Kochi: In a decision that throws serious questions over Pope Francis’s commitment to eradicating sexual abuse by Catholic clergy, the Vatican has rejected Sister Lucy Kalapurakkal’s appeal against her expulsion from Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC).
Sister Lucy has been a fierce supporter in the fight for justice for the 44-year old nun who has accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal of raping and sodomising her 13 times from period of 2014 to 2016.
The Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC) expelled Sister Lucy for violating rules and participating in public protests demanding the arrest of rape accused bishop Franco Mulakkal in 2018.
In its letter seeking her expulsion on August 5, the congregation had termed as “grave violations” Sister Lucy possessing a driving licence, buying a car, taking a loan for it and publishing a book and spending money without the permission and knowledge of her superiors
“The Vatican has not heard my side of the story. They have not made any calls, sent any emails to me. I will continue to fight,” Sister Lucy told GoaChronicle.com.
The congregation, under the Roman Catholic Church, had said that Sister Lucy was issued “proper canonical warnings” on numerous occasions, but that she did not show the need for remorse.
Sister Lucy made the appeal against her expulsion on August 16 through the Apostolic Nuncio, the Vatican’s representative in India.
“I have nowhere to go. I have devoted my entire life to the congregation, where I joined at the age of 17. I am old now. So I have no option but to fight to get a favourable order,” she said.
