The day Kerala police issued a notice to the rape accused Bishop of Jalandhar Diocese, Franco Mulakkal, asking him to appear before it on September 19, he issued a circular delegating Monsignor Mathew Kokkandum to administer the activities of Diocese in his absence. The circular said, “As you have probably come to know from the media, the investigation into the allegations raised against me as there are several contradictions in the evidences collected against me as per the report of the police and it is reported that I am likely to be called for further clarifications by the investigating officer in Kerala.”
It added, “In my absence Msgr. Mathew Kokkandan will administer the diocese as in the normal practice when I am away from the diocese.” Church sources said the circulars are routinely issued by the Bishop when he goes out of the jurisdiction of his diocese for some days or weeks. A source said, “He has not resigned from his post nor has he made anyone the officiating Bishop. He has only appointed a senior member of the clergy to look after the activities of diocese in his absence. This circular also establishes that Bishop is going to Kerala to join the investigation.”
The Bishop has also appointed Father Joseph Thekkumkattil as head of Tanda Deanery located in Hosiapur district, and Father Subin Thekkeduathu as Parochial Vicar, St Mary's Church Tanda. He also raised the annual traveling allowances of priests from Rs 5000 from January 2019 and mess allowances to Rs 6000 month from this September.
