A senior Malayali bishop in the UK has been accused of serious sexual assault. The charges by two women, including a female bishop, have attracted widespread attention in the media across the globe. International dailies such as The Guardian, Reuters, and BBC have carried detailed reports on the incident. According to the allegations by the two women, Bishop John Perumpalath, who is well-known in the UK church circle, was involved in inappropriate behavior. The allegations ranged from unwanted physical contact to allegations of forced sexual advances.
The Bishop has categorically denied the accusations, stating that the allegations are false. His denial notwithstanding, the controversy of the case became more intense once the allegations surfaced. In a response to this, the Bishop decided to step down from his position. The situation has now escalated further as reports indicate that the case might have major implications within the church and the wider religious community in the UK.
Channel News reports that one of the women accused the Bishop of kissing and touching her without consent. Another woman claimed that Bishop Perumpalath had made inappropriate sexual advances. The incidents reportedly took place over a period of time, with the alleged events gaining momentum when the Bishop became embroiled in another public controversy involving the leadership of the Church of England.
During his statement, the Bishop dismissed the allegations against him, saying he cooperated with all the investigations carried out. He supported his argument by saying that he believed the charge brought against him served as a way of trying to ruin his and the church's reputation through a media trial. In addition, he said he was concerned with safeguarding the well-being of his church and the congregations he served.
He has yet to receive formal charges since the police began investigating him, but the accusations have dimmed his career, with the controversy nevertheless fueling debate over the roles of both faith and private behavior within religious organizations.