Pope Francis (File photo)

KOZHIKODE: Pope Francis has dismissed Robin Vadakkumchery , the Kerala vicar who was last year convicted of raping and impregnating a minor girl and jailed for 20 years, from priesthood.

"From now on, he won’t have any priestly rights and duties. He will be known as Robin Vadakkumchery," Fr Jose Kocharakkal , official spokesperson for the Catholic diocese of Mananthavady , said on Sunday. Kocharakkal said Pope Francis expelled Vadakkumchery from the clergy on the basis of a report submitted by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome on December 5. He had been convicted and sentenced by the Thalassery Protection of Children from Sexual Offences court in February 2019.

Vadakkumchery was the vicar of St Sebastian Church at Neendunoki, in Kannur district. The dismissal of a priest of the Catholic Church from the clerical state is a permanent measure reserved for the most serious offences. Only the Pope has the power to do so.

The Catholic diocese of Mananthavady had suspended Vadakkumchery from priestly duties on February 27, 2017, after an anonymous call to the Childline in Kannur. The caller said a minor girl had delivered a baby at a hospital run by the church, and that the child was immediately shifted to Holy Infant Mary’s Foundling Home at Vythiri in Wayanad. Vadakkumchery was arrested on February 28 from the Kochi airport while trying to flee to Canada. He is serving his sentence at Kannur central jail.



In Video: Pope defrocks rape-convict Kerala vicar