Sister Lucy Barred From Church Activities For Expressing Solidarity With Rape Victim

The Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala on Sunday initiated punitive action against Sister Lucy Kalappura, one of the nuns who participated in the protests outside the Kochi High Court demanding the arrest of rape-accused Roman Catholic Bishop of Jalandhar Franco Mulakka. Sister Lucy has been barred from church activities and relieved of her duties.

Sister Lucy will be banned from teaching the Bible, attending worship service and other activities of the parish, including offering holy communion. Sister Lucy has been debarred with immediate effect from her duties of teaching students in the catechism classes at her parish church.

Sister Lucy belongs to the Franciscan Clarist Congregation under the Karakkamala church of the Syro Malabar diocese in Wayanad district.

Speaking to media persons at Mananthavady on Sunday, Sister Lucy said that while she is yet to receive any written order on this, but Mother Superior of the Convent informed the restrictions orally as per the direction of the priest of the Karakkamala church.

“I am not afraid of the action of the church, instead have accepted it happily on behalf of God,” The Hindu quoted Sister Lucy.

Sister Lucy said she joined the protest in solidarity with her fellow nuns, and that she had not spoken against the Church.

In a Facebook post on September 21, Sister Lucy condemned the hate messages directed at her by a section of Christian community for expressing solidarity with the rape complainant.