Jalandhar, June 1
Having been relieved of his pastoral duties quickly for the previous almost 5 years after allegations of a nun’s rape, Franco Mulakkal (59) on Thursday give up from the submit of Jalandhar bishop.
Mulakkal’s resignation is learnt to have come following a request by the Vatican for the “good of the Jalandhar diocese, which wants a brand new bishop”. His resignation has been accepted by Pope Francis. Since September 2018, Bishop Agnelo Gracias had been serving as the apostolic administrator of the Jalandhar diocese.
The apostolic nunciature in India wrote in a word, “It shouldn’t be a disciplinary measure imposed upon him, however a pro-bono ecclesiae, particularly for the betterment of the diocese, which wants a brand new bishop.” It additional reads, “The apostolic nunciature needs to specify that the Holy See respects the decision of the Additional District and Sessions Court, Kottayam, Kerala, acquitting Bishop Mulakkal of the allegations regarding him, as nicely as the attraction towards the acquittal, which has been admitted by the Kerala High Court. Given the nonetheless divisive scenario within the
matter, the resignation has been requested”.
It additionally specified that his current standing is bishop emeritus of Jalandhar, which doesn’t indicate canonical restrictions on his ministry.
Reacting to the orders, Bishop Agnelo Gracias mentioned he had obtained the message of Mulakkal’s resignation. “We specific our appreciation for this choice for the nice of the church and the diocese. For the current, all Vicar Generals, Episcopal Vicars and different officers of the diocese shall proceed within the workplaces they’ve been holding,” he mentioned in a launch.