Sister Lucy Kalapura, a nun who was a prominent face in the protest against rape-accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal, has been sent a warning by the Catholic Church in Kerala for writing in “non-Christian newspapers”, “participating in protest” against rape-accused father and making “false accusations” against the Catholic leadership, reported The Indian Express.
Sr Kalapura along with a few other nuns on 20 September, 2018 had staged a hunger strike demanding the arrest of Mulakkal. However, the Church leadership has now questioned Sr Kalapura’s participation saying she bypassed the authorities on the matter.
A letter, that has been sent to Kalapura reads, “Your deeds on 20 September 2018 and on the following days were of most grave external scandal and harm to the Church and the FCC. You went to the Ernakulam High Court junction and participated in the protest held by the SOS Action Council on 20-9-2018 without the permission of your superior.”
Sister Ann Joseph, Superior General of Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC), of which Kalapura is a member, has asked Kalapura to meet her in Kochi on 9 January to “rectify her faults” or face expulsion.
Sr Kalapura has also been accused of writing for for “non-Christian” newspapers without seeking permission from the provincial superior and “defaming” the FCC.
“You tried to defame FCC also. Your performance through social media as a religious sister was culpable arising grave scandal.”Catholic Church’s letter to Sister Kalapura
However, speaking to The Indian Express, Sr Kalapura said that she has no clarify to offer and that this is an act of “revenge”.
“I don’t think my acts, as mentioned by the Catholic Church in its notice, are wrong. If I’d known they were wrong, I would have never committed them.”Sister Lucy Kalapura to The Indian Express
(With inputs from The Indian Express)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)