This archive report was first published on 30 November 2019.
Published on November 30, 2019, a significant day in the Catholic Church's history in India.
A Roman Catholic bishop, Franco Mulakkal, has become the first Indian clergy member to stand trial for alleged rape. The trial took place in Kottayam, Kerala state, on Saturday.
According to reports, Mulakkal is accused of repeatedly raping a nun between 2014 and 2016 while he was head of the Missionaries of Jesus order.
The bishop has denied the accusations, but if found guilty, he faces a maximum sentence of life in jail.
Mulakkal was arrested in October last year and granted bail. The court extended his bail until the next scheduled hearing on January 6.
The case has sparked widespread criticism of the Catholic Church's handling of the situation, with many accusing the church hierarchy of failing to take the case seriously.
