The victim, who has written four letters to the Pope since January, has sought mediation by the Vatican urgently.
Bengaluru: Pope Francis held a high level meeting of Catholic leaders in the US Thursday to discuss the increasing number of sex scandals in churches, and has also ordered a probe into the charges of sexual harassment by a West Virginia bishop. Soon, though, he may have to turn his attention to India, where a 43-year-old nun from Kerala is fighting for justice after accusing Bishop Franco Mulakkal of raping her.
In an emotional letter — her fourth since January — she has sought the Pope’s urgent intervention as she feels the priests are using power and influence to close the case.
The nun has alleged that Bishop Mulakkal had raped her 13 times between 2014 and 2016.
Also read: From waving pistol to slapping others, Kerala MLA who called nun ‘prostitute’ courts controversy
The Vatican has been under increasing pressure to address the sexual abuse crises that is bourgeoning across Catholic institutions, and the Pope has admitted that there have been failures on the part of the ecclesiastical authorities to report and address sexual crimes.
Shyju Anthony of the Archdiocesan Movement for Transparency asked for the immediate intervention of the Vatican and the Pope, as they have done in the US.
“The main culprit is the government here. If they wanted, they could have arrested the bishop. The Pope should initiate a probe immediately and not delay in addressing issues of such importance,” Anthony said.
“The Pope had initiated action against an 87-year-old cardinal when he had committed a crime at the age of 37. It took the Church 50 years to come to a decision. Why should it be delayed?
“The only reason is because the people protested. But today we are fighting for justice and will not rest.”
‘Bishop got the letters stopped in Rome’
The victim has found support in Jesme, another nun, who had quit her convent life 10 years ago after spending 33 years with the congregation and then wrote an autobiography called ‘Amen’, where she narrated several incidents of alleged sexual abuse in churches by priests in Kerala.
Jesme has said she has information that the victim’s letters have not reached the Vatican because Bishop Mulakkal is a powerful man and managed to stop the matter from escalating.
“There was an intervening agent in Rome and he was Franco’s tool. The Pope might have not known what the sister has requested, but as time goes by, he might listen and engage and take action on what is happening in Kerala. This bishop is very powerful even in Rome,” she alleged.
The Missionaries of Jesus, whose chief patron is Bishop Mulakkal, have termed the allegations baseless, and an “attempt to crucify an innocent man”.
“Our sister claims that the Bishop raped her on 5 May, 2014 but even after that, there has been instances when the sister herself invited the bishop for her various family functions which the bishop had attended,” the missionaries said in a statement.
Jesme, meanwhile, alleged that the nuns had never been allowed to raise their voices against the convent or the church, and said she is happy that finally the victims have come out and “unmasked the perpetrators”.
“We are supposed to take the vow of obedience. Whenever we do or speak something, a superior will intervene and say that we should not. A circular has been issued that no CMC sister can participate in the protest and if they do it will be violation of obedience,” Jesme said.
Also read: Delhi archbishop dabbling in sectarian politics, the church is playing with fire
“It is like a hammer blow and you are being suppressed. This is the same shield that the bishop is using as he is in authority and he keeps intimidating you.”
Kerala High Court hearing
Meanwhile, the petition seeking a court-monitored investigation came up before the Kerala High Court Thursday. The court expressed satisfaction in the way the police probe was being conducted, and did not think it necessary to arrest the bishop.
As of now, the team probing the case has issued notices to bishop to appear before them as part of their investigation.
Open snub to Indian justice system.
The Catholic Church seems to be falling far behind the curve on instances of sexual misconduct and predation. In one instance from the US, these crimes were committed by generations of priests over a seventy year period, with thousands of victims, mainly young children. All hushed up. The present case presents an opportunity for the Vatican to draw a line in the sand, send out an unambiguous message globally that it will always stand by the victims, never with the predators.