Kerala Nun Rape Case: After church body shunts nuns for backing rape survivor, NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma says commission to take matter suo moto

The Chairperson of the National Commission for Women Rekha Sharma has said that she is concerned about the wellbeing of the nuns who were transferred from the Kuravilangad convent by the Missionaries of Jesus and added that the NCW will be taking the matter suo-moto.

Sharma made the statement after the news broke that four nuns who have been supporting the rape survivor nun were being transferred from the Kuravilangad convent to their previous ones.

Sharma criticised the church body for supporting the accused Bishop Francis Mullakal.

Kerala Nun Rape Case: Four nuns shunted from convent for backing victim against rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal. Read the letter inside

The Church had ordered the transfers in a letter dated January 10, 2019. The letter accuses the nuns of 'issuing malafide public statements' as well as accuses them of  'circulating baseless stories'. As per the letter, the nuns are trying to 'tarnish the images of MJ congregation by disobeying congregation instructions.

Earlier in the case, the Syro Malabar Catholic Church, which has been under the spotlight over the controversy swirling around Kerala nun rape case accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal, has published a statement in its monthly newsletter imploring devotees to boycott the media.

Father Kuriakose Kattuthara who was the key witness in the case died under mysterious circumstances on October 22, 2018. The brother of the deceased, Jose Kattuthara had made stunning allegations against rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal and his supporters.

Bishop Franco Mulakkal was granted a conditional bail on October 15, following which he received a hero's welcome in Jalandhar on the very next day. This was the Bishop's second attempt to get the bail.

READ: Kerala Nun Rape Case | "Is The Church Body's Authority Above The Constitution?" Asks Father Augustine On Four Nuns Being Shunted From Convent