Kochi, Jan 23, 2019: Sister Lucy Kalapura, who took part in a protest against rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal, has been served with a second notice by the Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC).
She has been asked to give a written explanation to the Mother Superior by February 6. The second notice was sent after she failed to respond to the first one.
Sister Lucy had invited the wrath of the church leadership by participating in a street protest in Kochi by five nuns belonging to the Missionaries of Jesus demanding the arrest of Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who was accused of raping a nun.
In its notice sent earlier this month, the FCC had accused Sister Lucy belonging to FCC’s St Mary’s province in Mananthavady, of leading a life, which was against the ‘principles of religious life’ and the rules of the congregation.
The congregation termed as ‘grave violations’ a nun taking licence, buying a car, taking a loan for it and publishing a book spending money without permission and knowledge of her superiors.
The latest notice raises more allegations against the sister, including being late to convent and not wearing the religious attire.
Bishop Mulakkal was arrested last year following allegations by a nun that he repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted her at a convent in Kottayam’s Kuravilangad between 2014 and 2016, a charge he has continuously denied.
Sister Neena Rose, who is staying with the survivor nun, has also been asked to report to the Missionaries of Jesus congregation’s Jalandhar convent and meet its Superior General Sr Regina Kandamthottu on January 26.
Recently, their congregation had issued transfer orders to four nuns who took part in the protests. The four nuns and the survivor nun had written to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, seeking his intervention to ensure that their transfer orders were not effected till the trial of the case was over.
(TheWeek)