Verghese V Joseph –
Bengaluru: Mysuru Bishop Rev Kannikadass A William was on Saturday asked to take a period of absence from the ministry, and His Grace Most Rev Bernard Moras, Archbishop Emeritus of Bangalore has been appointed Apostolic Administrator in his place.
“In a communication received from the Apostolic Nunciature, the Dicastery for Evangelization has appointed His Grace Most Rev Bernard Moras, Archbishop Emeritus of Bangalore, 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,” stated Archbishop Felix Machado, Secretary General, Catholic Bishop’s Conference of India (CBCI).
The appointment will become effective from 7th January 2023, at 6 p.m.
In 2018, Dr Moras retired as Archbishop Emeritus of Bangalore. He was ordained in 1967. As a priest, he ministered especially in the healthcare sector. He was appointed Bishop of Belgaum on December 31, 1996.
The issue in Mysore has been festering for some years. Allegations include sexual misconduct, criminal activities and kidnapping. In 2019, Bishop William had then said that the allegations of corruption and sexual assault against him were baseless and he was ready to face investigation.
With allegations and counter-allegations flying thick and fast, it was only a matter of time before the Holy See’s office in India stepped in to stem the rot.
Last August, 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 back.
Edited versions of Cardinal’s August 2020 talk with Bishop William were doing the rounds lately in the online media and on social media platforms. The contents of the talk give 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. The version also gives the impression that Cardinal Gracias was trying to protect Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar diocese in an earlier rape issue. Another damaging impression was that the then Nuncio, Archbishop Giam Battista Diquattro, was diffident in pursuing the matter.
To clear the air, Cardinal Oswald, in his statement, emphatically denied being involved in any cover-up, whatsoever.
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