Sister Anupa Mary; Nun commits suicide, father alleges sexual abuse

12 Aug 2008

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as controversy over the death of Sister Abhaya refuses to ebb, the death of a second nun in mysterious circumstances has pushed the Church in Kerala into a spot. The nun’s father on Tuesday alleged that she was sexually abused in the convent where she was living.

Body of 22-year-old nun, Anupa Mary, was found hanging from the ceiling of the St Mary’s convent in Kollam district on Monday.

A member of the Vimala Hrudaya Franciscan Congregation, Mary had joined the convent only three months back. Police said a suicide note recovered from the body mentioned her sufferings at the convent and her differences with the mother superior.

The twist in the tale came on Tuesday with her father Pappachan accusing a senior nun in the convent of sexually abusing Mary. He claimed that the nun had made several advances towards Mary and when they were turned down, she forced Mary to work more at the convent.

Pappachan, a cook in the Bishop’s house in Kollam, said when Mary had come home for leave some days back, she had told her mother that she could not take it any more. She had, however, not said anything to him as she feared being chucked out of the convent, he added.

Sister Anupa cremated
KOLLAM: The 22-year-old nun, Sister Anupa Mary, who committed suicide in her room at the Saint Mary's Convent here on Monday, was cremated Monday. It was alleged that the death was due to "sexual harassment" by a senior Sister of the nunnery.

While the suicide note left by Sister Anupa Mary said she was taking the extreme step as she could no longer bear the harassment, her father alleged that she was even sexually exploited by a senior Sister. (*)

Pappachan, Anupa's father who is a cook in the Bishops's house here, said his daughter had suffered great humiliation and harassment in the convent.
"Is it not barbaric that a senior nun used to sleep with Anupa in the night after putting her through all the rigorous chores during the day," Pappachan told reporters.

Police have registered a case.

Meanwhile, Kerala State Women's Commission sought a probe into the nun's death and demanded severe punishment for the guilty.
Commission Chairperson Justice D Sreedevi said women should have the freedom to live with dignity as enshrined in the Constitution.

She said the nun's death in the convent gave credence to the Commission's recent suggestion for certain rules on enrolment of girls as nuns, which had triggered protests from various Christian organisations.

Sister Anupa Mary, a teacher in a Lower Primary school run by the St Mary's Convent Holy Cross Order, hailed from a poor family living at nearby Kanjiramkode.

Anupa had joined St Mary's convent two months ago on taking the vow for nunhood. Earlier, she was attached to another convent in the city.

Nun's death: Commission seeks action against guilty
T'PURAM: The Kerala State Women's Commission yesterday sought a probe into the nun's death and wanted the guilty to be punished.

The 23-year-old nun allegedly committed suicide in her room at the Saint Mary's Convent in the Port area here Monday. The body of the nun, who belonged to the Holy Cross Order, was found hanging from the ceiling fan inside her room at the convent Monday evening, police said.

Commission Chairperson Justice D Sreedevi said that women should have the freedom to live with dignity as enshrined in the Constitution.
D Sreedevi said the nun's death in the convent gave credence to the Commission's recent suggestion for certain rules on girls enrolling as nuns, which had triggered protest from various Christian organisations and the Church.

The Commission had asked the government to take action against parents sending their daughters below 18 years of age to convents to become nuns.

The panel also wanted the age limit prescribed for the women who voluntarily decide to lead a religious life and action taken against the parents who forcefully send their daughters to convents.

The panel also wanted family property rights assured for the women being sent to convents as nuns and some mechanism put in place for rehabilitation of those who were returning from the convent.

(*) De sociale structuur van Kerala is ongebruikelijk vanwege het matriarchale systeem. (Wiki)