Sources have dismissed reports of Franco Mulakkal, who was acquitted of rape charges, returning to pastoral duties in Jalandhar, and have claimed that the news is 'self-generated' propaganda by the former and his supporters.
As per an exclusive report by The News Minute, sources in Kerala, as well as Jalandhar, say that there is no such move to reinstate him.
During his visit to Jalandhar on Saturday, Archbishop Girelli reportedly informed the priests that the Vatican has accepted the decision of the Additional District and Sessions Court I in Kottayam acquitting Bishop Franco on January 14.
The Apostolic Nuncio made this statement to a group of priests from the Jalandhar diocese in response to a question about the Vatican's delay in accepting the Indian court's decision on Bishop Franco's rape charges, sources added.
However, James Sandhu, Ex-Parish Council President at the Holy Trinity Church, Jalandhar, who was present during the nuncio's two-day visit to Jalandhar, told TNM that this was a propaganda planted by those who are supporting the return of Mulakkal.
"Franco's reappointment is pending with the Vatican. And as long as the case is pending with the high court or Supreme Court in India, he cannot be reinstated," he added.
He confirmed that the nuncio said that the court order will be respected as Bishop Franco is an Indian citizen, but the nuncio said nothing about reinstating him; that is Bishop Franco's own creation. The nuncio is also said that the case is in the court (referring to the appeal) and that the church also accepts that. In Jalandhar, no one is interested in him coming back."
Meanwhile, Save Our Sisters (SOS), a forum formed to support the survivor nun and those who support her, wrote to the Vatican requesting it not to reinstate Franco as the Bishop of Jalandhar, until the appeal against the lower court's judgment is heard and decided by the High court of Kerala. The letter is addressed to Pope Francis.
In September 2018, Pope Francis temporarily relieved the Bishop of his diocese's responsibilities after he was questioned by Kerala police on rape charges leveled by the nun.
The 57-year-old bishop was accused of raping the nun several times while visiting a convent in Kottayam between 2014 and 2016. He was the bishop of the Jalandhar diocese at that time.
The nun is a member of the Missionaries of Jesus, a diocesan congregation under the Jalandhar Diocese.