In a significant development, the priest of Christ the King Church in Manela, Periyaltadka, Mangaluru, Karnataka state, has been removed from his religious ministry following a viral video depicting him manhandling an elderly couple. The Mangalore Diocese PROs, Fr. J. B. Saldanha and Roy Castelino, jointly issued a press statement announcing the removal of Priest Nelson Olivera after the incident, which occurred on February 29, 2024, captured widespread attention on social media platforms. Fr. Nelson Olivera, a parish priest at Christ the King Church in Manela, Vittla, subjected an elderly couple to physical violence and manhandling for purportedly not contributing to the church’s donations or charity.

Based on the reports from the local news channel Mangalorean, Fr. J. B. Saldanha and Ronald Castelino, serving as the Diocese’s Public Relations Officers (PROs), jointly announced through a press release that the Priest of Christ the King Church in Manela, Periyaltadka, had been temporarily removed from his religious duties pending the completion of an inquiry. Another priest would be assigned to fulfill the spiritual needs of the community, as emphasized in the statement.

The Diocese of Mangalore expressed profound sadness over the events occurring within Christ the King Parish, Manela, and extended apologies for the incident on February 29, which caused distress to those affected and the broader community. The press release underscored the Diocese’s commitment to cooperating fully with the ongoing police investigation into the matter.

Ronald Castelino further elaborated that in addition to the government-initiated inquiry, the Diocese would initiate a canonical inquiry to ascertain the truth, ensuring a fair and just resolution moving forward. Meanwhile, the Dakshina Kannada district police confirmed the registration of a case at the Vittal police station, with investigations currently underway.

Given that both parties involved are of the same faith, the police urged the public to disregard any rumors surrounding the incident. Gregory Monteiro, an elderly individual, alleged in his police complaint that Parish Priest Nelson Olivera had verbally abused him and his spouse during a home visit, accusing them of not contributing to the church.

As an immediate measure, the implicated priest has been relieved of his duties at Christ the King Church, Manela, Periyaltadka, with a replacement appointed to cater to the spiritual needs of parishioners. This incident underscores the religious sensitivities at play and highlights the concerning issue of harassment against the elderly within Christian religious institutions.