By Jose Kavi
New Delhi, Jan 23, 2022: The Delhi chapter of the Indian Christian Women’s Movement (ICWM) has demanded immediate reinstatement of the rape survivor nun in her congregation.
The movement, representing women from various Christian denominations across the country, on January 22 met Archbishop Anil J Couto of Delhi to present him a statement to pass on to Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli.
The statement refers to the victim in the historic nun rape case where Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar was accused of raping a nun multiple times inside a convent in Kerala, southern India.
A court in Kerala on January 14 acquitted the prelate saying the prosecution failed to prove his guilt.
The ICWM-Delhi statement asserts that the movement “stands in complete solidarity with the victim/survivor nun who broke the silence against continuous abuse and exploitation by Bishop Franco Mulakkal” of Jalandhar.
“As women, we are feeling completely outraged and humiliated by having to prove our pain and trauma, time and time again. We are sick and tired of proving why there was a delay in filing a report. Why there was a delay in speaking up? How could we endure it for such a prolonged period of time? Because it has been instilled in us to respect the men of cloth.”
The statement points out that the bishop and nuns have “a fiduciary relationship” and the prelate should have protected those serving the Lord under him. “Instead, women in the Church are feeling unsafe and vulnerable, open to abuse in their congregations and Churches. Anyone who dares to speak against the powerful men of cloth are isolated, neglected and targeted for speaking up,” the statement bemoans.
Observing that “this travesty of justice and denial of respect to women in the Church has gone on long enough,” the movement demands an end to “inappropriate behavior by priests, bishops and any other in power.”
It stresses “processes and systems within the Church to safeguard” women, who devote their lives in the service of Christ vowing chastity.”
Sexual abuse within the Church, the women body says, makes a mockery of their dedication and commitment. “How long will the Church continue to shield men in power who audaciously break their vows and shamelessly exploit the weak? How long will the women in the Church be forced to bear the heavy burden of shame, social disapproval and acrimony?” it asks.
The movement’s Delhi chapter calls for “complete and unconditional support” to the survivor and nuns within her congregation who support her.
“The nuns need to be supported and not marginalized; the victim/survivor nun should be reinstated immediately to her order, pending judgement. We are pained to see such a differential treatment meted to the victim/survivor nun. Psycho-social care should be immediately made available to both the victim/survivor nun and her supporters,” the movement says.
It also asks for “an assurance that there wouldn’t be any further victimization of the victim/survivor nun and her supporters. We strongly urge you to use your influence to persuade your fellow Archbishops to be sensitive and protective towards the victim/survivor nun and all those who support her.”
The statement was signed by Amelia Andrews (convener), Sandhya Samuel (coordinator), Sushma Ramswami (treasurer and national team member), Mavis Russell (founder member and core committee member), Elizabeth Martin (core committee member) and Evelyn Prem Singh (core committee member).
Ramswami told Matters India that Archbishop Couto was “very receptive to ICWM delegation. He had an open conversation with us.” He received the statement with a promise to pass it on to the nuncio, she added.
Let the religious commit in their work. These incidents are taking place because the priests and nuns have no prayer life.
Try to respect judiciary and its verdict. It would be prudent to go through the judgement yoursekf before indicting the bishop. The allegations were found to be baseless and without any evidence by the court.
Archbishop Anil has promised the ICWM that he will pass on the letter to the Nuncio. What will be the consequence? The “letter of the ICWM will sit on the table of the Nuncio or his Secretary collecting dust” or “it may go to the dustbin”.
In the first instance, the ICWM, being based in Delhi, could have gone straight to the Nuncio. What prevented them from doing so? ICWM could have also written to the Pope directly. Why does ICWM require a “mediator”?
In my opinion, the effort or the initiative of the ICWM may not bring in the expected result. The “Lay Movement” must become strong at the national level in order to challenge the hierarchy.
It blows my mind off to think that flamboyant Franco who had all the money on earth too have booked an entire floor of a five star hotel at Kochi for several days used to feel comfortable only at the spartan set up of a convent to rest during nights whenever he happened to be in Kerala. Why the defence team point this out to the Judge. Okay they failed but at least the Judge should have asked this question.
The requirement that priests remain celibate was established only in the year 1139. Whatever may have been the compulsions for doing so the fact remains that the one who strays out of this commitment commits a mortal sin. It is known fact many priests are straying out into the convents with or without the consent of his object of pursuit.
Instead of. pretending that no such charade is going on it is high time that the church addressed these issues. Is it necessary to be celibate to be religious? Shouldn’t it be made optional?
While the church discusses these issues the believers must understand that their action to support the bishop or inaction to stand with the nuns amounts to conniving with the church for the charade to continue.
In the meantime the least that church could do is to reinstate the nuns.
Who ever be d culprit on Franco-Mother Superior sexual saga before God they hv to hear d verdict at Final Judgement.
In order to save the Catholic Church from shame, these pink hatted men should defrock the predators. Instead, they support them and turn against the poor victims. Do you think Our Lord will consider this “JUSTICE”????!!!!!
I cannot understand why the Nuncio didnt think of ostracizing the nun in the first instance!!! Is he as naive as Peter Mukherjea in the Sheena Bora case???
Doenst he know that men in white robes and pink caps (read it has been reduced to dunce caps!!!) are notorious for feasting on nuns’ bodiee??? Did he care to show an iota of concern toward the raped nun by speaking to her to find out the truth???
Ditto for Oswald and Agnelo Gracias. Adv Rebecca waxed eloquent on the law and Franco’s acquittal. Perhaps they should seek an appointment with her to seek some education on women, especially in the role of nuns and more especially in the case of the raped nun!!
There are several nuns in Kerala who have “accidentally” fallen into wells and unfortunately have been dismissed as “suicide” cases. In my opinion, with Franco’s voracious sexual appetite, more than half will be his victims and the other half victims of similar priests & bishops. One should review each case independently and come up with some conclusion.
It is disgracefil and totally shameful thst right from the Pope, the Nuncio, Oswald, Filip and all their sidrkicks, nobody is in the least concerned about the trauma this nun has suffered.
The Church has the descretory power to make decisions. It doesn’t absolutely depend on any forum for that matter. God has designed certain roles for the human persons for the well-being of the society. Unfortunately this balance is not maintained because of the crave for supremacy.
Today male chauvinism and radical feminism have ruined the meaning and purpose of life no matter whether family or religious . The religious taking themselves to the streets, impertinent, licentious, hyper self assertive etc. have their options
The delegation says bishops and hierarchy should have protected the victim nun but failed to do so. The nuns are still feeling unsafe and vulnerable and open to abuse again.
In such a situation, why the delegation is appealing to the same bishops /church hierarchy who have shown no interest to help them? Is it not better to approach the police authorities for protection?
By the way, why the delegation who themselves are lay catholics do not want to involve other lay people in their efforts to protect the nuns?