Franco Mulakkal Rape Case: Franciscan Clarist Congregation Orders Sister Lucy To Vacate The Convent Within One Week

Franciscan Clarist Congregation Superior General in Ernakulam has ordered Sister Lucy Kalapura, the nun from the Syro Malabar Church who spearheaded the protests against rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal, to vacate the convent within one week, reports ANI.

The order came just a day after the Apostolica Signatura - the highest judicial authority in the Catholic Church rejected her appeal against her congregation's decision to strip her of sisterhood after her protest against rape-accused ex-Bishop Franco Mulakkal. With the move, Sister Lucy was dismissed from the Church with finality.

The Church has been accused of indulging in a smear campaign against Sister Lucy as well. In August 2019, Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC) expelled Sister Lucy on the charges of indiscipline and failing to give a satisfactory explanation’ for her lifestyle ‘in violation of rules.’. It later forced her to withdraw two cases she had filed against the convent and tender an unconditional apology if she wanted to continue staying in the convent.

Last year, she had alleged that she was being deprived of food by the Church as part of a plan to expel her from her convent.

Notably, Mulakkal, who belongs to the Jalandhar diocese, is facing a police investigation for allegedly raping a nun at a Kottayam convent 13 times. Following the victim’s complaint in June 2018, a number of other nuns had come forward and accused Mulakkal of sexual misconduct.

He was stripped of his pastoral duties at the Jalandhar Diocese in Punjab but has received unstinted support from Church leadership. Church authorities have, however, stood by the bishop and the nuns who came out to protest against him allegedly faced backlash from Church officials.