Vatican being kept in the loop, says CCBI

IDUKKI: The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) is closely monitoring the developments in

Jalandhar

diocese where bishop

Franco Mulakal

is accused of allegedly sexually abusing a

nun

and is informing Vatican all the developments, say

CCBI

sources. CCBI is a canonical national episcopal body of Latin Catholic bishops of the country.


“CCBI has not formed any panel to conduct any inquiry into the case. But it is closely monitoring the issue and updating Vatican .If the accused is found guilty, he will lose his job. There is no need to prove the rape charge and even if it was a consensual affair, he should be punished. We know that something is rotten in the Jalandhar diocese,” said a CCBI source .

However, church sources pointed out that the aggrieved nun failed to approach the right panel of the church. CCCI, Vatican Nuncio and Delhi archbishop are the right authorities for the nun to file her complaint. But she failed to do so. “CCBI has the power to conduct inquiry against the bishop. But the CCBI didn't get any complaint from the nun,” said a source .

“KCBC, cardinal and Syro-Malabar synod have no power to act against a Latin bishop. We wonder why the nun filed her complaint with Syro- Malabar Church authorities,” said the source.

Meanwhile, various national women's association leaders have demanded removal of the bishop. “We haven't got an appointment with the Nuncio office. We will submit our memorandum to Vatican Nuncio Giambattista Diquattro on Tuesday,” said National Federation of Indian Women (NFI) general secretary Annie Raja.


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