Kerala nun rape case accused Franco Mulakkal resigns as Jalandhar Bishop

Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who was temporarily relieved of his pastoral duties in 2018 due to rape allegations, has resigned. His resignation was accepted by Pope Francis and he will now be known as Bishop Emeritus. There will be no canonical restrictions on Franco's ministry, confirmed the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See in India, which represents the Vatican in India.

According to a press release from the Apostolic Nunciature, the High Court allowed an appeal against his dismissal of the lawsuit. In addition, the office made it clear that Mulakkala's resignation was requested "per bono Ecclesiae", especially in the interest of the diocese, which needs a new bishop.

Mulakkal, who was acquitted by a local court in Kerala last year on charges of raping a nun, met Pope Francis at the Vatican in February this year. It was his first meeting with the pontiff after he was acquitted by Additional District and Sessions Court I, Kottayam in a rape case.

In September 2018, the bishop was temporarily relieved of his duties in the diocese by Pope Francis after Mulakkal was questioned by the Kerala police over rape allegations made by a nun. Despite being acquitted by a local court in this sensational case, Mulakkal has no new responsibilities in the Church. The Vatican had previously accepted the court's decision and acquitted him of rape charges.

A nun who claims she was raped by a bishop has filed an appeal in the Kerala High Court against his acquittal in the trial court case. Mulakkal was accused of raping a nun multiple times during his visit to a convent in Kottayam between 2014 and 2016 when he was the bishop of the Jalandhar diocese.The nun is a member of the Missionaries of Jesus, a diocesan congregation within the Jalandhar Diocese.