Author: Shreya Roy Chowdhury
Publication: The Times of India
Date: August 7, 2009
Battling stigma, the Catholic church and her
own family, Sister Jesme, a former principal of St Mary's College, Thrissur
(Kerala), wrote Amen. The book, she tells Shreya Roy Chowdhury, is her candid
account of moral corruption within the church:
Q.: When and why did you decide to write the
book?
A.: I went to Delhi to gather courage to leave the convent. Jesus worked many
miracles on that journey to make my escape possible. I was helped by friends
and even accepted into their homes during that difficult time. I was wonderstruck
and decided to write. I also believe that there ought to be transparency in
the church. I believe that God made me an instrument; it was my duty to speak
up.
Q.: Did you protest while you were still a
nun?
A.: Usually junior sisters are not expected to speak at all. But i started
protesting even before i was a senior. Synasis, held once ever three years,
is a representative body of the church. I was an elected member. They put
me in Mother Prudential's group with all the important councillors. I was
told to be meek and humble, "like Jesus". Jesus was also a revolutionary.
But they never consider that. For them, it's all about how much he suffered
without uttering a word. The authorities use the vow of obedience to control
us, saying, ''You are under strict obedience, obey this.'' It is the interpretation
that matters. Taking the vow of obedience means that we will obey the will
of God. But the authorities make everything look like the will of God.
Q.: What does corruption do to genuine vocation?
A.: Some sisters are sincere but the atmosphere is spoilt. Nuns must bring
in as much money as they can and are asked to vote for particular political
parties as well. Only a small percentage joins out of genuine vocation. Nowadays
we get vocation from poorer families. There are more children and it's a relief
if one joins the convent/seminary. The general belief is that the child who
joins the convent is the best in the family, very holy and divine. The younger
ones join to earn respect. Even the juniormost sister in charge of a post
in the college or hospital is powerful among those who come. Then you needn't
worry about your future, job or money.
Q.: How has life changed outside the convent?
A.: My students, social workers and other intellectuals are all with me. They
invite me to meetings and ask me to speak. Some of the students called me
and said that the teachers who were against me are all my admirers now. The
church insists on chastity but they can't live it. Why take the vow of chastity
if you're not going to keep it? Why can't we take a stand against it, say
we can't take it? The system should be transparent. We should say what we
practise. If we don't, we have no right to advise others.
