By Matters India Reporter

Kochi, Jul 11, 2020: The Kerala High Court has directed the police to provide protection to the life and property of Sister Lucy Kalappura, a nun expelled by the Franciscan Clarist Congregation for allegedly violating religious vows.

In her petition to the top court in Kerala, a southern Indian state, Sister Kalappura alleged that she was facing threats from the convent authorities and some priests of Mananthavady diocese where she now lives.

Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan, who heard her plea, on July 9 issued notice to the authorities of the Kerala-based congregation and two priests of the Syro-Malabar diocese.

In its interim order, the High Court directed the police “to ensure that the law and order is maintained and, if necessary, to provide adequate protection to the life and property of the petitioner from any incursions by the respondents.” The court also said the case will be considered after 10 days.

In her petition, the 54-year-old nun said she was a member of congregation at Karakkamala in Kerala’s Wayanad district and she had filed a petition with the police seeking protection from forceful eviction from the convent. She had also sought protection for her life and properties from the “henchmen or hired goondas” engaged by authorities of her convent and two priests of her diocese.

But no action was taken by the police on the complaint so far, she submitted.

The nun said she was still living in fear and sought a direction to the police to provide protection for her.

Sister Kalappura incurred the wrath of her congregation and the Kerala Church in September 2018 when she joined a sit-in demonstration near the High Court in Kochi. The demonstration demanded the arrest of Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar, who was accused of raping another nun multiple times between 2014 and 2016.

The bishop was arrested in 2018, but released on bail after three weeks.

The congregation cited violation of vows such as poverty and obedience for expelling her in August 2019.

The congregation explained that Sister Kalappura was expelled for “failing” to provide explanation for her lifestyle, which allegedly violated church rules. The Vatican had ratified the decision.

She was also accused of arriving at the convent late in the night, participated in a news channel’s discussion, letting a female journalist live with her in the convent and appearing in public without wearing the nun’s uniform.

Sister Kalappura says many of the charges against her were a “deliberate attempt to paint her in bad light.”

Sister Kalappura joined the Franciscan Clarist Congregation when she was 17.