Catholic bishop in India charged with repeatedly raping nun

Bishop Franco Mulakkal denied accusations

File photo dated 19 September 2018: bishop of the Indian city of Jalandhar, Franco Mulakkal, centre, leaves after being questioned by police in Kochi, India. Indian authorities charged the Roman Catholic bishop on Tuesday with repeatedly raping a nun in her rural convent, a case that helped make the sexual abuse of nuns a major issue in the church. (AP)

An Indian Roman Catholic bishop has been charged with repeatedly raping a nun in her rural convent, a case that helped make the sexual abuse of nuns a public issue in the church.

Bishop Franco Mulakkal has been charged with rape, illegal confinement and intimidation, said Hari Sankar, a district police chief in the southern state of Kerala.

The nun, who has not been publicly identified, said she went to the police last year after complaining repeatedly to church authorities.

Eventually, a group of fellow nuns launched unprecedented public protests to demand Mulakkal's arrest.

Mulakkal has angrily denied the accusations, calling them "baseless and concocted".

In February, Pope Francis for the first time publicly acknowledged the sexual abuse of nuns by priests and bishops.

Associated Press