Kochi: A Kerala nun, who fought seeking justice for her fellow sister allegedly raped by Bishop Franco Mulakkal, had to face the ire of her own parishioners on Thursday.
She and other protesting nuns were turned away from the funeral of Fr Kuriakose Kattuthara, who had deposed against the bishop. The parishioners alleged that the nuns were 'anti-diocese' elements out to dismantle Christian beliefs.
Sister Anupama opened up to Onmanorama about the bitter experiences she and her peers faced in her home parish.
She said the social isolation and the false propaganda that Mulakkal runs at grass-roots level among believers cannot kill the spirit of the protesting nuns.
Sister Anupama and her colleagues also anticipate more attacks, both mental and physical, from the bishop's supporters.
Insulted at hometown
Sister Anupama hails from the same parish of Fr Kuriakose Kattuthara, one of the key witnesses in the rape case against Mulakkal. Fr Kuriakose was found dead in a room at St Paul's Convent School, Dasuya, in Punjab on Monday.
The mortal remains of Fr Kuriakose were laid to rest in the cemetery of St Mary's Foraine church, Pallippuram. Sister Anupama said the parishioners who blocked them were her own neighbours and childhood friends.
"I was deeply pained by the insult I faced from my home parish. I understand how deep-rooted is the support the bishop enjoys among the believers. Apart from the church trustee, Tomy, who is comparatively a newcomer, all others were familiar faces,” she said.
Sister Anupama, who is not an emotional person, said the incident hurt her a lot.
“I literally broke into tears in front of media. I'm yet to recover from the shock," Sister Anupama said.
Social isolation not a fair weapon
Sister Anupama said social isolation and false propaganda cannot weaken the spirit of the protesting nuns. “Bishop Franco may be running false propaganda. He might be campaigning against the voices raised against him. His supporters might isolate us from their social circles, but nothing can kill our spirit," a determined Anupama stated.
Reality of Pallippuram Church conflict
Mediapersons were waiting outside the parish hall where the funeral service of Fr Kuriakose was held. Then the cameras zoomed into a corner where Sister Anupama and her colleagues were blocked by a group of parishioners.
Sister Anupama said she tried her level best not to get into media glare to avoid dramatic scenes on the church premises.
"We did enter the parish hall and get a final sight of our beloved Fr Kuriakose's face. Later we stepped outside to visit the monastery and meet some of our acquaintances. I literally hid behind the doors to go unnoticed because I didn't want any drama at Fr Kuriakose's funeral. The poor father died leaving behind controversies. It was unjust to make his final moments a surcharged one," she said.
When Sister Anupama and her colleagues were proceeding to a corner of the St Mary's Church were the ladies washrooms were situated, mediapersons started engaging them in a conversation about the bishop's case.
"We knew the mediapersons very well. They are like our family now. They didn't switch on their camera inside the parish hall. But a group of parishioners led by church trustee Tomy shouted that we weren't allowed to speak to the media on the church premises,” she said.
The nuns were dubbed 'anti-diocese' elements who aimed to dismantle their beliefs, she said. The parishioners also entered into a spat with mediapersons.
However, vicar general Fr Jose Uzhalakkattil supported the nuns and pacified the protesters. He reminded the parishioners that Sister Anupama is also a parishioner of Pallippuram. She had all the right to interact with people of her choice inside the church campus, he told the parishioners.
More attacks anticipated
The protesting nuns anticipate more such attacks. "We do expect physical and mental attacks and torture from Bishop Franco and his supporters. Now we have to be prepared to face them anytime," they said.
Fr Kuriakose considered Sister Anupama and her colleagues like his children. "For him, we were like his own children. He offered us a level of support in our hardest times, that only a father could offer his children," Anupama said.