Kottayam: A bid to coerce the nun who had accused Jalandhar bishop Franco Mulakkal of rape has been exposed, after another nun to whom a priest spoke about it revealed the recorded conversation.
Fr James Erthayil of the CMI order is heard telling Sr Anupama, who had supported the victimised nun, that she is assured of a new convent and peaceful life if she is ready for a deal, but would face dangers if she stands firm in her allegation that the bishop had raped her 13 times.
The priest's offer is of a new building to house a convent within the jurisdiction of the Kanjirapally diocese. “Nobody asked me to mediate,” the priest can be heard as saying. “I'm calling on the basis of information about the allegation. She will be provided security if she withdraws it. But if she stands firm, she will face dangers.”
The Kuravilangad police contacted Sr Anupama and recorded her statement after the recording was aired. Her statement will be passed on to the special team handling the case.
A nun, in a complaint to the Kottayam district police chief last month, alleged that Jalandhar bishop Franco Mulakkal raped her and had unnatural sex with her multiple times at a small town near Kottayam between 2014 and 2016.
Mulakkal has claimed that he is innocent and that the truth will come out in the police investigation.
Leaders of various national women's organisations and human rights activists submitted a memorandum to Italian archbishop and Vatican diplomat to India Rev Giambattista Diquattro.
The activists asked Diquattro to advise Pope Francis to relieve the bishop of pastoral
responsibilities till the matter is over.
The nun had complained to the National Commission for Women (NCW) that the Kerala police was "not working" in the case as the accused was a "highly linked" person.
NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said the commission would extend all possible help to the nun.
