The seventh Bishop of the Diocese of Mysore, K.A. William has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. It is not less than Justice Micheal Saldana, the former Bombay High Court Judge, who has levelled serious criminal charges against K.A. William opening a pandora box in his legal notice.
The allegations are:
- Sexual misconduct with women
- Fathering children
- Kidnapping
- Alleged murder of four priests
- Revenge transfer of honest priests to to jungle parishes where there is not even drinking water,
- Looting of church money, conniving with underworld mafia and police with bribes for cover-up and protection.
78 years old Justice Micheal Saldanha—who served in the high courts of Karnataka and Maharashtra states—says he had sent Bangalore Archbishop Peter Machado 17 written complaints—fully backed by evidences, all of which have come from “men of credibility,” majority of them being priests—against Mysore Bishop K. A. William.
After Bangalore Archbishop Peter Machado failed to respond, Justice Micheal Saldana sent a legal notice to Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) President Cardinal Oswald Gracias on May 29. Justice Saldana also accused Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore for colluding and covering up murders allegedly committed by Bishop William reported by Mid Day.
Alleged murder of priests
Justice Saldanha copied Cardinal Oswald Gracias the legal notice that read as “following the deaths of four priests – two murders, one hanging and one accident, the Bishop of Mysore has let loose a virtual reign of terror in the Diocese.” For the last one year, this man has been asked to leave, but he defiantly carries on terrorising,” the notice further stated.
Looting of church money, conniving with underworld mafia
Explaining the alleged corruption in the notice, Justice Saldana stated, “K.A. William has used the underworld mafia and protection from the local police. It has already resulted in as much as 23 percent of the Catholic laity leaving the Church. Justice Saldana claimed that an investigation revealed that the bishop “has amassed personal wealth estimated at one million dollars by looting church properties and institutions.”
Fathering children
The notice also accused the 55 years old bishop K.A. William of “fathering at least six illegitimate children” and spending millions on mistresses, among other charges.
Sexual misconduct with women
Bishop William, along with Father Leslie Moras, were involved in the 2019 Mysore Church sex scandal when a woman, who worked in their church, had allegedly accused them of seeking sexual favours. On July 20, 2019, a group of 37 priests from the Mysuru Diocese had written a letter to Pope Francis requesting urgent intervention in the affairs of Bishop William, and had demanded that he be removed.
Revenge Transfer
Justice Saldana has accused Bishop William of calling an urgent meeting on May 28 on a 12-hour notice, and in three minutes Bishop William pronounced a transfer order, which can be defined as revenge transfers targeting the priests who had complained against him, and sending eminent scholars to remote villages where there is not even drinking water. This transfer was allegedly against 37 priests, who had complained about him earlier in 2019.
Besides Justice Micheal Saldana, Robert Rosario, who is representative of the Christian Community, has raised his voice against Bishop K.A. William. Rosario says, “there is a tremendous complaint against him by people who do not speak openly as they fear for their lives.” Robert Rosario has gone ahead to file an FIR against Mysuru Bishop K.A. William at Lashkar Police, Mysuru, on charges of misconduct, impropriety, kidnapping, threatening and outraging the modesty of a woman in November 2019.
The FIR (Crime Number 0094/2019) was registered on Thursday under IPC Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 363 (punishment for kidnapping) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation).
What is appalling is Vatican have remained silent on this issue which a number of priests in Mysore have been struggling to raise for more than a year now. And a law abiding Christian Robert Rosario is equally disappointed with system that no action was taken against Bishop K.A. William even if FIR was filed and legal notice was sent by none other than Justice Micheal Saldana.
Disclaimer: Article is based on what ‘Mid Day’ reported after speaking to Justice Micheal Saldana
Sources
Ex Bombay High Court Justice accuses Bishop of Mysore of murders sexual misconduct – news – https://www.mid-day.com/articles/ex-bombay-high-court-justice-accuses-bishop-of-mysore-of-murders-sexual-misconduct/22830215
These priests call themselves as the servents of the people while taking owth ,but after that they become the kings of the church,even the Vatican people also influenced by these types of criminals.lets wait for the justice ,if God gives you.but you can’t expect any justice from these priests .but still there are some priests who are still good , leading a good life .