| Font Size |
In her memoirs in Malayalam titled ‘Amen’ (so be it), 'Sister' Jesme writes of alleged sexual abuse, corruption and power struggles in the ‘dark confines’ of convents where she had lived for about 30 years.
The book has come out at a time when the influential Catholic church in Kerala is facing a difficult time following the arrest of two nuns in the infamous Sister Abhaya case.
The church is yet to officially respond to the tell-all reminiscences of the 52-year-old Jesme, holding they would react to it after studying the book.
An English professor and the Principal of a church-run college in Thrissur, Jesme quit the convent in 2008 after spending years of ‘sufferings and struggles’.
Jesme, who continues her religious life or 'sanayas' even after leaving the convent, said the aim of the book was not to just sell something juicy but to ‘open a little window to allow some light to enter into silent sufferings of hundreds of women.’
"I wanted an outlet for my experiences of my trauma. Society has every right to know what is happening to Sisters," Jesme said dismissing suggestions she has sensationalised issues to get cheap publicity.
"When a woman is molested only one in thousand will speak out. Then think of the nuns, they will not speak out the truth," Jesme, now staying in Kozhikode, said.
Jesme reminisces that she had had hints of things turning out against her right from the day she joined a convent as an aspirant for nunhood while continuing her college studies.
Lesbian relations are quite common in many convents where nuns often get bonded as pairs for emotional and physical relief, she alleges in her book.
Jesme says she had her first rude shock as a novice when a couple of fellow sisters told her that a priest assigned to preside over the retreat asked them to kiss him.
Startled by what she had heard, she asked the priest if it was proper to have done such a thing. She not only failed to get a convincing reply but was asked to ‘submit to the discipline expected of a nun’.
Summing up her long struggles, Jesme writes: "I renounced the position and the financial security as the principal of the church-run college to submit to God's will and win divine freedom and peace. I am opening up my heart to my friends who understand me when confronted with harsh realities of life".
Jesme's friend and lawyer R K Asha, who helped her in writing the book, said the work was not meant to tarnish the church's image as alleged by certain quarters.
"She had shown courage to expose the unholy things happening in convents and whatever she had written are truths," Asha said.
"We do not want to react to it without properly studying the book. We will come out with our response in a day or two," Vicar General of Thrissur Diocese, Fr Rafael Thattil, said when the church's views on the book were sought.
The literary and political circles too have declined to react as most writers are shying away from making any comment when contacted.
The book, published by DC books, has already had its second impression within a fortnight of its release.
Discuss this story on expressindia forums
|
|
Given the disclosures of the Nun, it is clear that Rape and Molestation are the order in the convents and the Nuns are the victims. The Nuns cannot approach any authorities, be it their own organizations, the govt leave alone the Police. It is now more clear that the Nuns who was subjected to public rape in Orissa, had that instances several times from her priests; which should be inquired into and the culprits be booked.
Such a serious issue of human rights violation received no attention from the state govt where it happened nor the central govt or the concerned ministries, departments or organizations. Thanks the fast approaching general elections. The quick responding Brinda Karrat, the newly surfaced "protector of all depressed", "Her Majejsty", the Minister Renuka Chowdhry are all silent. Thanks the strong vote bank of the Christians in Kerala. It is not that image of any religion should be tarnished; but this is a blatant violation of humans; just because they are not able to react. Once them become Nun, they are deprived of all the rights from their respective homes and society and made to abide with all the "Rules" of the convent or organizations under the Church. Which God has defined such policies? What is the representatives of Vatican in Delhi doing? If a brick of a Church is fell down in India, they will inform Vatican as attack on Church. Are they sleeping??
This is a game by Hindutvadis to defame Church and its institutions.
She was very much liked by the students of the St Mary's college. She is very bold enough to have come forward with this book. It was an open secret among many of us students who have studied in the so called convents that there are illicit relationship between some of the sisters and the priests.
There was no doubt that behind the walls of a convent something more than just prayers were happening. The guts of the nun in revealing what does take place is an eye opener to the various congregation heads to peep into reality. Thee are several priests, brothers, nuns who have come out and tied marriage bonds. So the Church has to look at whether it would be better off to allow married persons to enter into Matrimony. Though there would be difficulties and even corrupt involvment, ways and means have to be found to overtake the desire of a priest / nun to also live a married life.
Sister jesmie deserve all out support for the courage and conviction to open the pandora box of secrecy behind the iron curton of Catholic churches and institutions.The organized churches and its self syled protectors are suppressing the truth and the immoral activites going on in convents and institutions under the tutelage of Priests and Bishops.Nuns and junior students are sexually harassed by the Priests and superiors and the Sister abaya case and the present revelation by sister jesmie are only tips of the iceburg.Since the entire media are now controlled by the christian missionaries these attrocities and dirty activities will never come to public nor any of the so called pseudo secularist will take up these issues as human right violation due to vote bank politics and influence at higher level.Where is Renuka Chowdhry or her tribe who make mountain outof mole hill out of the Manglore incidents or the Communists who make Orissa and malegaon to target and malign the Hindus.
