Kerala nun rape case: Franco Mulakkal’s return to pastoral duties cleared by Vatican, says supply

By PTI

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Decks have been cleared for former Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal’s return to the pastoral duties, as Vatican has accepted a Kerala courtroom’s choice, acquitting him of rape prices by a nun, a church supply mentioned on Sunday.

In September 2018, the Bishop was briefly relieved of his duties of the diocese by Pope Francis after he was questioned by the Kerala police over rape prices levelled by the nun.

The supply mentioned throughout his go to to Jalandhar diocese on Saturday, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, apostolic nuncio to India and Nepal, knowledgeable the monks of the north Indian diocese that the Vatican has accepted the courtroom’s choice on Bishop Franco.

The Apostolic nuncio mentioned this to a bunch of monks of Jalandhar diocese in response to a question concerning the delay in Vatican accepting Indian courtroom’s choice on rape prices towards Bishop Franco, the well-informed supply advised PTI.

Asked whether or not Bishop Franco would return to Jalandhar diocese to function its Bishop, the supply mentioned for the reason that Bishop is immediately beneath the command of the Pope, the authority of fixing his duties relaxation with the “Holy Sea” itself.

The Vatican’s choice to just accept the courtroom verdict got here 4 months after the Additional District and Sessions Court I, Kottayam, acquitted the bishop, saying the prosecution failed to supply proof towards the accused.

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The nun, who claims to have been raped by the Bishop has moved the Kerala High Court towards his acquittal within the case by a trial courtroom.

The 57-year-old Bishop was accused of raping the nun a number of instances throughout his go to to a convent in Kottayam between 2014 and 2016 when he was the bishop of the Jalandhar diocese.

The nun is a member of the Missionaries of Jesus, a diocesan congregation beneath the Jalandhar Diocese.