Franco Mulakkal resigned from the post of Bishop of Jalandhar. Franco’s resignation was accepted by the Pope. The Vatican ambassador in India said that this is not a disciplinary action. Earlier, the court had acquitted Franco Mulakkal in the case of torturing a nun. Franco will now be known as Bishop Emeritus. Franco Mulakkal said that the resignation is for the good of the Jalandhar Diocese and to appoint a new bishop.
Franco was earlier arrested in the case of torturing a nun. The nun complained that Franco, who was the bishop of Jalandhar, raped her 13 times from 2014 to 2016. The Kumilangad police registered a case against Bishop Franco on a complaint filed by a nun who is a member of the Missionaries of Jesus Sanyas Church and an inmate of St. Francis Mission Home in Kumilangad.
Earlier in September 2018, Pope Francis had temporarily removed the bishop from the duties of the diocese after he was accused in the rape case. The resignation comes while the appeal court is considering the acquittal of the accused Franco Mulakkal in the case of raping a nun by the Kottayam Additional Sessions Court.
