Police in Kerala state today hospitalized a nun who is attempting a “fast-unto-death” to fight alleged mistreatment in her convent.Police and some Catholics escorted 53-year-old Sister Teena Jose to hospital on the ninth day of her fast at her Congregation of Mother Carmel convent in Kochi.
Sister Jose says the convent once illegally expelled her but a court order forced it to take her back.
However, convent authorities do not treat her as part of the convent, she alleged.
She told ucanews.com over the phone that she is “on a hunger strike against the cruelty of the convent authorities.”
Police arrived at the convent this morning after some 50 lay Catholics from the Joint Christian Council protested in front of the convent’s premises demanding justice for the nun.
Police also called doctors to examine the nun. Doctors said her blood pressure was high and that she needed hospitalization.
Her fast has been on local news channels since Sunday.
The nun first hit the national headlines in 2006 when she successfully fought the Bar Council of India’s objections to nuns and priests enrolling as advocates.
She then began practicing in Kerala’s High Court.
She was later expelled from her convent after a road accident in June 2009.
The convent authorities then issued a press release saying Sister Jose had applied to quit the convent and her application was granted.
Sister Jose challenged this in court and won.
She claims the convent now isolates and neglects her.
“It’s a shame for the Church and the congregation that a nun has to resort to a hunger strike for justice,” said Father George Pulikuthiyil, a priest and a lawyer.
Lay Catholics will continue to rally behind the nun and continue their protest, said Joint Christian Council general secretary Felix J. Pullooden.
SIC: CTH/INDIA