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IDUKKI: A Catholic Churchowned magazine has openly criticized priests and Church authorities over the present condition of the convents in Kerala .

The latest issue of ‘Assisi’, a monthly magazine published from Bharananganam under the patronage of the Capuchins of St Joseph province of Kerala, reviewed the present situation of nuns and Catholic convents and described how the patriarchal system of priesthood is ruining the integrity of nuns and convents.

A column ‘Madangalku Sambavikunnatenthu’ (‘What happens to Convents?’) by Fr Jijo Kurian, a Capuchin priest based in Idukki, describes how priests demolished the convent system by assuming that nuns are their slaves.

He also warns that if the present situation continues, all convents in Kerala will be closed down within 20 years.

“The priestly class encroached into the internal life of convents and destroyed their integrity. The priests or diocese tried to take over the institutions run by the nuns. If a nun is out of favour with a priest, he would influence the heads and transfer the nun to another convent,” said the article.

“If there is an issue between a priest and a nun, the authorities will never favour the nun and instead punish her. Most of the priests consider nuns as their servants. They want the nuns to wash their clothes and cook their food and consider it a mandate for them,” said the article.

“The nuns and Catholic convents are facing serious threats from the priestly class. In the present Jalandhar rape issue, the Church authorities totally failed to act. Normally, the Vatican Nuncio or Church authorities should issue a statement describing the action taken against the accused bishop or the status of the inquiry. But they are trying to hide the issue,” said Fr Jijo.

“When a rape complaint is submitted, police should arrest the accused. But in the Jalandhar issue, the Church and police actions were lagging. It shows that the victim is being further victimized,” said the priest.

“The present condition of the convents has no relation to monasticism. The vocation is a rare process and is in need of more nuns or priests. If the same situation continues, within 20 years the convents here would all be closed down,” added Fr Jijo.

