By Jose Kavi
New Delhi, Jan 13, 2024: The Vatican accepting the Mysore bishop’s resignation has brought much relief to those seeking justice for the prelate’s alleged victims in the southern Indian diocese.
A press statement from the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) on January 13 said Pope Francis has accepted Bishop Kannikadass Antony William’s resignation in view of “the distressing situation in the diocese.”
However, the statement quoted the apostolic nunciature to clarify that the “resignation is not a disciplinary measure imposed upon Bishop William” but a move to provide the diocese a new bishop.
The resignation came three days after a Catholic woman lawyer in Mumbai wrote to Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Leopold Girelli to take “decisive and stringent action against” Bishop William for setting a wrong example for the younger generation of priests and tarnishing the Church’s image in the country.
“Failure to act against the bishop,” Sunita Banis’ letter warns, “may compel me to purse legal recourse.”
“While this is not a preferable course of action, it is crucial to prevent further disgrace and uphold the dignity of our community.”
The lawyer told Matters India that she felt “really elated by the news of the resignation and believe that this move is from the Vatican.”
Banis said she has moved several cases against Bishop William and his supporters in Mysuru (Mysore) as a voluntary service.
Melwyn Fernandes, secretary of the Mumbai-based Association of Concerned Christians, one of the groups that campaigned for the bishop’s resignation said they are “overjoyed that justice is finally being served for those who suffered because of Bishop K. A. William and his associates.”
“This is just the start of holding him accountable for the crimes he’s committed, and we believe he must face a fair trial,” Fernandes told Matters India.
He said his group began the campaign for Bishop William’s resignation five years ago and the resignation has revived their hopes and trust in the Vatican.”
He expressed the hope that the Vatican would not make Bishop William in-charge of any other diocese and the Church would not give him protection in any form.
The Vatican action began a year ago when it ordered Bishop William to “take a period of absence from the ministry” after a three-bishop team appointed by the Dicastery of Evangelization probed his alleged involvement in crimes such as murder, rape and misappropriation of church funds.
Chhotebhi, convener of the Indian Catholic Forum, another group that supports the Mysore priests, pointed out that the Vatican has “finally accepted” the resignation after three years of struggle against “criminal” Bishop William. “Satyameva Jayate (Trust alone triumphs,” he added.
The former president of the All India Catholic Union noted that Bishop William, stayed in Ooty in Tamil Nadu after his ouster from Mysore and filed cases against his priests through his associates.
On January 9, the bishop’s supporters organized a huge sit-in at the bishop’s house demanding his reinstatement, the lay leader said.
“We are also still insisting on the paternity test. He should also be defrocked,” chhotebhai asserted.
A chaotic situation had persisted in the diocese for more than five years as some 37 priests reported to the Holy See scandalous issues involving Bishop William.
The bishop dismissed the allegations as baseless and that some priests targeted him for bringing reforms in the diocese.
Last year, more than 100 prominent lay persons had submitted several petitions to Propaganda Fide, the nunciature, and the Catholic Bishops Conference of India against Bishop William.
Chotebhai to introduce myself which ive already done in my letter….am the adv who volunteered to help all those implicated by the accomplices of fr william……for me it matters that there was some movement and most important is that the battle seeking justice now begins …….infact i do not know you…….i was appreciated by justice Saldanha….that means so much to me
Yes Daddy William should defrocked immediately and DNA Paternity test in Mumbai hospital..
Mr isaac…..no matter how u speak in defence of fr william…..the truth will remain the same……little do u know about him…..u may have read my letter which clearly states that ive voluntarily taken over the cases when i found the truth against him…….fr william seems to gain empathy only bcoz he wants to avoid the paternity test. NO ONE IS INTERESTED IN KNOWING ABOUT HIS OFFSPRINGS BUT TO HIDE HIS FAULTS AND USING THE DIOCESAN MONEY IF HE HAS TO IMPLICATE INNOCENT PEOPLE AND PRIESTS THEN ITS HIGH TIME HE SHOULD BE NAIL.
May I request Fr Gnana Prakash to read my comments very carefully? I didn’t post any nonsense. I just posted the link of a video which has been doing rounds on the YouTube and highlighted some points in it. I have also forwarded it to Chhotebhai. The video is in public domain. May be Fr Gnana Prakash can take it up with YouTube. He should also take a look at my earlier posts in connection with my insistence on Bp William to undergo a DNA (paternity) test which he has avoided so far. Chhotebhai knows about these posts.
Mr. Arjun Reddy and Issac Gomes if you have guts call for open debate. We prove who is William? Without knowing anything don’t post nonsense. We are not cowards. We are ready for everything. We don’t want to wash William’s dirty clothes in public. If you want to do so, arrange for an open debate. Let the truth come out. I understood why you are supporting William. As Chhotebhai all your friend William to go for DNA. Ask him to prove his innocence. If he is proved innocence i surrender myself to be hanged.
