The sister of the nun who has accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakkal of raping her repeatedly joined the hunger strike and public protest in Kochi on Monday demanding the bishop’s arrest.
She came to the venue of the protest at Kerala High Court Junction at 11 a. m. She was garlanded before she briefly addressed the audience and joined the hunger strike on the podium. Later in the afternoon, writer and social activist P. Geetha joined the hunger strike in support of the demand.
The sister of the nun said she expected the courts of law to deliver justice even though the government appeared to have failed them.
Sister Jesme, writer and a former Catholic nun who left her religious order, was among the speakers on Monday, the 10th day of the public protest being spearheaded by the Save Our Sisters Action Council. The action council comprises various Church reform-minded lay and religious organisations.
Sister Jesme said the nuns who launched the public protest had made history. She compared it to the “me too” campaign against abuses and they were making history now. She appealed to them not to go back but to fight for justice with courage and grace.
She said she was called a mad woman, she was described as a “fallen angel” and “Judas” for her campaign against the injustices within the Church. She said evil would have only temporary victory and ultimately the good and just would win.
Meanwhile, the public protest by the nuns demanding the bishop’s arrest has gone from strength to strength with the organisers claiming that around a hundred organisations had come out in support and solidarity with them. Students from the Government Law College were among those who spoke at the venue, offering legal support.
Members of the Sree Narayana Sahodara Dharmavedhi too marched in support of the protesters. P.V. Shaji from Kottappuram expressed solidarity with the protesters by running backward from Menaka Junction to the venue of the protest action on Monday.