By Matters India Reporter
New Delhi, Jan 15, 2022: A group of Catholic women in India January 15 appealed to authorities in the Church and two women religious congregations to ensure safety and security of the survivor, companions and witnesses in the nun rape case.
The appeal from the Sisters in Solidarity came a day after the Additional District and Sessions Court in Kottayam, Kerala, awarded “not guilty” verdict in favor of Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar, who was accused of raping a nun multiple times.
Judge G Gopakumar acquitted the 57-year-old prelate on grounds of lack of evidence in the case against him.
In a letter addressed to Bishop Agnelo Gracias, apostolic administrator of Jalandhar diocese, and five others, the solidarity expressed “deep shock, disappointment and disbelief” at the verdict.
The letter says the solidarity members know the survivor and have accompanied her in her struggle for justice.
“The statement coming from some sections of the local community and media, claiming this verdict as a “major victory for the Church,” is very disturbing,” bemoans the letter that asks: “Is the survivor nun not part of the same Church?”
The women say they are “pained to see how insensitively a daughter of the Church is disowned, discredited and devalued by the members of the ecclesiastical community.”
According to letter, the survivor and her companions “have already suffered much within the Church having been alienated from their mission and ostracized by the community. Even after she pleaded for help to the Church authorities at various levels, not one of them ever responded to her in any manner to understand the truth.”
After the survivor filed the rape case against the bishop, who is her congregation’s patron, she was immediately stripped of her responsibilities as a religious.
The survivor was the superior of the St. Francis Mission Home, a convent of the Missionaries of Jesus (MJ), in Kuravilangad, near Kottayam.
After the case started the Kuravilangad community was split into two groups, with the survivor and her five companions on side, and others on the other.
“As a result of this, the survivor and her companions have experienced harassment and hostility from the supporters of the accused. After this verdict, they have become even more vulnerable and are in danger of further victimization,” the women forum says.
The group is also “deeply concerned” about the safety of Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC) Sister Lissy Vadakkel, a prime witness ostracized by her congregation at Jyothi Bhavan, Muvattupuzha, Kerala, and is under police protection.
“Her frail health and isolation from the rest of the community is a matter of grave concern,” the women group says.
The group has shared copies of its letter to Cardinal Oswald Cardinal Gracias, the head of the Catholic Church in India, and nine officials of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, Conference of Catholic Bishops in India, Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council, and Conference of Religious India.
“We urge the Church, the MJ and FCC leadership to be sensitive to the survivor and her supporters to ensure their safety and dignity in this crucial time, in the spirit of justice, compassion and care modeled by Jesus. Immediate steps need to be taken to guarantee their security and ensure them freedom from any kind of harassment,” the letter pleads.
The letter, signed by 15 members of the group, also requested the congregations not to shift the survivor and her supporters and witnesses from their present residences where they now get police protection, in view of the related cases that are still under investigation.
END
The text of the letter
January 15, 2022
To,
BishopAgnelo Gracias,
ApostolicAdministrator, Jalandhar Diocese, Jalandhar.
Sr. AnitKuvalloor, Superior General,
Missionaries of Jesus, Jalandhar.
Rev. Sr. Litty FCC, Superior General,
Franciscan Clarist Congregation, Aluva.
Sr. Alphonsa Abraham FCC, Provincial Superior,
Nirmala Province, Vijayawada.
Most Rev. Anil Joseph Thomas Couto, Metropolitan Archbishop of Delhi
Chairman, CBCI Office for Clergy and Religious,
New Delhi.
Fr. Gratian Carlo SJ,
Secretary, CBCI Office for Clergy and Religious,
New Delhi.
Sub: Appeal to Church and Congregational authorities to ensure safety and security of the survivor, companions and witnesses in the Franco Mulakkal criminal case.
We,the Sisters in Solidarity (SIS), who know the survivor and have accompanied her in this struggle for justice, are in deep shock,disappointment and disbelief at the ‘not guilty’verdict awarded to Franco Mulakkal, Bishop of Jalandhar acquitting him on grounds of lack of evidence in the rape case filed against him.
The statement coming from some sections of the local community and media, claiming this verdict as a “major victory for the Church”, is very disturbing. Is the survivor nun not part of the same Church? We are pained to see how insensitively a daughter of the Church is disowned, discredited and devalued by the members of the ecclesiastical community.
The survivor and her companions have already suffered much within the Church having been alienated from their mission and ostracised by the community. Even after she pleaded for help to the Church authorities at various levels, not one of them ever responded to her in any manner to understand the truth.
Ever since the sister survivor filed the case of rape against the bishop who is the patron of the congregation, she was immediately stripped of her responsibilities as a religious.The Missionaries of Jesus (MJ) community of the St. Francis Mission Home was split into two groups. As a result of this, the survivor and her companions have experienced harassment and hostility from the supporters of the accused. After this verdict, they have become even more vulnerable and are in danger of further victimisation.
