One of the nuns who protested against rape-accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal, Lucy Kalappura, has submitted her appeal to the Catholic Church at Rome against an order dismissing her from the Fransiscan Clarist Congregation, reports The Times of India.

The congregation had told Kalappura that she had to leave its hostel within ten days and also had to give up her religious habit (distinctive religious garb worn by a particular order).

After Kalappura participated in a public protest against Mulakkal with other nuns, she faced extreme scrutiny by the authorities of her congregation. She was previously served by a number of show-cause notices, accusing her of having violated her vows buy purchasing a car, learning to drive, etc.

The order of dismissal was reportedly given with the assent of the Vatican itself. The letter communicating Kalappura’s dismissal to her had told her that she could challenge the said order by appealing to the Congregation of Oriental Churches in Rome.