Angry nuns protest delay in taking action

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In an unusual move, five nuns from a convent in Kottayam, along with several Catholic reformation groups, came out in protest in Kochi on Saturday over what they said was a delay by authorities in taking action against Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the Jalandhar Diocese who is accused of sexually exploiting a nun for many years.

The survivor belonged to the same convent as the protesting nuns. They said they were forced launch a ‘dharna’ as the survivor had been denied justice by church authorities and police.

“More than 70 days have passed since the nun filed a police complaint. We have given clinching evidence also. It seems the police are reluctant to take action due to pressure. The church and the police, both let us down. Now we pin our hopes on the judiciary,” said one of the protesting nuns who did not want to be identified. She added that a petition will be moved in the Kerala high court on Monday.

The 43-year-old survivor, in her complaint, alleged that Bishop Mulakkal sexually abused her in 2014. She added that she was raped as many as 13 times over the next two years.

The protesting nuns alleged that instead of examining the complaint filed by the survivor, the police were raking up loopholes to delay action.

Reacting to the protest, Father Paul Thelekkat, former spokesman of the Syro-malabar church, said, “Their wails should be heard. Wedded to religion they sacrifice their lives for the cause of Jesus and the church is dutybound to hear them.”

Meanwhile, Poonjar MLA PC George allegedly abused the survivor for lodging a complaint against the Bishop. Addressing a press conference in Kottayam, George sought to know why she had not complained in the initial stage of sexual misbehaviour by the Bishop.

However, former chief minister VS Achuthanandan came out in support of the survivor and urged the government to take steps.