Bishop, accused of raping nun, hands over charge as Vatican forms probe panel

Agencies
September 15, 2018

New Delhi, Sept 15: The Vatican, the highest seat of authority in the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy, has formed a one-member panel to probe the rape allegations against the Bishop of Jalandhar, Franco Mulakkal.

Sources told news agency that a church representative from India is in the Vatican to discuss the issue of a rape charge against the Bishop by a Kerala-based nun.

The development followed after the nun wrote to the Apostolic Nunciature- the representative of the Pope in India- describing the ordeal she allegedly went through at the hands of Bishop Mulakkal.

The reaction from the Holy See has come amidst Pope Francis ordering an investigation into the sexual misconduct by an American bishop Michael J. Bransfield who recently resigned from the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia. The pontiff, on Thursday, met the US Catholic church leaders to discuss the scandal that has sparked a furore over clergy abuse crisis.

Back home, Bishop Mulakkal, who has been summoned by the Kerala Police for questioning on September 19, informed that Monsignor Mathew Kokkandam will administer the Diocese of Jalandhar in his absence.

In a written communication addressed to the members of the Diocese, Bishop Mulakkal announced that Father Joseph Thekkumkattil, Dean of Tanda Deanery and Father Subin Thekkedathu, Parochial Vicar of St. Mary's Church, Tanda will step in for the Bishop in addition to their present roles.

Bishop Mulakkal, in his letter, also requested members of the Diocese to pray for him, the victim and her supporters hoping that "divine intervention" will cause a "change of heart."

"As you have probably come to know from the media the investigation into the allegations raised against me there are several contradictions in the evidences collected against me as per the report of the police. It is reported that I am likely to be called for further clarifications by the investigating officer in Kerala. I request you to continue to pray for me and for the alleged victim and her supporters who have come out against me so that divine intervention may bring about a change of heart and the truth of the matter may be revealed. I leave everything into the hand of God as I await the result of the findings of the team probing the allegation," the letter read.

The nun from Kerala has accused the 54-year-old Bishop of raping her on several occasions between 2014 and 2016.

Comments

Fairman
 - 
Saturday, 15 Sep 2018

This has been repeatedly happening by those who practice against the law of the nature.

The urge OR desire of the sex is natural phenominon. Not only human being, alos Every living creature is subject to it.

 

Therefore Islam persists every affordable mena and women to marry and multiply. Muslims have also priesets of different grades. But it never prevents any priest from marrying. 

If they dont marry, definitely the God knows, that the priests would be subject to take sideways to quench thier desire of sex illegally, by doing all mischieves to poor innocent women.

 

therefore study the religion which is true and scientific. Do not blindly follow what our ancestors have erred, wrongly taught and misguided us.

 

Every priest, nun should be allowed to marry and fulfil their sexual desire legally without harming illegally other women.

 

Islam has come as light with illumination to bring from dark for everyone. This is not just for Arabs or any particular sects. Islam's main preaching believe in one and only God and worship him, who has no associates, no family, no wives, no children, n oparents and partners. 

 

 

hello fools, who told india belong to hindus...the name itself give by arab muslim long back(selute me now)...1000 ys muslim ruled india and also they build and develope this country not like christens who stole and run to UK...only true nationalist is muslim then comes rest..you sitting in some forst place and think that you can die for this country fighting you are big fool, MUSLIM NOT SHOW OFF LIKE YOU DO.when time comes  we know how to protect our belovd country india..JAI HIND

Ibrahim
 - 
Saturday, 15 Sep 2018

Short story

 

Once Bishop of Jalandhar, Franco Mulakkal went to watch the movie NUN, after getting information that nun (in the movie) is beautiful and the movie is scariest one.

After seeing Bishop of Jalandhar in theatre, the movie character nun got scared.

 

 

(the end)

Ramprasad
 - 
Saturday, 15 Sep 2018

For all commentator, This the reason for calling India as secular country. We respect all religions

Very true. If we talk anything then they will absuse us. We are the true nationalist. We are the real Indians

Arsha Bharat
 - 
Saturday, 15 Sep 2018

This is why we suggesting Hindu rashtra. India suitable for only Hindus. Ony Hindus are following Indian laws and court orders. For muslims and christian they are completely depending on some other countries or some other rubbish laws. They wanted to live in India and they cant follow our rules and laws fully. 

Naresh
 - 
Saturday, 15 Sep 2018

Living in India, rule are laws are from different countries. Total injustice

Danish
 - 
Saturday, 15 Sep 2018

Why Kerala cop cant probe. They are making Indian laws institutions as rubber stamp

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News Network
January 2,2020

Bengaluru, Jan 2: Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "neglecting" Karnataka ahead of his visit on Thursday, the state Congress questioned why he did not give adequate relief and pay a visit to the state, when most of its parts were affected by severe floods last year.

Modi will begin his two-day visit to the state on Thursday afternoon.

The Congress' Karnataka unit in a series of tweets also questioned the Prime Minister about not conferring the "Bharat Ratna" on Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Math, who passed away last year at the age of 111 years.

"Why you did not visit the state, when it was affected by floods? Despite the damage of over Rs 1 lakh crore why you did not declare it as a national disaster? Why you did not give interim relief? When the state government has given a report that the damage caused was to the tune of Rs 35,300 crore why did you sit quiet by giving just Rs 1,200 crore," the state Congress tweeted.

