Activists request Vatican to remove bishop accused of sexually assaulting nun

Women activists have requested the Vatican to advice Pope Francis to remove a bishop of the Jalandhar diocese, accused of sexually assaulting a nun, in order to ensure that an impartial enquiry is carried out into the matter.

A nun, in a complaint to the Kottayam district police chief last month, alleged that Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal raped her and had unnatural sex with her multiple times at a small town near Kottayam between 2014 and 2016.

Mulakkal has claimed that he is innocent and that the truth will come out in the police investigation.

Leaders of various national women's organisations and human rights activists submitted a memorandum to Italian archbishop and Vatican diplomat to India Rev Giambattista Diquattro.

Annie Raja, general secretary of the National Federation of Indian Women, said "We have only one demand that the Bishop be relieved of all pastoral duties. Till he holds a position of power we know there wouldn't be an impartial probe into the matter."