Senior Indian priests have allegedly taken pornographic images of nuns and teachers, which have been shared with the Association of Concerned Catholics (AOCC). Lay leaders of the group reportedly showed the images to Archbishop of Bombay, Oswald Gracias, who is an advisor to Pope Francis. The leaders have threatened to release the images worldwide if the priests involved are not defrocked. Also, AOCC officials have threatened to share sexual videos, chats, and pictures between priests and Hindu women with extremist groups in the region.
The pictures, as reported, show religious sisters in compromising positions with priests. The computer of Fr. Jacob Karamakuzhyil allegedly contained many of the images. Karamakuzhyil is a general councilor for the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (Fransalians).
In response to the allegations, Karamakuzhyil claimed that the images could be part of a cybercrime scheme that is rampant in India, where stolen images are morphed to blackmail people. AOCC, however, revealed their images and insisted on an independent investigation into the accused priests, to which the Fransalians have not yet responded.
Priests formerly from different schools and provinces of the church in India are facing accusations of sexual misconduct as part of the leaked correspondence. These stories highlight the systemic nature of nuns’ deaths in Indian convents, with over 24 suicides or unexplained deaths since 1987. Despite the significant number, there has not been a systematic investigation into the issue.
