In a country like India where Islamic terrorists like Ajmal Kasab had legal representation, Sister Lucy Kalapurra in Kerala became the first nun to argue her own case before the court as she could not find one advocate ready to represent her.
Kalapurra without a lawyer attended the virtual hearing at the Kerala High Court and argued her expulsion from the Franciscan Clarist Convent (FCC) in Karakkamala after she accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal of raping a nun
Challenging the congregation’s expulsion order, Kalapurra resolutely said: “I have served the congregation for more than 39 years and I have not done anything wrong. I have not led a life against the values of the Church. They cannot just throw me out. I have faith in the judicial system, so I decided to argue my case as party-in-person.”
“This is my first time appearing before the Court. I had applied for police protection one year ago. The hearing for the same took place recently, and I was granted protection by the Court. There are currently proceedings going on to evict me from the convent. I am challenging this because it is unfair. In that regard, I have filed a complaint before the civil court in 2019 and I have an injunction order in my favour,” a report by Live Law quoted Kalappura as saying.
Sister Lucy who has dedicated her life to Church and teaching was expelled from the convent after she levelled allegations of immorality against the Vicar and the Mother Superior of the Church.
Her request to allow her to continue residing at the convent was declined by the court and the court said police protection can only be granted if she vacates the convent. However, Sister Lucy also made it very clear that she had no place to go if she was forced to vacate the convent.
“I am a woman, a nun fighting for justice. It is important for my nunship that I continue to stay at this convent. I have been a nun for the past 39 years, do not throw me into the streets. I have nowhere else to go,” she argued.
If that was not enough, the court insisted that police protection may not be granted if she continued to reside at the convent, to which sister Kalapurra said the court may withdraw the protection if it deems fit, but may not ask her to vacate the convent.
Sister Lucy Kalapurra became a threat to the Catholic Church when she openly protested against Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who is accused of raping a nun.
A while ago, the supreme appellate authority of the Catholic Church at the Vatican had rejected her appeal against expulsion from her congregation on frivolous charges that include buying a car and publishing poems without permission.
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