Daijiworld Media Newtork

Jalandhar, Feb 10: The Jalandhar diocese of the Catholic Church released a communication on Sunday, February 10 confirming the decision to transfer four nuns for protesting against Bishop Franco Mulakkal for allegedly raping their colleague is not revoked.

On Saturday, the Jalandhar diocese administrator bishop Agnelo had written a letter which read, “I am giving a directive to the General that she will not issue any letters to the five of you without my explicit permission... I like to assure the five of you that there will be no move from the Diocese of Jalandhar to oust you from the convent as long as you are needed for the court case.”

However, on Sunday a communique which was issued by the Public Relations Officer of Jalandhar Diocese Fr Peter, overruled the decision to revoke the transfer.

The new letter stated, "Even though the Congregation of Missionaries of Jesus is of diocesan right, the internal running of the Congregation is left to the General and her Council. The Bishop of Jalandhar does not normally interfere unless the overall interests of the Church demands such interference. The letter added that the order "to return to their rightful communities is not cancelled but stands".

The nuns in Kerala had received their transfer orders in March 2018 by the Missionaries of Jesus Congregation. The nuns, who are currently staying with the victim nun in a convent at Kottayam, were asked to return. Even though reminders were sent, the nuns refused to comply.

Meanwhile the communiqué also stated that the action of the Mother General, who had issued the order, is not as a transfer order but an "invitation to return to their rightful communities". The letter stressed that Jalandhar diocese intends to see justice done in the courts.

Now that the transfer order is not revoked, the nuns have refused to comply and say they will continue to stay at the convent with the victim, keeping with Bishop Agnelo's letter.