The Missionaries of Jesus, Jalandhar, in a new statement to the media has resorted to character assassination of the 44-year-old Kerala nun who has accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal of rape. The congregation that the nun belongs to has said that they will implead into the case on behalf of Bishop Franco.
In a statement, (whose specific details TNM will not put out due to its crass nature), the congregation has alleged that the nun had affairs with two men. According to them, the nun raised 'malicious allegations' against the 'innocent' bishop when he was planning to reprimand her.
The press release signed by Sister Amala, the Public Relations Officer of the congregation claimed that a woman had complained against the nun, which is how the entire saga began.
"When it was clear that strict action will be taken against her because her lifestyle did not match the life a nun, she submitted a request to leave sisterhood, only to withdraw the request four days later. It is necessary to find out who all visited the Kuravilangad convent during these four days," the statement said.
Incidentally, in June 2018, it was the same PR office that filed a third police complaint against the survivor nun, and family members of the five sisters supporting her and another man alleging that they had threatened to murder Bishop Franco.
"For us sisters, losing our chastity is equivalent to death. The nun who claims that the Bishop had raped her was seen laughing along with the Bishop in a function, the very next day. It is unbelievable that someone could go to another person’s room without anyone noticing as it is a convent and it houses a number of nuns. Also, the congregation's rules do not allow nuns from visiting anyone alone in the convent. If they have to visit someone, they have to ensure someone accompanies them," claimed the statement.
Missionaries of Jesus has also said they suspected that one of the police officers in the investigation team was going out of his way to help the nun and her group.
"There were instances when a conversation that took place in a closed room between a police officer and another person had reached the media and the nuns who are protesting. This is deeply saddening and the congregation has decided to pass on all these details to the concerned officials," it said.
Earlier in the day, the nun had released a 7-page letter she had written to the Papal Ambassador asking for help.
Read full details here.