Thread by @BuzzFeedNews

When Father Kuriakose Kattuthara was found dead, it was on a school day. By the time police arrived, the body was already moved to the morgue.

Many fear that one of the biggest scandals to hit the Catholic Church in India will be buried with the priest. buzzfeednews.com/article/nishit…

That’s because Kuriakose was a key witness in a case in which a powerful bishop has been accused of raping a nun. The case is tearing India’s Catholic Church apart. buzzfeednews.com/article/nishit…

The story connects to a global context: the Catholic Church has been beset by sex abuse crimes in recent years. The last decade has seen the Vatican move from insisting other religions are just “as rife with abuse” to the pope condemning these crimes and “begging forgiveness.”

In India, there are 20 million Catholics, out of 28 million Christians — the third-largest religious group after Hindus and Muslims.

Victims of sexual abuse have found it almost impossible to get their allegations taken seriously, let alone bring them before a court.

This year, four priests from a southern state in India have been accused of sex crimes. But the case of Bishop Franco Mulakkal is the biggest of all — he’s the man accused of raping the nun, and he became the first Indian bishop to ever be arrested.

Kuriakose was the lone priest to break ranks with the church and testify against the bishop. Taking a brave stance in supporting the nun, he could have bolstered her case by his further testimony in court.

His death could produce a chilling effect on those who want to speak out against abuse by the clergy. Other nuns who supported their sister after she accused the bishop of rape have said they are afraid for their lives since Kuriakose’s death.

Now, while police say the priest died a natural death, his family says he may have died under suspicious circumstances.

It seems many in the church would rather forget he ever existed. A wall of silence surrounds his name. buzzfeednews.com/article/nishit…