INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Franco Mulakkaln was Bishop of Jalandhar diocese
alleged that Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mullakal raped her in 2014.The church was in the process of "glorifying" the Bishop arrested for raping
her, NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma alleged.She slammed the church for not implementing its directive to constitute internal complaint
committees in their institutions where many nuns are serving, saying such a mechanism was a must for protecting them from harassment."In
Bishop could never get justice from the Church because of the absence of such a mechanism in their institutions."There was nobody she
(victimised nun) could go and complain
We have also written to the church, urging them to constitute internal complaint committees where women can complain," she said.She alleged
that "till now the church has not come clean" in the nun rape case.Mulakkal, who was Bishop of Jalandhar diocese, was arrested in September
for allegedly raping the nun at Kuravilangadu in Kottayam district.In her complaint to the Kottayam police in June, the nun had alleged that
Mulakkal raped her at a guest house in Kuravilangad in May 2014 and later sexually exploited her on several occasions.However, Mulakkal has
He was later granted conditional bail in the case.He had given up his pastoral duties of Jalandhar diocese of the Missionaries of Jesus and
transferred his administrative powers to Bishop Agnelo Gracious."We should have internal complaint committees in all the religious
places--especially in churches where many nuns are serving
Not many women are serving in the temples or other religious organisations
But in Christianity in Churches many nuns are there," Ms Sharma said."They (the Church) are glorifying the accused Bishop," Ms Sharma
said.Ms Sharma alleged he was getting security from the Church and his picture was displayed in its calendar.Ms Sharma said she has got a
representation from an organisation working for nuns in which they have alleged that the church was not ready to provide security for the
victimised nun.They have alleged that the Church has urged the police to shift the victim to a shelter home."That is how these religious
places are working, they are totally against women," she said.The NCW chairperson also criticised Kerala MLA PC George for not appearing
before the commission in a case of allegedly using abusive language against the nun.The Commission had issued a notice to George asking him
to appear before it but he sent his lawyer citing health reasons."I am not satisfied with the lawyer's reply
So we are writing to the Speaker of the Kerala Assembly
Speaker is also liable to take action against him (MLA)," she said."He never said sorry to us
He just send an explanation through his lawyer
We want him to say sorry..," Ms Sharma said.Asked whether the Commission had powers to arrest him, Ms Sharma said, "we have the powers to
MLA P K Sasi to the police."They have reprimanded him, suspended him for six months but they have not reported the matter to the police
months after it was found that he had conversed with the woman "in a manner not befitting a party leader."
