‘Justice for Sister Lucy’, a social media-driven campaign in solidarity with embattled Sister Lucy Kalappura of the Catholic religious order Franciscan Clarist Congregation, will organise a major gathering at Vanchi Square near High Court Junction on Saturday.
Sr. Lucy was dismissed from the congregation in May this year after she enlisted support for a protest led by nuns demanding the arrest of Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar on charges of rape of a Catholic nun.
‘Justice for Sr. Lucy’ had its genesis in a Facebook post made by Biju John, now its convener, inviting people interested in fighting alongside the sister to share their WhatsApp numbers for kick-starting a social media campaign.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Since then we have formed four WhatsApp groups accounting for nearly 1,000 supporters from across the world. More people are coming in, warranting another couple of groups,” said Mr. John.
While the immediate goal of the campaign remains ensuring justice to Sr. Lucy in keeping with the rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution, it has the larger goal of enlisting support for nuns facing similar suppression in convents.
Jose Varghese, joint convener of the campaign, said the day-long event being organised on Saturday was part of celebrating the fight and resistance against the injustice meted out to Sr. Lucy and had the support of organisations working towards the reformation of religions.
ADVERTISEMENT
The event at Vanchi Square will begin at 8.30 a.m. and will last till 8 p.m.