Author: George Iype
Publication: Rediff on Net
Date: February 6, 2004
URL: http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/feb/07spec.htm
Indian priests and nuns are increasingly
in demand in Europe and the United States. But are these clergy people
working to further the church's ecumenical work on foreign shores or made
to work as 'slaves' in monasteries and nunneries?
Nuns Rosamma Kizhakkedath, 37, Jessy
Xavier Kizhuppilliparambil, 31, Mary Easy Neeliveetil, 36, and Thresia
Kacharayil, 44, travelled to Europe some years ago to join the Brigittine
Order, a congregation of nuns that runs a large number of convents across
the world including India.
The Italian press reported recently
that these Indian nuns and two others whose names have not been revealed
ran away from the Brigittine convent last year alleging 'maltreatment,
moral violence and working conditions close to slavery.'
According to the Union of Catholic
Asian News, UCAN, a widely circulated Church news service, Abbess General
of the Brigittine Order Mother Tekla Famigilietti, 66, could face trial
following an investigation by an Italian prosecutor on the alleged discrimination
meted out to the Indian nuns.
The Vatican has also ordered an
investigation into the case.
UCAN says the Indian nuns story
made headlines in Italy, not just because of the allegations of discrimination,
but also because Mother Tekla is one of the most influential and powerful
women in the Catholic Church.
Mother Tekla has friends in high
places -- bishops and cardinals; she also has access to Pope John Paul
II. Last March, she visited Cuba to receive a building as a gift from President
Fidel Castro. Two months ago, she dined with the King and Queen of Sweden
in Stockholm.
According to the monastic tradition
of the Brigittine Order, their chief obligation is liturgical prayer. Central
in the nuns' work is the guesthouse, which is part of the activity of every
Brigittine convent. The nuns welcome all who seek to find stillness and
quiet.
The Indian nuns alleged ill-treatment,
including 'moral violence,' occurred at the convent. They also complained
they were given little time to pray or meditate.
According to UCAN, the nuns alleged
they had to work as receptionists and do menial tasks at the convent.
The Italian press likened their
situation to 'working in conditions close to slavery.'
Some reports claim the Indian nuns
were not allowed to apply for National Health Care cards; others say Mother
Tekla took away their passports. When they fled the convent, Mother Tekla
asked the police to withdraw their sojourn permits, thereby exposing them
to expulsion from Italy.
But the nuns appealed to an Italian
court, which permitted them to stay in the country.
After leaving the Brigittine Order,
the Indian nuns have been employed by the Benedictine Order. They live
at a Benedictine convent near Parma city in northern Italy.
Mother Tekla's defenders have rejected
the charges of discrimination or maltreatment, contending that most of
what the Indian nuns did is normal practice in many religious orders.
They also argue that most Brigittine
nuns are from India or Mexico, and many Indians hold responsible leadership
positions throughout the order. Therefore, charges that nuns from the Third
World are discriminated against are difficult to sustain.
The Brigittine Order runs seven
convents across India, with Bangalore as its headquarters. Its Indian Provincial
General Sister Regina is in Italy these days, attending the congregation's
annual meeting and trying to sort out "the delicate India issue," said
Sister Ann, Superior of the Brigittine convent in Kerala.
"The nuns ran away from the convent
in Italy without informing the superiors. It seems that after staying in
Europe for long, they wanted to get out of the convent. Our congregation
cannot be faulted if a nun wants to get out of the spiritual life we lead,"
Sister Ann told rediff.com
But other Indian nuns and priests
whom rediff.com spoke to said they are appalled at the incident.
"This is one of the many instances
of discrimination against Indian nuns and priests in the West. Rich Western
congregations recruit poor Catholics from India to become nuns and priests.
But very often we suffer maltreatment and abuse," a senior Catholic priest
at the Carmelite Mary Immaculate congregation said, speaking on condition
that he would not be identified.
An acute shortage of priests and
nuns has forced Western congregations to recruit clergy from India. Approximately
46,000 priests serve 19,000 parishes in the US. A recent US National Conference
of Catholics Bishops survey said some 2,334 parishes in the US are without
resident pastors.
The Catholic Bishops Conference
of India does not have data about how many Indian priests and nuns work
in Europe and the US. But it says India sends the largest number of priests
and nuns to many countries, including the US, for higher studies and employment.
A Catholic nun from Kerala, who
worked in Belgium at a leading congregation, said she was "suffocated in
the convent atmosphere."
"There is not much spirituality
in the convents there. Some convents act like commercial enterprises. I
worked in a convent, which invested money in a stock broking firm. I came
back because I had no work," she disclosed.
There is nothing surprising that
Indian nuns are fleeing European convents, she said.
