Congregation of victim nun releases her picture, violates law

Says 'not responsible if the photo is published in a recognisable manner'

nun-case-josekutty A nun breaks down during a protest against Bishop Franco Mulakkal near the High Court in Kochi on Monday | Josekutty Panackal

The religious order of an abused Kerala nun has revealed her identity, ostensibly violating public norms on such sensitive issues.

The Missionaries of Jesus, who constituted an inquiry commission to probe into her allegations against Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal, has released the victim's photo to media along with their panel report.

The move by the church body comes even as stringent rules exist in the country against giving out any details, including photo or name, that could reveal the identity of a rape victim.

The report and photos were released to media houses by the order's public relations' officer. The photos were issued along with a disclaimer that Missionaries of Jesus is not responsible if the photo is published in a recognisable manner.

The report said that the nuns conspired against the Jalanadhar bishop and that they received help from four outsiders. It went on to say that they nuns were influenced by atheists. The nun had accused the clergyman of sexually assaulting her repeatedly between 2014 and 2016, a charge denied by him.

A group of nuns has been seeking action against the bishop. "We are not against the Church. We are not against the Church rules. We will accept the sacraments and we are not against it. We will continue our protest till we get justice," a nun told reporters at the venue of their sit-in in Kochi.

The Kerala Catholic Bishop Council (KCBC) had slammed the nuns' protest, saying that it has "crossed all limits". It also noted that both the complainant nun and accused Bishop were members of Catholic family and the church shared their 'wounds and agony'.

The abused nun had recently sought the urgent intervention of the Vatican for justice and demanded the Bishop's removal as the head of the Jalandhar diocese, questioning why the Church was 'closing its eyes to the truth' when she mustered courage to make public her sufferings.