Members of human rights groups, womens’ organisations, and the Christian community came together to express solidarity with the rape survivor nun from Kerala, demanding swift action from the police and Roman Catholic Church.
The nun, in her complaint in the Kuravilangad police station in Kottayam on June 27, had said that she had been raped and sexually exploited 14 times by Bishop Franco Mulakkal since May 2014.
Dolphy D’souza, former vice president of the Indian National Catholic Association, said that this was a rare occasion where people across religions and communities have come together. “The accused has been playing the communal card by calling the allegations ‘a conspiracy against the church’. He should step down immediately from his post as Bishop of Jalandhar and Patron of the Congregation,” he said.
Activists unanimously condemned the character assassination of the nun and derogatory remarks by P.C. George, independent MLA from Kerala.
Noella D’souza, member of the Conference of Religious India, said, ‘As women, our religious views are respected at the local level, but it’s different when we disagree with decisions taken by ordained members. The Catholic Bishop’s Conference of India and Kerala Catholic Bishops Conference should support and treat the nun with dignity.”
Members expressed disappointment at the silence of the higher-ups at the Roman Catholic Church despite the nun having written to them. They demanded that the that the Church review the canon law and reform the system to address cases of clergy related sexual abuse according to the law of the land. They said that the top brass is failing to implement two landmark policies of the church, ‘Gender Policy of the Catholic Church of India 2010’ and the ‘CBCI Guidelines to Deal with Sexual Harassment at the Workplace, 2017.’
Noorjehan Safia Niyaz from Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan said, the clergymen’s belief that they are the custodians of religion and their decisions will not be questioned is changing. “We are not just members of a faith, we are citizens of this country and have to support her together,” she added.
Professor Brinelle D’souza from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences and Dr. Firoze Mithborewala from Muslims For Secular Democracy were also present at the gathering.