Why there is so much fuss about this book written by Nun Jesme which tells only old ancient facts and realities about Catholic Curch's mal-practices.Homosexulity,Lesbian relations,child abuse in convents,black-mailing,supperession,human exploitation and many other crimes are well defined by many authors before.Even priests have opned these secrets and some films are also made.If someone sees the factual documentries about the massacres in American continent by Spainish,Portugese,English and French one can't believe how mercilessly cruel and sinful this religion was and is.Crusades under the banner of cross had been carried out in the name of this religion.How can one call it a religion?Crusades were more atrocious than Jihad and both are still active but the trends and tricks are different.Its good that she speaks out what she has experienced but her voice will not reach the innocent illitrates who are real victims of pathetic fallacy.TVshowwill inform the truth of Christianity.
The church will not respond as they dont have anything to say . This has been happening for the past so many years . This sister nun atleast had the courage to expose the men and women in robes in the christian community hats off to her the government should guarantee the safety of this nun.
IT'S HIGH TIME NOW FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TO ALLOW THE MARRIAGE OF THE PRIESTS LIKE OTHER RELIGION AND STOP MAKING NUNS. OTHERWISE SLOWLY THIS RELIGION WILL DIE A SLOW DEATH.
Congratulations to Sister Jesme for showing the courage to come out in the open and publish this book. Now compare this with the article written in The Statesman in Kolkata on Oppressive Religions and the way Muslims, West Bengal Govt. and our Liberal and Secular media reacted to it. We follow completely different yard sticks when issues are related to different religions. This defeats the purpose of secularism and a free media.
Do we need anymore proof that Money and Sex is thrown to tribal youth to convert them. this is the reason why young Nuns are send to forest knowing very well that they are prone to get raped. Is this the service they are doing in tribal areas?
Orissa Nun case should be handed over to CBI after this illicit sex racket going on inside the seminaries. This is the reason why these Malayalee Nuns are going to do service to so called Adivasis in the jungle knowing very well that they will have to go through all this . This also proves the claim that Money and sex is used to convert youngsters from the tribal areas by the Evangelists.
This is the normal reaction to any scandal. All the other sects with pots as black as the current kettle will have a field day, the organization under fire will call out the spin doctors, and the issue will die down without having even a salutory effect on the truths brought out. It almost seems that all these people are acting in concert to stifle serious discussion.. The targeted community does the turtle act and silences internal critics by pointing at the external critics. This is not the time for argument, they say, those people are attacking us. The time for argument never comes. This is not the first time exposure of a human rights issue has become an excuse for the most reactionary measures by the community. Criticism by the other communities is used as an excuse for cover-ups and evasive action. And the learned friends in the other communities are only too happy to oblige. After all, all the priests are in the same business - that of exploiting us fools
What is the Truth?
Sister Jesme,Thank you very much for enlightening all of us. Now we know what actually happens behind the "holy" scenes inside the Churches in India.
The Psuedo Secular Media and the Government will not react to it. They sensationalise when only Hindu Person or ideology is involved. Now all the Media and politicians will get just let it pass over. MERA BHARAT MAHAN ! ! ! !
A true story !What the sister jesme has written is atrue story. These type of incidents are not haeppening only in churcjes but in all religious places.This most stupidious step by our religious heads that they have described sex as a sin.Actually by doing this they are doing a balphamous act.God made these for the survivel of life and man is trying to stop this procedure.Accordi ng to scinece A healthy peson can not avoid sex. So poeple who are saying that they have nothing to do with sex either they are mantelly reatred or eunches.So all the pristes who are in churches, temple , mossque and Gurudawara or any religious places if they are healthy they will go for sex either legally or illegally.So it will be better if these heads allow these nuns and prists to marry .So that they can avoid from Masala stories and scandels
Congratulations to Sister Jasme !!!!!! .
Beloved nuns please open up your hearts to enable us to read the harrowing experiences of you. We know you have hid a lot of upsetting experiences in your burning heart these are looking to flow up. It is your duty to rescue other girls those are willing to come to convents to keep their maturity for God. Otherwise god will punish you .You know God is much satisfied with the nuns those he got.
it requires courage to come of with something like this. its not revelation, it sheer courage...because its everywhere be it church mandir or masjid. hats of to sis jusme as she has courage to tell the truth. you will need more of it as yr bad days are around the corner....have faith
This psedu-secular Government needs to take over the functioning of Catholic Churches to clean up the filth, just like it has taken control of Hindu temples.
I am reminded of the early 70s as the the Vatcan misused the young nuns from India, mostly from Kerala , as cheap labour for the European churches. I am shocked. The church needs to find a way to work not to be in constant denials with itself and with the society. Nun running....none of my business ....is passe and gone. We are a more critical generation who don't accept everything wthout honest answers.
Congratulations to sister Jasme .You have done a very courageous thing. It is a truth that every nun desires to speak out .Society should react to it. Nuns may have the sexual desire. The society would wake up and allow them to get married .they must understand that nowadays all nuns are living only for priests not for God. Sister Jasme's work should be translated in to other languages very soon. The cultural activists of Kerala should do it with immediate effect.
WHY IS MEDIA OBSERVING CRIMINAL SILENCE ON THIS ISSUE. HAD THIS GOT SOMETHING TO DO WITH HINDUS HELL WOULD HAVE BROKEN DOWN IN TV STUDIOS.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.