Kerala Nun, Who Protested Against Rape Accused Bishop, Expelled From Church Congregation

The Franciscan Clarist Congregation under the Roman Catholic Church in Kerala has expelled a nun for publishing poems, buying a car and taking part in a protest against a rape-accused former bishop of Jalandhar diocese, PTI reported.

Ann Joseph, the Superior General of the congregation, issued a letter dated August 5, to Sister Lucy Kalapura , saying she “did not show the needed remorse and you failed to give a satisfactory explanation for your lifestyle in violation of the proper law of the FCC”.

“You are hereby dismissed from the Franciscan Clarist Congregation,” Joseph said.

The “unanimous decision” to dismiss Kalappura was taken at the general council of the congregation held on May 11.

Sister Lucy, however, said, “There is no fault on my part. I will not move out from the convent and I will fight against this (dismissal) legally,” The NewsMinute quoted .

Sister Lucy, who belonged to the Mananthavady Diocese in Wayanad, had been given two letters prior to this , warning her for her “lifestyle” and for challenging the Church for cornering the survivor nun in the rape case against Franco Mulakkal.

She stood by what she says now, that she had not done anything wrong, but had been right.

In its notice issued to the nun early in January, the FCC had described as “grave violations” the nun possessing a driving licence, buying a car, taking a loan for it, publishing a book, spending money without the permission and knowledge of her superiors.

The provincial superior had denied permission to Sister Lucy to publish her collection of poems.

The sister had invited the wrath of the church leadership by participating in a street protest against rape-accused Franco Mullakal in Wayanad last year, staged by five nuns belonging to the Catholic religious order.