Syro Malabar Catholic Church issues media boycott diktat over Kerala nun-rape case coverage

The Syro Malabar Catholic Church, which has been under the spotlight over the controversy swirling around Kerala nun rape case accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal, has published a statement in its monthly newsletter imploring devotees to boycott the media.

In the December edition of its newsletter Catholicasabha, the Syro Malabar Catholic Church published an article titled ‘Sabhaykkethire Goodalochana: Viswasikal Madhyamangal Behishkarikum’ (Conspiracy against Church: Devotees will boycott media). The article specifically called out two media organisations which it alleged have been involved in “conspiring” against the church. 

The article proclaiming to put an embargo on media also claims to speak the minds of worshippers and claims to not be a pronouncement of the Church.

The article states that the media houses have habitually humiliated the holy institution, its leadership and have “hurt” the sentiments of the devotees. 

READ| Sister Anupama, Who Led Protests In Kerala Against Bishop Franco Mulakkal, Heckled, Asked To Leave Father Kuriakose Kattuthara’s Funeral

In its November edition, the newsletter included a photograph of rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who was detained in September this year. The newsletter also quoted, “The propaganda of the media is that using the image of Bishop Franco Mulakkal along with other Bishops is a huge sin.”

“Bishop Franco Mulakkal is an accused. Although he is abstaining from responsibilities, he is still a bishop. He will be a bishop until it is proven in a court or in the church system that he has committed the crime. The Indian judiciary's core mantra is to not punish an innocent person. But certain media outlets act as courts, which is an offence as per the constitution,” the article further read.

The article referring to the ISRO espionage case to solidify their stand of mocking the media, claimed that the media published false stories only to rip the pockets of their readers

To palliate the accusations against the Bishop, the article cited sexual harassment cases emerging against the top media houses. 

“The media is supplying blasphemy, anti-Chruch propaganda and obscene and false stories to increase their business. They are spreading poison and this has to be resisted. The media spitting venom is a danger to family and society. Such media houses should be boycotted; such television channels should be turned off; such newspapers should be kept away from houses and offices; such media should not be promoted; they should not be advertised,” the article says.

The same edition comprises of an article that attempts to make the devotees wary of the “conspiring moves” of media to fabricate and abolish the Church, staining the image of priests. 

READ| Kerala Nun Rape Case | SHOCKING: Bishop Franco Mulakkal Receives A Hero's Welcome In Jalandhar

“Of late, women would come to the church in the pretext of visiting priests and later file sexual harassment complaints at police stations after they return. It has been learnt that a section of people has been enquiring about the land deals of the parishes with the devotees and has been working across the state to file misleading against the church,” reads the article.

The rape accused, Bishop Franco Mulakkal was granted conditional bail on October 15, following which he received a hero's welcome in the church in Punjab's Jalandhar.