Karakkamala, Dec. 8, 2019: Hundreds of people took out a torchlight protest against Sister Lucy Kalappura, who has announced the release of her memoir on December 10.
The autobiography of the nun, who was expelled from the Franciscan Clarist Congregation for the violation of her vows, reportedly contains accounts of the goings-on inside the convents of the Catholic Church.
Sister Kalappura has appealed a second time against her dismissal saying she was being punished for raising her voice against rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar.
Sister Kalappura said the protesters, including some women, protested on December 4 night in front of her convent at Karakkamala in Wayanad district, and raised threats and used filthy language to attack her.
“Lucy go back, some of them shouted. The threats will never weaken me,” the nun told television channels.
The Kerala High Court had on December 4 dismissed a petition seeking to stop the publication and distribution of the autobiography on grounds that its contents were “highly defamatory” of the clergy, nuns and the faithful.
Dismissing the petition filed by a nun, Sister Licia Joseph, who claimed that the contents alleged “immoral” life by a section of priests and nuns of the Syro-Malabar Church, Justice Ashok Menon, however, said she can approach the police.
If they failed to act on her complaint, the petitioner can move the magistrate court, the judge said in his order.
Excerpts from the work were recently published by certain publications suggesting it to be an account of her life as a nun in the Syro-Malabar Church.
In her plea, Licia alleged that the contents of “Karthavinte Namathil” (In the Name of Christ) would shock all right-minded persons, particularly Christian believers.
Sister Kalappura said her work would narrate her life experience and alleged sexual abuse and harassment faced by nuns in convents.
The book also talks about consensual sexual relationships between priests and nuns, homosexuality among the priests and nuns and misuse of positions held by priests and bishops.