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Kerala’s FCC nun dismisses latest notice as ‘blackmailing tactics’, awaits word from the Vatican

A Kerala nun Lucy Kalapura is fighting her convent claiming she is being hounded for joining protests calling for the arrest of former Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mullakkal who is facing rape charges. The convent authorities have denied the allegations.

Updated on: Aug 24, 2019, 18:46:29 IST
Hindustan Times, Thiruvananthapuram | By
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The Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC) in Kerala on Saturday issued a fresh notice to expelled nun Lucy Kalapura (51), asking her to withdraw cases she filed against the convent and tender an unconditional apology if she wanted to continue at the convent.

The defrocked nun has filed two cases against the convent , one for ‘locking her up’ and another for ‘defaming’ her. (HT photo)
The defrocked nun has filed two cases against the convent , one for ‘locking her up’ and another for ‘defaming’ her. (HT photo)

In the letter, FCC reiterated that Lucy was suspended, not for attending agitation to arrest the former bishop of Jalandhar Franco Mullakkal, but on pure “disciplinary grounds.” It also rejected her claim that she was locked up in the convent and directed her to follow cannon laws and rules of the convent in letter and spirit. The letter said her “behaviour” was also affecting other members of the convent.

But the nun is not bowing down, she said she will not tender apology and termed the latest notice as “blackmailing tactics.” She said she had filed an appeal before the supreme head of the Catholic church Pope Francis and will continue at the convent till she gets a reply from the Vatican.

But later, it came to light that the two men were journalists seeking information on the alleged locking-up incident and let in through the back-door since the front door of the convent was locked by authorities. “It was a deliberate attempt to portray me in bad light. It is nothing but character assassination,” the nun had said in her police complaint.

“There are many attempts to smoke me out of the convent,” the nun had alleged and said she was “expecting more such troubles”.

The FCC of the Catholic Church had expelled the nun last week citing “serious indiscipline” but the latter said she was victimized for supporting the agitation to arrest the deposed bishop of Jalandhar Franco Mullakkal who is facing rape charges.

A special investigation team arrested Mullakal last September after several rounds of questioning.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ramesh Babu

Ramesh Babu is HT’s bureau chief in Kerala, with about three decades of experience in journalism.

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