Kerala: Priest asked to step down after calling nun to withdraw case

Days after allegations about a bishop raping a nun 13 times between 2014 and 2016 surfaced, an  11-minute audio clip of a conversation between priest and a nun in Kerala has been leaked, adding fuel to previous allegations of the Catholic Church attempting to bury complaints of sexual harassment by clergymen.

The priest has recently been asked to step down by the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) Congregation yet, they claim that the incident has nothing to do with the recording which surfaced, NDTV reported. The audio clip has recorded during a conversation between Father James Erthayil of the Kanjirappallly diocese of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate and Sister Anupama from the Missionaries of Jesus in Kottayam. The latter was one of the five nuns who came out in support of a 44-year-old nun, allegedly sexually abused by Bishop Franco Mullakkal of Jalandhar diocese.

Bishop Franco Mullackal accused the nuns of threatening and blackmailing him and filed a complaint against her and five others who then went to the police and narrated their ordeal of sexual abuse.

The Kerala police then booked the bishop with regards to the complaint made yet the bishop, on his part, claimed innocence and said he is a victim of vendetta for taking disciplinary action against the nun.

Another priest acting as a mediator who made a phone call offering the nun who stood by the 44-year-old rape victim, “land, building and safety” if she withdrew her rape complaint against the Jalandhar Bishop.

According to reports by the Deccan Chronicle, the leaked phone call recorded the voice of one priest who introduced himself to the 30-year-old nun, Sister Anupama saying, “We can buy some land, build a convent and shift you all there safely. This won’t happen tomorrow but everything has a time. We can think about it.”

The Father is made veiled threats throughout the phone call if the woman doesn’t agree to withdraw her complaint.

“If you all are adamant on your stand, this won’t happen. If you withdraw your complaint and go to one of your convents in Odisha, Andhra, threats may arise. But if you move independently and go under some other Bishop, there won’t be any threats. It will be good if you think about this and if you decide to do this positively, I will help you in any way possible. I can’t do everything, but will help in whatever I can do. In the sense that we can buy some land, build a house, shift them. They will support. I suggested this because they have said they will support,” he says.

On being questioned about if the Jalandhar Diocese would then support the family  the priest retorted with a “yes”.

“If we have to buy 10 acres of land and build a decent building for everyone, it’s not easy. So they will help, but their condition is that this case must be withdrawn,” he further adds.

The nun in the recording refused the offer and told the Father no steps would be taken to withdraw the complaint whatsoever. “We must get justice. We don’t desire to lose any life, or sell our dignity,” she asserts.

The priest went on to try and persuade the nun by making further offers of property,  “I’ve understood the situation. I respect your feeling. I was just giving my suggestion. So they are actually thinking about buying some land for this in Erumely and Ranni area. So in that case, you can stay in that compound itself.”

Deccan Chronicle also reported that it has not been able to verify the authenticity of the leaked audio clip.

The nun who lodged the complaint has stated that she only did so and went against the accused Bishop after the church authorities turned deaf ears in the past.

Also Read: Kerala Church Scandal: Four priests booked for rape