We are also deeply concerned about the safety of Sr. Lissy Vadakkel FCC, a prime witness, who is also ostracized by her congregation at Jyothi Bhavan, Muvattupuzha and is under police protection. Her frail health and isolation from the rest of the community is a matter of grave concern.
We urge the Church, the MJ and FCC leadership to be sensitive to the survivor and her supporters to ensure their safety and dignity in this crucial time, in the spirit of justice, compassion and care modelled by Jesus. Immediate steps need to be taken to guarantee their security and ensure them freedom from any kind of harassment.
Considering the fact that there are related cases still under investigation, they should not be shifted out of their present residence where they are provided with full protection by the concerned police stations.
We look forward to your support and positive response on this matter. As a gesture of support, we expect a visit or a letter of assurance from you all to the sisters.
We request that the Church and congregational authorities consider this appeal as a matter deserving your immediate attention and response.
In Christ Jesus,
Adv. Flavia Agnes, flaviaagnes@gmail.com
Adv. Sandhya George, sandhyageorge@yahoo.com
Adv. Sr. Julie George SSpS, julierosegeorge@gmail.com
Ms. AleyammaVijayan,aleyamma.vijayan@gmail.com
Ms. Anita Cheria, anita@openspace.org.in
Dr. Brinelle Elizabeth D’Souza, brinelledsouza@gmail.com
Dr. Astrid Lobo-Gajiwala, asklobog@gmail.com
Dr. Kochurani Abraham, kochuabraham@gmail.com
Dr. Neena Joseph, facultyimgdrnj@gmail.com
Ms. Raynah Braganza Passanha, raynahbraganzapassanah@gmail.com
Sr. Annie Jaise, CMC, sraanijaise2017@gmail.com
Sr. Clare Marie Therese ICM, claremtherese1@gmail.com
Sr. Manju Kulapuram SCSC, manjukulapuram@yahoo.com
Sr. Teresa Meera RGS, ethammac@gmail.com
Ms. Virginia Saldanha, womynvs@gmail.com
CC to:
1. His Eminence Oswald Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, Mumbai
CBCI President
2. Rt. Rev. Joshua Mar Ignathios, Bishop of Mavelikara,
CBCI Vice-President- I
3. Rt. Rev. George Njaralakatt, Archbishop of Tellicherry,
CBCI Vice-President-II
4. Rt. Rev. Felix Anthony Machado, Archbishop- Bishop of Vasai,
CBCI Secretary General
5. Rt. Rev. Filipe NeriFerrão, Archbishop of Goa and Damam
CCBI President
6. Rt. Rev. George Antonysamy, Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore,
CCBI Vice President
7. His Eminence Cardinal George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly,
KCBC President
8. Rt. Rev.Dr. Varghese Chakkalakal
KCBC Vice-President
9. Rt.Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thomas
KCBC Secretary General
10. Sr. Maria Nirmalini AC,Superior General
President,National CRI
I am really glad to see this letter. This letter gives hope to some of us who thought the reactions and anger in the social media are going to die down soon. And the plight of the victimized ones are going to continue in the Church as it is now. The Sisters in Solidarity (SIS) has taken a bold step. I have noticed many sisters have signed this letter. Please take it up with CRI as well. There used to be a FORUM which used to stand for the rights of the religious priests and Nuns. I do not know what happened to CPCI which was quite vocal on issues like this. There are a good number of laity who will support this initiative. Please plan a campaign for supporting those victims. There will be enormous public support for this.
In solidarity with SIS,
James Veliath
For a conviction in a criminal case, there must be conclusive proof. An accused is not sentenced on the basis of ‘probabilities’. The prosecutor failed to prove her case. However, there is the High Court for appeal. The above signatories must help the survivor nun for filing an appeal. Writing to the Church authorities is a waste of time.
This letter was absolutely necessary. I support it totally
It’s a shame for the church that to save illegitimately one rapist defrocked Bishop the justice department and the judge is swallowing the crime like rape of a nun.
Whichever way one looks at the issue, there is no denying the fact that what the verdict has brought into the llimelight is the BESHARAMGIRI of the Catholic Church in India. It is apparent that there was SEX – but sex for celibates??? Yuck!
Now, there must follow DEFROCKING on both sides of the fence if the Church Universal is serious about retaining t
The alleged victim is not an ordinary victim of sexual abuse. She was the provincial of the congregation for nine years. Her congregation has convents and institutions outside Jalandhar diocese. As per the judgement she was ready to settle the matter if their demand for a separate region in a diocese in Bihar is accepted by the church.
As the judgement says it is not just a case of sexual abuse and victimisation of nuns. It is more a fight for power and pelf. It also looks like a fight between two Rites – Latin and Syro-Malabar – in which the latter has claimed the first victory.
A very good initiative but why hasn’t a copy of the letter been marked to the Nuncio at New Delhi?
Also will Franco Mulakkal be invited to the Vatican to give a pep talk on chastity, celibacy and women empowerment during the Synod 2023?