As many as 103 taluks in 22 districts of Karnataka were affected due to unprecedented floods in August, in which over 80 people were killed.

Around seven lakh people were shifted to safe areas during the deluge and thousands of houses were damaged.

In October, various parts of the state faced a deluge for the second time in two months, killing over 13 people and damaging thousands of houses.

Asking as to why the Centre was not giving the state's share of GST amount adequately, the Congress questioned as to why dues under MNREGA programme were not paid so far, and why Karnataka was being neglected while allocating grants.

Questioning Modi as to why he did not visit Tumakuru when Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Math passed away, the principal opposition party in the state Assembly, also sought to know why the seer was not conferred with the Bharat Ratna yet.

It also pointed out that former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had written a letter in this regard in January 2018.

The Congress has also hit out at the BJP-led Central government over imposition of Hindi language by neglecting regional languages and mother tongue.

The Prime Minister will kickstart his visit to the state by paying tributes to the late pontiff's 'Gadduge' (final resting place) at the Math premises near Tumakuru.

Later, he will attend an event organised to give away Krishi Karman awards and to distribute fishing equipment at the government college ground in Tumakuru, before leaving for Bengaluru where he will be attending a DRDO event.

On Friday he will be inaugurating 107th Indian Science Congress here.

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News Network
March 16,2020

Kalaburagi, Mar 16: Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner B Sharat has banned the sale of liquor and ordered the closure of bars and restaurants in the district until further orders in the wake of coronavirus scare.

On Sunday, Sharat said that the public gatherings including local markets, village fairs, Urs festival in Kalaburagi district have been banned.

"Gatherings including local markets, village fairs, Urs festival in the district have been banned as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus until further orders," Sharat said.

The Karnataka Health Department on Sunday said that all the family members and other contacts of the 76-year-old man who died of coronavirus in Kalaburagi are being monitored closely.

The state government has said that six cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the state as of now, including one person who died.

"Till date, six COVID-19 cases have been reported in the state including one death. The 5 Coronavirus positive cases are in isolation at the designated hospital in Bengaluru," the government said.

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coastaldigest.com news network
August 3,2020

Bengaluru, Aug 3: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa tweeted late Sunday night that he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. 

In a brief post on Twitter, Mr Yediyurappa said that he was fine but had been hospitalised on the advice of doctors. While his daughter Padmavathi has also tested positive for the virus, the Chief Minister's son, Vijayendra, has tested negative.

The Chief Minister's media team has said he has been admitted to Manipal Hospital. Mr Yediyurappa, 77, also requested those who had come in contact with him to be wary of Covid symptoms and self-isolate.

"I have tested positive for coronavirus. Whilst I am fine, I am being hospitalised as a precaution on recommendation of doctors. I request those who have come in contact with me recently to be observant and exercise self-quarantine," the Chief Minister's tweet read.

The testing of the Chief Minister was done as part of the routine weekly tests he undergoes along with his staff. The results of Mr Yediyurappa's gunmen and security staff, around 50 of them, are expected today.

Staff members at Mr Yediyurappa's home office, Krishna, had tested positive early last month. 

At that time Mr Yediyurappa said: "I am going to discharge my duties from home from today for the next few days in view of some of the staff in the office-cum-residence Krishna testing positive".

Mr Yediyurappa had also met Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala in Bengaluru on Friday. State Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai was also present at the meeting.

The Chief Minister is the second high-profile political leader to confirm testing positive for COVID-19 today; hours earlier Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted similar news.

Mr Shah, 55, too said he was "fine" and that he had been hospitalised on the "advice of doctors".

The minister also asked all those who had been in contact with him over the last few days to "please isolate yourself and get your tests done".

The Home Minister was at a cabinet meet last week, at which top colleagues, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman were present.

All Covid norms, including social distancing, were followed at that meeting, sources said.

Last month Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan tested positive for the virus as well. He has been in hospital since then and tweeted today to say that he was well and, minutes after Mr Yediyurappa tweeted his Covid positive status, he posted a get-well-soon message.

"I pray to God for your speedy recovery, Yediyurappaji," Mr Chouhan wrote.

Mr Chouhan had tweeted a message for Mr Shah too. "Home Minister Amit Shah, may God help you recover soon, so you can serve the nation with full energy. Our best wishes are with you," his tweet read.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also tweeted, saying: "I wish BS Yediyurappa a speedy recovery and to return with good health to continue his work for the people".

Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit also tested positive today, Chennai's Kauvery Hospital, where he has been admitted, said. He is asymptomatic and clinically stable.

On Sunday morning the virus claimed the life of a UP minister - Kamal Rani Varun, 62, died at Lucknow's Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences.

Over the last 24 hours, 54,735 cases were reported, taking the total number of cases to 17,50,723, data from the Health Ministry showed.

The continuing spike in cases over the past weeks comes as India gradually re-opens its economy after more than four months of the world's strictest lockdown. Unlock3, the third phase of easing of restrictions, came into effect on Saturday.

It took just 185 days for India to cross the 17-lakh mark after the first case was reported in Kerala in January; it took 110 days to record the first 1 lakh cases. More than 60 per cent of total cases in the country and over 50 per cent of total deaths have been recorded in July.

Also Read: Karnataka CM is in clinically stable condition: Manipal Hospital

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