Kochi, Oct 18, 2019: The Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC) has asked its expelled member Sister Lucy Kalappura to withdraw police cases against fellow nuns and apologize or face legal action.
In her letter dated October 15, FCC superior general Sister Ann Joseph threatened to sue Sister Kalappura if she did not withdraw the case filed against the superior of the convent in Karakkamala, Wayanad, and offer unconditional apology.
The FCC letter mainly spoke about the Vatican’s dismissal of Sister Kalappura’s plea challenging the Kerala congregation’s decision to expel her.
Sister Joseph’s letter termed as ‘a blatant lie’ Sister Kalappura’s allegation that she was locked up in the convent by the superior of the Karakkamala convent on August 19.
“We doubt that your action was based on a criminal conspiracy in order to malign and tarnish the reputation of the FCC before the public, and therefore, we consider your act of alleging wrongful confinement as premeditated having mens rea or criminal intent,” the FCC superior general alleged.
“Hence, I, hereby, formally inform you that unless you withdraw the petition and render an unconditional apology regarding this, and unless you have not published that apology in all newspapers and other media outlets which published your allegation, we will be approaching the court of law,” the letter said.
“We will file criminal and civil suits under section 499 of Indian Penal Code, namely, demanding the honorable court of law to prosecute you and all those who collaborated with you by publishing your lies in this regard and also demanding compensation for the defamatory imputation,” it said.
Sister Kalappura faced the ire of the Church for “failing to give a satisfactory explanation for her lifestyle in violation of FCC laws.”
The nun was also accused of participating in protest against rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal.
The Kerala police registered an FIR against the Karakkamala convent over the alleged confinement of Sister Kalappura.
The nun had also filed a complaint against a Catholic priest of Mananthavady diocese accusing him of using the social media platform to ‘humiliate’ her.
Responding to the FCC’s demand, Sister Kalappura said the Church should tender an apology to her for hurting her mentally.
The Vatican had dismissed an appeal by the nun, challenging her dismissal for “failing to give a satisfactory explanation for her lifestyle in violation of FCC laws.”
The nun said she would take recourse against the decree of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Oriental Churches to the Supreme Tribunal of the Signatura Apostolica.
Sister Kalappura was expelled by the congregation in August this year.
The FCC congregation had charged her with publishing poems, purchasing a car and taking part in a protest against a rape accused former bishop of Jalandhar diocese.