On day two, protesting nuns get more support

Kochi: The unprecedented protest by Catholic nuns, demanding the arrest of Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal against whom a nun has raised sexual abuse allegations, has started receiving more support from within the Church. On Sunday, several priests and more

nuns

joined the protest organized by the Joint Christian Council at Vanchi Square in Kochi.

Fr Jijo Kurian, a Capuchin priest who attended the protest, said that the Catholic Church which always talks about justice and mercy did not take an allegation of injustice within it seriously.

“When an allegation of injustice happened, it didn’t appoint an inquiry commission. This gave the impression that the Church was with the hunter and not the hunted. It was then the nuns approached the government. But sadly, they didn’t get justice from there either. Now, they have started a protest. This battle for rights of women within the Church is a milestone in Church’s history,” said Fr Jijo.

Among those who came to express solidarity was Fr Paul Thelekkatt, Fr Benny Maramparambil, Fr Augustine Vattoli and Fr Joyce Kaithakoottil from the Syro-Malabar Church, Fr Shaji Karimplanil, and Fr John Chollany from the Capuchin congregation and Sr Molly Alex, Sr Mariamma Kalathil, Sr Jessy Joseph and Sr Molly Devassy of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.

Sr Teena Jose of Ranimatha Convent Ernakulam, Sr Annie Jaise CMC and Bishop Thomas Mar Osthathios of the Greek Orthodox Church were also present.

Among the protesting nuns, except for Sr Neena Rose everyone else came back to the protest site on Sunday. P T Thomas MLA, retired Justice

Kemal Pasha

and activist C R Neelakandan addressed the gathering. Justice Pasha criticized the police for not arresting the accused. “We don’t know whether the rape happened or not. In a case like this, police should have arrested the person and made him undergo a potency test,” he said.

“We can see a understanding between the police and the accused. This man has not sought an anticipatory bail till date. Police must have told him that he wouldn’t be arrested,” Pasha added. Fr Benny Maramparambil said addressing the gathering that the shepherd himself is tormenting the sheep.

Meanwhile, the Kerala Latin Catholic Association, the laity organization, wrote to Conference of Catholic Bishops in India president Oswald Cardinal Gracias and apostolic nuncio Archbishop Giambattista Diquattro, urging them take urgent measures to prevent further damage to the Church in controversy.