Bishop case: Nun asked to appear before superior

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 22

After four nuns of Missionaries of Jesus (MJ) who had protested against rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal were recently issued transfer orders, the fifth nun has now been asked to appear before Superior General Regina Kadamthottu at Jalandhar on January 26.

In an apparent attempt to shatter the strength of the five nuns, a more stringent order has been issued against Sister Neena Rose Edathil, who, too, has been putting up with the victim at Kuravilangad, Kerala. She has been asked by Sister Regina to present her at the MJ headquarters in Aradhana Bhavan, Jalandhar Cantonment, and “put her defence for abdicating the basic tenets of religious life and resorting to activities which amount to sheer violation of their congregational rules”.

While fingers are being pointed at Bishop Franco Mulakkal for influencing Sister Regina to get harsh orders passed against the nuns, Diocese spokesperson Father Peter Kuvampuram says, “The Diocese has nothing to do with Sister Regina’s orders. She is independently passing all such orders. The congregation works on its own. It is only for some very serious issues that they take the advice of the Bishop.”

Last week, there had been report that nuns Sisters Alphy, Anupama, Josephine and Ancitta had been given transfer orders issued between March and May 2018 but they chose to stay with the victim and did not leave the convent in Kuravialangad.

Sister Regina could not be contacted for comment.