"The letter of resignation I have written after prayerful reflection and consultation with my superiors was accepted by our dear Pope Francis today," Mulakkal announced in a social media message on June 1.

The Vatican removed Mulakkal from the administrative responsibilities of the diocese based in northern Punjab state just before police arrested him in 2018 on charges of raping a nun.

The nun, a member of the Missionaries of Jesus congregation under the patronage of the bishop, accused him of raping her more than 13 times between 2014 and 2016 inside her convent in Kerala's Kottayam district.

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"There is no merit" in the case, said Chief Justice Sharad Aravind Bobde on Aug. 5 while dismissing the discharge plea of Bishop Mulakkal of Jalandhar Diocese.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer and former attorney general Mukul Rohatgi appeared for the bishop, but the chief justice dismissed the case without waiting for any detailed hearing, lawyers who witnessed the online proceedings said.

The proceedings in the Supreme Court were moved online after the Covid-19 pandemic began to spread in national capital New Delhi in March. Read more

Franciscan Clarist nun, Lucy Kalappura (54), says she joined a group of Missionaries of Jesus last September to protest Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar's alleged rape of their former superior general.

The bishop is now on bail and the case against him is being heard in court.

Kaalappura's letter of expulsion claims the congregation had pointed out her continuous violation of the vows of poverty and obedience to her since 2015.

"However, [Kalappura] was not willing to make the corrections," a letter from Sister Jyoti Maria, head of the congregation's Mananthavady province, says.

Among her alleged failings, Kalappura committed dress code violations, bought a car, disobeyed authorities, became involved in large monetary transactions by publishing a book and bringing out a music CD, did not submit her salary to the convent and made media appearances.

Kalappura maintains that her possessions - especially the car - shouldn't be seen as a violation of her vow of poverty but as a means to better fulfill her responsibilities.

"I have been driving the car only for apostolic work, to fulfill my duties in a better way.

"In the one year since I bought the car, which was the cheapest available in the market, I have been able to visit hundreds of poor patients and people in their houses, support them, and pray for them.

"When I go to school, I also take underprivileged children in my car and drop them off. I have not done anything wrong. It's the perception of others, of the other nuns, that is a problem," she added.

Kalappura said she was tired of hearing the words obedience and disobedience.

"Obedience is not just about shutting one's eyes and saying ‘yes'. I'm so tired of explaining that I simply don't want to talk about these allegations against me regarding the car, theImage: books I published, the music CD I created.

"How is that wrong if I'm using it for God's work, which is my duty as a nun? The CD has worship songs that I wrote by myself."

Kalappura was allowed 10 days to appeal Rome.She has appealed her dismissal to the Pontifical Congregation for the Oriental Churches.

Kalappura's congregation has asked her 84-year old mother to take her back.

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• Matters India
• Matters India
• Matters India
• Image: Deccan Herald