Bishop to be questioned for alleged abuse of nun

NEW DELHI: The police on Wednesday summoned for questioning a bishop accused by a nun of raping her multiple times, following days of protests by other nuns and supporters. Bishop Franco Mulackal, who has rejected the accusations, has been called for questioning in Kerala on September 19, the Press Trust of India reported. The nun first accused Mulackal in late June of raping her 13 times between 2014 and 2016, but police until now have stopped short of formally questioning him. But pressure has been building on the authorities to investigate the claims. Over recent days five nuns — in a rare show of dissent within the Indian Church — and dozens of supporters have been protesting in Thiruvananthapuram. With media interest growing as well, the alleged victim has also approached the Vatican representative in India to press her case. Her letter, leaked to the media, said Mulackal was “using political and money power to bury the case”. Mulackal has called the whole scandal a conspiracy by those against the Church, and has won backing from his congregation at the Missionaries of Jesus Church. Kerala’s High Court will be hearing the matter on Thursday, although the bishop was not expected to attend. — AFP