Kerala Nun Rape Case: Protests Enter Fourth Day, Nun Seeks Justice From Vatican
Indian Catholic nuns have started openly protesting in the streets of Kerala against a bishop accused of raping the nun.
Indian Catholic nuns have been protesting on the streets of Kerala against a bishop accused of raping a nun. The protest entered its fourth day on Tuesday. The nuns are demanding action against the bishop, who is in Jalandhar and is yet to be arrested.
The joint Christian Council called for the protest at High Court Junction bus station in Kerala. The nuns claimed that they are not getting any assistance from church authorities, police and the government. They have claimed that the probe is being delayed as the bishop belongs to a higher authority. Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal Refutes Rape Charge, Says Kerala Nun Being 'Used by Anti-Church Forces'
The Missionaries of Jesus on Monday, September 10, called raped accused Franco Mulakkal an "innocent soul" and even claimed that the nuns were being controlled by external forces. Kerala Nun Rape Case: Jalandhar Bishop 'Innocent Soul', Says Missionaries of Jesus
The nun who traded rape charges on the Bishop has appealed to the Vatican seeking justice. In a seven-page letter to the Apostolic Nunciature- The representative of the holy see in India- she has mentioned the ordeal she went through the hands of the bishop and the trauma and travails she is facing ever since she reported the abuse.
Alleging the church authorities of inaction, the nun wrote, "I feel this kind of silence on the part of the Church authorities and protection of those who commit the crime may create a situation where the Church loses its credibility before society."
She added, "It will have a very adverse effect on women in the Indian Church that they have no other option than to react in a manner that safeguards their dignity as human persons even at the cost of losing their Catholic faith."
What is Nun Rape Case?
As per the initial investigation, Catholic Bishop of Jalandhar Franco Mulakkal used his position and allegedly repeatedly raped a nun from Kerala. Franco Mulakkal has been accused of raping and having unnatural sex with a nun from Kottayam, between 2014 and 2016. The nun lodged the complaint against the bishop of Jalandhar, Franco Mullackal on 27 July. While narrating ordeal to district Police chief, the nun said that she was raped around thirteen times over a span of two years.
Member of the Legislative Assembly PC George fired a controversy last week after he termed the rape victim nun a "prostitute". "No one has a doubt that the nun is a prostitute. 12 times she enjoyed it and the 13th time it is rape? Why didn't she complain the first time?" George, an independent MLA of the Poonjar constituency in the Kottayam district, had said.
PC George's statement was condemned by the National Commission of Women and Kerala Mahila Federation. Bollywood celebrity Swara Bhaskar also slammed PC George for his objectionable remark. Swara Bhaskar Gives a Befitting Reply to Director Vivek Agnihotri Who Tries to Slut Shame Her on Twitter – Read Tweets
“Absolutely shameful and disgusting!!!! Scum present across political spectrums and religious divides in India. Literally nauseating!” the actress tweeted replying to George’s statement.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 11, 2018 05:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).