IDUKKI: The

could oust a senior priest of Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese Father Augustine Vattoly for attending a protest against Father

, who is accused of repeatedly raping a

between 2013 and 2016.

In a letter addressed to Fr Vattoly - who is also the general convener of the Save Our Sisters (SOS) action council which was set up to expand the reach of the protest by nuns - Mar Jacob Manathodath, the apostolic administrator of the archdiocese, has warned of strict actions if the priest fails to obey the church.

The letter, dated November 12, had warned the priest from attending the protest conducted by the SOS in

on November 14 to demand cancellation of bail for Mulakkal. The priest has been asked to submit an explanation before November 25.

The letter further states that the priest has incited sedition and hatred against ecclesiastical authorities through his speeches and activists, and he was closely associated with 'anti-ecclesial, extremist ' groups.

Sources close to the church said that the decision to take action against the priest was to silence all priests who question the church leadership.