Regarding accusation on me, Whatever Church authority takes decision i obey. Respected Dicastery knows what is real and. what is fake.
William’s resignation is a welcome gesture. But…the Vatican should have DEFROCKED him. It is not done so and this is one of the ironies in the Catholic Church.
I too have never heard of this Sunitha Barnis, or her association with Mysore diocese. I cannot comment on an anonymous audio that I have not heard. However I do know that some priests of the diocese have refuted the allegations in a press conference and will be pursuing the post resignation drama with the concerned authorities.
If William is innocent why doesn’t he submit to the paternity test ordered by Cardinal Tagle of Propaganda Fide on 15.8.2020?
My question is
1) Who is Sunitha Barnis?
2) How is she connected to the diocese of mysore ?
3) Where it pains her the most for all the happenings in the diocese of mysore?
4) Being an advocate doesn’t she feel ashame of herself to come to an conclusion from listening to 1 side argument ? Isn’t this her prejudice?
5)What will be her reaction in the coming days “if her audio too comes with Sarvaprakash”?
6) What is she to Nuncio ? As soon as she wrote letter to Nuncio he accepted the resignation itseems..😄😄😄
“ಇವಳು ಪತ್ರ ಬರೆದ್ಳಂತೆ
ಅವರು ರಾಜೀನಾಮೆ ತೊಗೋಬಿಟ್ರಂತೆ”
7) ಯಾರದೋ ಬಸರಿಗೆ ನೀವ್ ಯಾಕ್ರಿ ಸುನಿತ ಹೆಸರು ತಗೊಳ್ಳೋಕೆ ನೋಡ್ತೀರ ?
8)If you weren’t baised you would have atleast raised your voice against Mr Sarvaprakash about the audios ?
Now I come to Mr Sarvaprakash.
SarvaPrakash truth is always hard to accept. If you are innocent why don’t you go for FSL ?.
You and your mistress SARVASVA have dragged the Church to the streets.
Don’t you feel ashame of yourself ?
When the Audio of Bishop & Cardinal leaks, it is acceptable….
If yours and your (Saraswathi) Concubine ‘s audios are out it is not acceptable.
What a dirty logic.
Are You ready to swear on the holy Eucharist saying “it’s not my voice” ?
You will dare to do it as well. Because your faith is at that level.
There is god
There is truth
There is faith
And this is the reason
you are exposed to the world…..
Why are you still in this holy priestshood.
Defrock yourself.
You have your darling SARVASVA.
You have your own school.
You have your own land, procured by mishandling Church funds.
To hide all your holes
you have auctioned the church and it’s representatives.
Don’t pretend to be like a saint.
You are worst than animals.
Now where is
1) AOCC ?
2) M.F Saldana
3) Sprouts
4) Newzwaves
5) Church Militants
6) Chhottebhai
7) Mr Dominic Lobo
8) Robert Rozario
9) Self Proclaimed Psycho Leaders.
10) local associations…etc
Everyone are silent.
Because their conscience knows the genuineness of the content.
Think : Mrs Saraswathi Prakash is a nurse by profession. From Past 3 years she is unemployed.
But in this period 3 years
She has purchased land worth 4 crores.
How is it possible?
The answer is : Mr Sarvaprakash……
It’s a great coincidence that the Vatican accepted the resignation (?) of Bishop K. A. William just around the time when a purported video was released on the YouTube ostensibly by the well-wishers of Bishop William. The link of the YouTube video is given below:
https://youtu.be/qh8x8XS7Jbs
The salient points of the video are:
1. Header: Conspiracy to kill Bishop K Anthony William of Mysore Diocese.
2. Conspiracy by priests of Mysore Diocese to remove Bishop K.A. William from his office.
3. The presenter claims that the audios in the video are genuine. Most of them are mobile phone recordings and a few others are direct phone call recordings. The identities of those who provided these recordings are confidential.
4. Since his Episcopal ordination on 25 February 2017 on his 52nd birthday, Bishop William introduced several reforms especially financial ones. These irked many.
5. Bishop K Anthony William has been a victim from the very beginning.
6. Therefore he should be brought back immediately to save Mysore Diocese.
The last nail on the coffin was Bombay High Court advocate Sunita Banis’ ultimatum to the Nuncio to take immediate action against Bishop William, under pain of legal action.
The unanswered questions are:
1. Where will Bishop William stay now after his resignation?
2. Will he still be a bishop and be put in charge of any other diocese?
3. Will he face a fair trial? If so, who will foot his bills?