By Verghese V Joseph –
Bengaluru: With allegations that include sexual misconduct, criminal activities and kidnapping flying thick and fast, Indian Catholic Matters Editor caught up with Mysuru (Mysore) Bishop KA William in Bengaluru on Friday to clear the air.
In a hard-hitting interview, Bishop William categorically denied all the allegations levelled against him. “The allegations are false and I feel sorry for the accusers, because without even contacting me or trying to know the truth they have gone ahead and published these in the media. We could have avoided this damage by having a dialogue. A group (of priests) are behind it because of administrative reforms I introduced,” he stated.
Bishop William also said that the allegations of corruption and sexual assault against him are baseless and he is ready to face investigation. “The allegations are baseless, I have not misused money. Also, the allegation by a lady is nothing but baseless. I am ready to face them legally and I am ready for investigation,” said William.
Watch the interview below
To give our readers a perspective to the whole issue, thirty-seven (although the actual number is very less) catholic priests from different parishes in Mysuru district of Karnataka in the southern state of India came out against Bishop William, the seventh Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Mysore on charges of sexual misconduct, criminal activities and kidnapping.
“I have not occupied the Bishop’s post suddenly. I have been a priest for the last 25 years, serving various Christian institutions, including St. Philomena’s Church before becoming the Bishop,” Bishop said, adding. “Some miscreants have joined hands with a Mumbai-based organisation to tarnish my image. There is no truth in their statements. Their action will only bring disrepute to the Christian community and the Mysuru Diocese,” he added.
“We have come to know that there are as many as four women who have raised complaints against the Bishop in the last two-and-a-half years,” according to Melwyn Fernandes, General Secretary of the Association of Concerned Catholics (AOCC).
One of the main allegation is that the Bishop had a relationship with a woman, and had a child with him. According to AOCC, the child is studying in a school on the outskirts of the city. However, this woman, has not spoken out or corroborated the allegations.
Meanwhile, another woman who has previously worked in the diocese, put out a video statement accusing another priest Leslie Morris of making sexual advances. She has also alleged that Bishop William supported the priest. “I was called to the office after my field work at around 6 pm on the pretext of giving a report of what I had been doing. At that time, he [Leslie Morris] was grazing himself against me. Later, he directly approached me for sex, and said, ‘only if you compromise with me, you will have a job.’ I decided to quit my job thereafter, in May 2018.”
In the video, she also alleged that her life was in danger. “Some men came to my new workplace in July 2018 and made me accompany them after I got a threat call from the Bishop. The men took me to a car and wiped all the data on my phone. Then they offered to give me money,” she alleged.
In a press meet on Wednesday, Bishop William said, “Everything said about me and priest Leslie Morris is a complete lie.
AOCC has also filed a complaint with the Mysuru Police on behalf of the woman.
Earlier, the priests had written to the Vatican urging the immediate removal of Bishop William. The letter states that Bishop William “…has strong connections with the politicians of criminal record, corrupt police officials and corrupt bureaucrats. It is highly worrisome that he has also connections with the underworld.”
AOCC member Robert Rosario on Tuesday filed a complaint with the Lashkar police in Mysuru. Although no FIR has been filed so far, the police are investigating the case.
A police officer said they will need to either locate the woman or she needs to come forward and file a complaint for them to register the FIR. Rosario also faces a case of causing communal disharmony in case from May last year.
The AOCC wanted to address the media at the Mysuru District Journalists’ Association (Pathrakarthara Bhavan) in city on Tuesday but was denied permission by the MDJA authorities on the grounds that the allegations lacked evidence and there were no supporting documents to prove the allegations.
However, the complainants including Robert Rosario, who accompanied another member Joseph Sodder, managed to speak to television channels outside the MDJA premises and the allegations were subsequently flashed in television channels.
When the media personnel arrived at the Bishop House, Bishop William’s supporters took exception to the telecast of the allegations which they claimed were false and vilified the Bishop who has streamlined the financial administration of the churches. This transparency of funds and administration had irked some people who were now tarnishing the Bishop’s image, they claimed. The Police intervened and diffused the tense situation.