An Indian Catholic nun accused a bishop of raping her four years ago and then sexually abusing her multiple times over the following two years.
But it was not until 29th June that the unidentified nun, a member of the Missionaries of Jesus, complained to police of being raped in May 2014 by Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jullundur, ucanews.com reported.
The alleged assault was said to have occurred when the bishop visited a convent in the Diocese of Palai in Kerala state in southwest India, where the order has a convent.
The nun alleged that the bishop harassed her when she resisted sexual abuse.
Bishop Mulakkal maintained, however, that the allegation came in retaliation after he acted against the nun for sexual misconduct.
The bishop told ucanews.com the accusation arose only after Church authorities began disciplinary action following allegations by the nun’s cousin that she was having sexual relations with her husband.
“She threatened to quit the order,” Bishop Mulakkal said.
Picture: A woman prays at the Holy Family Church in Srinagar, India, on 25th December 2017. A Missionaries of Jesus nun accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jullundur of raping her four years ago and then sexually abusing her multiple times over the following two years. The bishop denied the charges, saying they were in retaliation for a Church investigation into allegations of the nun’s sexual misconduct. (CNS photo/Farooq Khan, EPA).
