Verghese V Joseph –
Bengaluru: The police in Mysuru have filed a case against retired Archbishop Leo Cornelio of Bhopal, who headed a three-member Vatican panel that examined the charges against Bishop William of Mysuru. Bishop William resigned on January 13, and his sister registered a complaint with the police in Karnataka alleging a threat to his life.
Based on an allegation from the younger sister of Bishop Kannikadass Antony William, police in the southern state of Karnataka have begun an investigation into former Archbishop Leo Cornelio of Bhopal and six diocesan priests.
One of the accused, Father A. Rohan of the Mysore diocese, refuted the accusation, calling it “baseless and fabricated.” “Since we have nothing to hide, we are prepared to assist with any investigation.” He said that some of us were leading the charge to reveal Bishop William’s “illegal deeds.”
The sister, who goes by the name “Mary Help of Christians,” filed a complaint with the Narasimharaja Police on January 19. She said that the individuals she listed posed a major threat to her brother’s life and requested an investigation.
On January 13, His Holiness Pope Francis accepted the resignation presented by Bishop Kannikadass Antony William from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Mysuru in India’s southern state of Karnataka.
In January last year, the controversial bishop, who has been alleged to be involved in serious criminal offenses like sexual misconduct, murder, and misappropriation of church funds was replaced by the Vatican after he was probed by a team of bishops appointed by the Vatican. Bishop William was asked by the Vatican a year ago “to take a period of absence from the ministry.”
Retired Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore was asked to take over as the apostolic administrator of Mysuru Diocese. The announcement to this effect was made by Archbishop Felix Machado, Secretary General at the Catholic Bishops Conference of India on January 7, 2023. He stated that the Dicastery of Evangelization has appointed His Grace Most Rev Bernard Moras, Apostolic Administrator sede plena et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the Diocese of Mysore for the ordinary administration and pastoral care of that local Church.
The issue in Mysuru has been festering for some years. Allegations include sexual misconduct, criminal activities and kidnapping.
With allegations and counter-allegations flying thick and fast, it was only a matter of time before the Holy See’s office stepped in to stem the rot.
In August 2022, His Eminence Oswald Cardinal Gracias had to issue a video statement through Bombay Archdiocese YouTube channel over the controversy of his purported talk with Bishop William of Mysore two years ago.
Edited versions of the Cardinal’s August 2020 talk with Bishop William were doing the rounds then in the online media and on social media platforms. The contents of the talk gave the impression that the Cardinal was trying to protect the accused Bishop William by arranging for a clandestine paternity test as ordered by Cardinal Tagle on August 15, 2020.
This is the theatre of the absurd. This person has been known to file allegedly false cases against his detractors using proxies, and his alleged financial strength and proximity to some police officials. There is a Hindi saying “khisiyae बिल्ली खंबा नोचे ” that means a frustrated or desperate cat will even try to scratch a metal pole”. There’s also the saying that”A drowning man clutches at a straw”.
William’s post resignation dramas only further point to his culpability on various counts.
It’s the darkest hour for the Church in Mysore. Very sad indeed.
The FIR for crime No 9/24 is dates 19th January, just 6 days after William’s resignation. The occurrence of the crime is between 6th and 15th January at William’s sister’s house in Karunapura, Mysore. Wonder how Abp Leo and the other accused reached there. The alleged crime is U/s 504.506 IPC for spreading hatred etc! It’s prima facie absurd and the case needs to be dismissed with exemplary costs.
Readers would be interested to know that some years ago Rev Anand Muttangal had filed a false case against Abp Leo for trying to murder him through slow poisoning. Not succeeding in his nefarious designs he quit the Catholic Church and is now a self appointed Bishop of some independent Church. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Let me also clarify that the entire telephonic conversation between William and Cardinal Gracias, not just extracts, is available in the public domain. I myself had sent the transliteration to Cardinal Gracias pleading with him to act and forewarning him that if the conversation ever became public it would have a devastating effect, which is what eventually happened. Nothing to rejoice about.
There must be something rotten in Denmark! The claim of Bp William’s sister “Mary Help of Christians” that William would not file a police complaint as he is a religious person. Thus, she had to do it” doesn’t hold water.
What is most surprising is why Bishop William is not undergoing a paternity test ordered by Cardinal Tagle long ago and also urged by Cardinal Oswald Gracias? He has been avoiding this for more than two years. He can seek solace in his guru Bishop Gallela Prasad of Kadappa, Andhra Pradesh!