles that it has caused at the feet of the Crucified Lord. God bless you.”
He also prays that his sufferings and pains and the tears he had shed before the Almighty lead to the renewal of the Church, the strengthening of the faith, and his own sanctification and the glorification of God.
The 59-year-old prelate assures his people that they would continue to be in his prayers and Masses.
Bishop Mulakkal headed the diocese of Jalandhar from 2013 until September 2018 when he requested the Pope to relieve him from pastoral duties as he left for Kerala to face police interrogation on charges of raping a nun.
He is the first bishop in the Indian Catholic Church to be arrested in a rape case. In January 2022 the Kottayam district court declared him innocent and acquitted of all charges.
Meanwhile in September 2018, the Pope appointed an administrator for the diocese of Jalandhar.
The Vatican clarification that Franco Mulakkal has “no canonical restriction to exercise his priestly ministry” retains Mulakkal’s licence to visit any convent (until and unless he is stopped by the gatekeeper) and continue his predatory activities. His being allowed the title “Bishop Emeritus ‘ reinforces this argument.
The biggest shocker is that Franco Mulakkal remains a priest when in reality he should have been defrocked.His malayalan speech about his resignation has a victorious tone to it. He behaves like he is the victim.
This is both tragic and disgraceful.
The Church is very lenient towards him. He should be designated table-boy.
A cause of concern for me that is highlighted by the entire case, is the lack of transparency from the side of the official Church. There is no clarity on mechanisms / procedures / structures in place to go to with grievances that need to be redressed – this despite the fact that the state and the Church mandate the need for them to be established, easily accessible and made known to the faithful.
Investigations are supposedly carried out in secrecy and reports sent to the Vatican. Again the sanctions if any are not known to the faithful and after a period the abuser once again surfaces in another place where the vulnerable – children & /or adults are targets of the abuse and the circus of inhouse investigation, reporting etc continues.
In this case after the victim went to several Church leaders / offices local, national and at the level of the vatican, several times, it has been several years of persecution, suspicion, isolation and all kinds of accusations by the clergy, laity and even fellow religious.
It is time the faithful, in particular the laity who make up over 95% of the faithful, wakes up and holds the Church accountable for being so contrary to the heart and mind of Christ. Our silence makes us complicit in the abuse that is perpetrated, covered up and condoned!
It is indeed a success for the Joint Christian counsel and SOS.I whole heartedly congratulate the people who participated in the vanchji sqare agitation
He deserved defrocking. But he is free to exercise his ministry as a priest and there is no canonical restriction!!! This is a clear evidence of the “Vatican Patronage”.
The news from Rome regarding Bishop Franco is the most encouraging piece of information for Catholics in India in recent times. The affair that has shamed the Universal Church was too sore to be swallowed by the faithful, particularly when the litigation hit headlines, and Catholic faithful- both for and against Bishop Franco, took to game of one-upmanship. The wisdom of Pope Francis may have just saved the Catholic Church. May God bless mother Church.
Better late than never. We have been demanding strong disciplinary action against him for years. Anyone who has read the judgement that acquitted him will realize how flawed it is. If not rape then definitely repeated consensual sex. Either way he cannot continue as a Bishop or priest.
Let us now await similar news about William of Mysore. Compared to him Franco is an angel.
chhotebhai
Convenor
Indian Catholic Forum