Pope defrocks priest convicted in rape case

TRIVANDRUM: The Vatican has defrocked Fr Robin Vadakumchery a year after a Kerala court sentenced him to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for repeatedly raping a girl since she was 12.

The minor girl delivered a child four years later followed by his arrest while trying to flee the country in 2017. The church had suspended him from priestly duties soon after that.

The Mananthavady Catholic diocese on Sunday said Pope Francis dismissed him on Dec.9. It took more than two months to complete formalities.

“We handed over the papal decree to him last month and sent an official communication to Rome,” said Fr Jose Kocharackal, the diocese’s public relations officer, on Sunday.

“Vadakumchery has been dispensed from the exercise of priestly duties and rights. That means he has been reduced to the state of a layman,’ a Mananthavady diocese said on Sunday.

The High Court on Friday granted anticipatory bail to Fr Manoj Palakkoottathil, former vicar of Chevayur Nithyasahaya Matha Church, who is facing charges of rape of a housewife. The court directed the priest to make himself available for interrogation before the investigating officer within 10 days. The police case was that the accused had allegedly gone to the victim’s house on June 15, 2017, and raped her while she was alone.

Also on Sunday, reports of Vatican rejecting the second appeal of rebel nun Lucy Kalappura filed against her ouster from Franciscan Clarist Congregation have emerged. Sister Lucy is one of the nuns who had participated in the protest against rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal, against her expulsion.

The Vatican also turned down Sister Lucy’s request to present her case before pope and the tribunal.

Sister Lucy was expelled from her Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC) in August 2019.

The Pope had two years back made it clear that all bishops should adhere to a policy of “zero tolerance” to clergy who sexually exploit children.

He later said clergy guilty of abuse were “tools of Satan” and pledged to face every case with “utmost seriousness.”

Child sex abuse, he said, reminded him of the ancient religious practice of child sacrifice in pagan rites.

Clergy guilty of abuse were “tools of Satan,” he said, pledging to face every case with “utmost seriousness.”

Only the Pope can defrock a Catholic priest. The district sessions court in the northern town of Thalassery, which imprisoned Vadakumchery with a fine of Rs300,000 had acquitted four sisters and a priest accused of shielding him.

They also chose not to report the newborn under their protection to the authorities.