When it comes to criticising existing social structures, leftists and feminists are fierce competitors. However, their assessments are only directed towards pre-existing structures in Hinduism. Franco Mulakkal’s case could be a perfect opportunity to overhaul the Patriarchal regime existing in catholic churches.
Save Our Sisters will appeal against Mulakkal’s acquittal
Recently, Mulakkal was acquitted for charges of rape of a Nun. The nun had alleged that she was raped by Bishop 13 times between 2014 and 2016 during his visits to St. Francis Mission Home, Kuravilangad. Later, the Additional Sessions Judge G. Gopkakumar found him not guilty in 289 page order.
Meanwhile, Save Our Sisters (SOS) the organisation formed to support nuns has decided to appeal in the higher court against the sessions Court’s verdict.
Inherent patriarchy in Churches
Meanwhile, a larger question still remains unanswered and to be frank, has rarely been asked by someone. Churches exist as a systematic and corrupt patriarchal organisation which runs diktats on historically vulnerable sections of the population. Churches have been infamous for their exploitation of women and children.
So, what is ailing the church and why there are only few voices speaking against it especially, in India, where protection of women and children has been utmost stated priority of mainstream left-tilted media organisations.
Read more: ‘Nuns will get justice,’ Amit Shah sends a clear message to the people of Kerala
Structure of Church
In simple terms Priest sits at the top of the Church hierarchy. He is the ultimate authority. Women are generally forbidden from taking priesthood. They pay their services to Christianity in different roles of theirs. ‘Contemplatives, health care givers, educationalists and missionaries’ have been traditional roles reserved to them.
One of the most reputed positions available for women in Christianity is that of a NUN. However, rules of being a NUN are extremely strict. A NUN should take a vow of chastity, which means you cannot get married nor have sexual/romantic relationships. She is also required to live in poverty, silence and abstain from modern technologies. Moreover, if a married woman wants to become NUN, she has to annul her marriage.
WHY so much hardship on women wanting to serve humanity?
NUNs are unfortunate part of deeply patriarchal organisations. Christianity does not consider women as equivalent to men. Unlike in Hinduism, where the ultimate power lies with Brahman (a genderless entity), Christianity says that God is a masculine force. Building up on this, Christianity has devised specific gender role for men and women.
Biblical texts also substantiate inherent patriarchy. Biblical misogyny assumes both explicit and implicit forms. One key text is the creation story in Gen 2–3, where the first woman is created from a piece of the first man’s body (Gen 2:21); her creation, moreover, is intended to please the lonely man (Gen 2:18). The woman is also the first to err, as her eating of the forbidden fruit leads to permanent expulsion from Eden (Gen 3:6, 22–24).
Read more: Vatican squarely rejects appeal of Kerala nun who protested against Bishop Franco Mulakkal
Churches need a revolutionary change
Surprisingly, the people who call Hinduism an inherently ‘patriarchal and misogynist’ have barely raised voice against the Church. An answer to this lies in Cultural Marxism.
70 years of Marxist distorians’ academic build up has provided a special privilege to these religious institutions. No matter, how much they go wrong, they are protected by intellectual class dominating our public discourse. This is one of the most unfortunate facts which we have to live by. The churches are in need of massive structural changes!!