Kerala Nun Backing Rape Survivor Colleague Gets Expulsion Threat

With the clergy being accused of atrocities like rape, the Kerala Church community is under the radar for sexual violence against women. As more and more nuns are raising their voice and accusing Bishop Franco Mullakal of rape, the church congregation is reportedly releasing letters to threaten them to change their statement. One of the nuns, who protested against priests sexually assaulting nuns, has recently received a second warning letter, threatening that she would be expelled from the congregation unless she changes her mind.

“..invite you to change your mind and attitude sincerely...If you don't respond positively I will be constrained to proceed with your dismissal from Congregation,” said the letter issued by Franciscan Clarist Congregation Superior General.

The nun received her first letter of warning by the superior general in January this year. She—nun of the Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC)—has been an open supporter of the nun who accused Mullakal of rape and has been demanding his arrest in the case. This is the first time that the church has threatened her of removing her from the congregation, she said.

The first letter to Sister Kalappura that came on January 1 accused her of leading a life against the the principles of religious life and against the Rule and Constitution of the Franciscan Clarist Congregation

ALSO READ: Kerala Priest Sentenced To 20 Years In Jail For Raping Minor Girl

The first letter that came in on January 1 to Sister Kalappura accused her of leading a life against the the principles of religious life and against the Rule and Constitution of the Franciscan Clarist Congregation.

In the past few years, there have been some serious charges of rape and sexual abuse against bishops and priests coming into the spotlight. While the church has kept a stoic silence in these cases and went so far ahead into covering them up, recently, a Kerala POCSO court convicted a Kunoor church father -- Robin Vadakkumchery -- to 20 years of imprisonment for raping a 16-year-old girl several times and also impregnating her. Even that case had revealed the church’s pathetic behaviour of exploiting the survivor and her family.

A Kerala nun has accused Mullakal, a senior member of the Roman Catholic clergy in India, of raping her and sexually assaulted her at the Kuravilangad convent between 2014 and 2016. The police arrested him last year after the allegations. He is currently out on bail.

Picture credit- Madhyamam

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