At least four nuns in Kerala’s Kuruvilangad convent staged a walkout from Sunday’s holy mass, protesting against anti-Muslim comments made by the priest during the service.
The nuns who had earlier campaigned against Bishop Franco Mulakkal in the nun rape case, accused Father Rajeev, a Christian priest of delivering hate speech against the Muslims after the priest had demanded boycott the business enterprises run by Muslims.
The nuns identified as sister Anupama Kelamangalathuveliyil, sister Alphy Pallasseril, sister Ancitta Urumbil and Josephine Villoonnickal walked out of the prayer service raising objections.
Father Rajeev is belonging to the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis of Penance.
“The priest during mass today (September 12) made a speech supporting the Pala Bishop, a speech that sowed the seeds for communalism. The priest in the speech said that things like vegetables should not be bought from Muslims and asked the congregation not to travel in the autorickshaws they drive. This is not the first time he has made such remarks. Earlier too, he had made similar remarks about Muslims. Today, we couldn’t help but react and two of us walked out of the mass,” sister Anupama told reporters.
Addressing the media, Anupama went on to say: “What Christ has taught us is to love everyone, to love one’s neighbours and not seed communalism. We reacted as we couldn’t see it when the priest was saying things contradictory to what Christ teaches us.”
The nuns also sought not to support the statements by Mar Joseph Kallarangatt on ‘love jihad’ and ‘narcotic jihad’.
