In the latest attempt to silence voices speaking out against the Catholic Church, a group of protestors attacked and forced a Christmas book fair stall run by DC Books to shut in Kannur’s town square. DC Books, a publishing house in Kerala, recently published Sr Lucy Kalappura’s tell-all autobiography titled ‘Karthaavinte Naamathil’, in which she speaks at length about the abuse faced by nuns in the Catholic Church.
The attack happened at 12:15 am on Monday, at the Kannur Town Square where DC Books had set up a temporary stall with several books including Sr Lucy’s autobiography on display.
“There was a protest march by a farmers association in the vicinity and a group of people suddenly accosted the book stall and entered into an altercation with the salespersons. They were shouting slogans against Sr Lucy’s book and forced the staff to shut down the stall,” Ravi DeeCee, MD of DC books told TNM.
The issue was only resolved after the Kannur Town police intervened and arrested 11 of the 15 protestors who had barged in and forcibly shut down the stall.
“The accused persons have been booked under sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 447 (criminal trespass), 294 B (sings, recites or utters any obscene song ballad and words in a public place), 506 (criminal intimidation) 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) read with 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) of the IPC. We recorded the arrest of 11 of the accused and released them with a station bail later,” an officer from the Kannur Town PS confirmed to TNM.
According to the MD of DC Books, the protesting group were members of the Kerala Catholic Youth Movement in Kannur. However, Kannur Town police have not confirmed the organisation that the protestors represented.
“It looks like a few people who participated in the farmers protests broke off from the march, barged into the stall and intimidated the staff,” the officer added.
The stall was later reopened by DC Books. ‘Karthaavinte Naamathil’ reveals several instances in which nuns are sexually exploited or assaulted in churches and seminaries. While some nuns are consenting, others silently suffer through it, Sister Lucy's book states. The revelations in Sister Lucy’s book are similar to those exposed by Sister Jesmi, in her book, Amen: The Autobiography of a Nun published in 2009.
Sr Lucy’s book also speaks of exploitation faced by junior nuns at the hands of senior nuns.
Despite facing isolation from the church, Sr Lucy Kalappura has been a vocal supporter of the survivor nun in the rape case against Bishop Franco Mulakkal and has continued her fight against the system.
Earlier this month, a petition in the Kerala High Court by a nun from the Sisters of Mary Immaculate congregation demanded a ban on the publication and sale of Sr Lucy’s book. In her petition, the nun argued that the criticism in the book written by Sr Lucy would bring great insult to the priests and nuns of the church. The petition which named Sister Lucy Kalappura, publisher DC Books, Kerala DGP and Chief Secretary as the respondents in the case, was dismissed by the Kerala High Court.
DC Books released the autobiography on December 10.
“We have been marketing the book everywhere. The book stall which was attacked also advertised the book which was on display and for sale at the fair,” Ravi DeeCee added.