A Nun on the run from sexual predators

Aluva: A nun, who faces expulsion from the congregation after having spurned the sexual advances of a , now priest, faces threat to her life as well. The nun now lives under the dread that the fate which befell Sister Abhaya years ago might befall her as well. Having sought asylum in Janaseva Shishubhavan, the nun now awaits the arrival of her family members after which she plans to register a case with senior police officials.

Sources have stated that the nun was in service for 13 years in a convent in Italy. She had served in another congregation for 12 years before her rendering her service in Italy. There she drew flak from the senior clergy for having stood witness to the sexual debauchery indulged in by a priest. She was faced with a series of threats which forced her to leave for St. Agathe, where she donned the clerical robes after having undergone a 3 year formation course.  With the exception of 3 nuns, the Italian convent has a majority of Malayalis.

The trauma undergone by the victim was when she was serving her term in Panchar, in a convent in Madhya Pradesh. According to reports, “the priest, a ‘meditation leader’ barged into her room and tried to molest her, when she spurned his advances and escaped from his clutches.” Sources state that she “did her best to continue there, trying to cast aside the incident as a bad dream.”

However, the priest managed to convince the Mother Superior of his innocence, resulting in the victim’s transfer to Italy. There she served a two year term as teacher.

However, in spite of these, the victim feels that anyone who raises voice against the wrong doings in the congregation pose a risk to their own lives. In her case, the victim has stated that “physical attack was imminent when she stepped forward to voice her grievance.”

After having endured the agony for around 40 days, “the victim decided to make a video copy of her grievances, which she handed over to a trusted colleague. The victim is then said to have fled to the monastery in Aluva. However, she was denied entry there and was thrown out from the place, without being given a specific reason for the act. The police too are said to have washed their hands off the case even after a complaint was filed in Aluva police station,” said sources.

It has also been reported that police refused to register a case against the monastery and preferred giving her personal security. Later with the aid of general public, she was provided temporary shelter in Aluva Janaseva Shishubhavan.”

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