Tension at convention against Franco Mulakkal

A group of activists staged a demonstration supporting the rape accused former bishop of Jalandhar Franco Mulakkal at a convention organised in support of the rape victim nun at Kottayam, Kerala, on Saturday.

This comes even as the Catholic church was said to have kept in abeyance the transfer of four nuns in Kerala who protested against Franco.

Save out Sisters, the action council formed to support the nun, organised the convention demanding the decision of the Catholic church to transfer the four nuns should be withdrawn and Franco should be defrocked.

Sister Anupama, one the sisters who were transferred, said that at the convention that the Catholic church authorities had conveyed to them that they could continue at the convent in Kottayam until the case was over. She also said that they were determined to support the nun and would stay with her until she got justice.

The four nuns of the St Francis Mission Home at Kuravilangad in Kottayam, Anupama, Alphy, Josephine and Ancitta, were recently served transfer orders to other places.

It invited widespread protests and the nuns also alleged an attempt to sabotage the case against the bishop.

As the convention was progressing, a group shouted slogans in support of Franco.

The group, under the banner Global Christian Council and Catholic Federation of India, claimed that false charges were raised against Franco.

This led to tense moments with those protesting against Franco shouting counter slogans. A police party rushed to the spot and removed those raising pro-Franco slogans.

Several social activists who participated in the convention said that they would continue protests until the nun got justice.

A group of social activists and writers had also strongly condemned the transfer of the four nuns who came out in the open seeking action against Franco.

They had even sought Kerala chief minister's intervention. This mounting pressure seemed to have compelled the Catholic church to keep in abeyance the nuns' transfers.