4 nuns who spoke against rape-accused bishop transferred

Kochi, January 16

Four of the five nuns who led an agitation against rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal in Kerala have been directed to leave their convent in Kottayam district in compliance with a transfer order issued last year, sources said here today.

Their congregation — Missionaries of Jesus under Jalandhar diocese of the Roman Catholic Church —has directed the nuns to join the convents they were assigned previously as per the transfer orders issued between March and May in 2018.

However, the nuns, who have been staying with their colleague, allegedly subjected to rape and unnatural sex by Mulakkal, said they would not leave the convent in Kuravialangad.

The protest led by the nuns and Catholic reformist forums here in September had led to a public outrage and demands for action against the bishop.

Bishop Mulakkal, a senior member of the Roman Catholic clergy in India, was arrested in September.

The 54-year-old clergyman was “temporarily” relieved of all pastoral responsibilities as the bishop of the Jalandhar diocese by the Vatican. Three weeks after his arrest, the bishop was released on bail in October by the Kerala HC. Reacting to the latest church directive, one of the nuns alleged the decision was aimed at splitting the group and sabotaging their colleague’s case.

The nuns — Alphy, Anupama, Josephine and Ancitta — were served notice by Superior General of the congregation Regina Kadamthottu.

Sister Nina Rose, who also fought for justice for the survivor nun, has not been asked to leave the convent. — PTI