Ever since Sister Lucy Kalapura took part along with the other six nuns to protest against the Jalandhar diocese bishop Franco Mulakkal, who is accused of raping one of them multiple times, the Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC) has been extremely critical of her and has often tried to rein in her supposed ‘violations’. The FCC today has issued another canonical warning letter to her to alter her attitude and mind, failing which she will be dismissed from the Congregation.
Franciscan Clarist Congregation Superior General issues 2nd canonical warning letter to Sister Lucy Kalapura; states ‘… invite you to change your mind&attitude sincerely…If you don’t respond positively I will be constrained to proceed with your dismissal from Congregation”.
— ANI (@ANI) February 16, 2019
The nun, known for possessing nonconformist tendencies, has been threatened multiple times by the FCC for her perceived transgressions. Earlier, the Catholic Church had sent a warning to Sister Lucy Kalapura for ‘attending channel discussions’, writing articles in ‘non-Christian newspapers’ and ‘making false accusations’ against the Catholic leadership. According to FCC, nun Lucy Kalapura has committed various offences such as publishing a book of poems without the church’s permission, getting a driver’s license and buying a car, uploading a Facebook post with her choice of attire, along with participating in TV debates and making remarks critical of the church.
Sister Lucy was summoned for her infractions to FCC’s headquarters in Aluva, 260 km away from Mananthavady in Wayanad. Asserting that she hadn’t done anything wrong, she remarked that she didn’t go there. She also alleged that she will participate in the protest again, should there be a protest against Franco Bishop.
Franco Mulakkal, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar, is accused of raping a 44- year-old nun at a guest house in Kuravilangad in May 2014 and subsequent sexual exploitations afterwards. The nun had registered a complaint in June 2018 and has also claimed that despite her complaints, the church took no action on the bishop. The congregation had also stood by the rape accused and referred to him as an “innocent soul”.
Franco Bishop was arrested after the investigating team found evidence against him but was subsequently released on a conditional bail asking him to appear before the investigation team once every two weeks and also to surrender his passport.
