Kerala nun ‘barred’ from religious rites for joining sit-in

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A nun at North Kerala’s Mananthavady Diocese on Sunday said she was barred from attending any religious rites for joining a sit-in in Kochi against the delay in former Jalandhar bishop Franco Mulakkal’s arrest for allegedly raping a 43-year-old nun.

Sister Lucy Kalappurkkal alleged the convent instructed her against participating in any religious service after she returned from Kochi.

“After participating in the nuns’ stir in Kochi, I came back to my convent on Sunday morning. Sad, I was asked to keep away from all religious duties,” she said. The Missionaries of Jesus nuns called off the sit-in after two weeks.

Mananthavady Diocese spokesman Stephen Kottakkal denied Kalappurkkal’s claim. “We have not taken any action against her.” The Save Our Sisters, which was floated in the wake of the nuns’ agitation, called the action against Kalappurkkal “sheer victimisation and witch-hunt”.

The organisation’s convener, Father Agustin Vattolly, said they would fight for the nun and try to convince the diocese to reverse its decision. “The nuns’ movement was a kind of renaissance meant to cleanse the church stables. Rather than introspecting, the church authorities are back to their dirty game of intimidation and witch-hunt,” said Sister Jesme, activist and writer.

BISHOP BROUGHT TO CONVENT

KOTTAYAM: The bishop, meanwhile, was brought to a convent near here on Sunday where the assault took place. He was taken to the convent at Kuruvelengadu in a convoy of police vehicles from the Kottayam Police Club, where he will be kept. According to the victim’s complains, Mulakkal raped her at the VIP rest room. The bishop will be produced in court on Monday.

ACTOR BOOKED

A case has been filed against Malayalam actor Joy Mathew and 24 others for taking out a march in a prohibited area in support of the nuns .

The march was taken out on September 12 in the ‘Mittayi Thiravu’ (sweet street), despite a prohibitory order.