Nun quits alleging harassment

THRISSUR: A senior Catholic nun and the principal of a church-run college here resigned from the order alleging "mental harassment" by Church authorities for questioning their stand on issues like high fee rates charged from students.
    
Sister Jesmi, a nun in the CMC (Congregation of the Mother of Carmel) order for the last 21 years and principal of St Mary's College, announced her decision to renounce the holy robe at a press meet held at her lawyer's residence here on Sunday evening.
    
The CMC authorities, however, refuted the charges of Jesmi dubbing them as "totally baseless".
    
The 51-year-old nun said she had been put under severe mental pressure, and even branded as a mentally disturbed person, by the authorities for questioning their stand on several issues.
    
Jesmi, who headed the English Department of St Mary's College before becoming the principal, said she was forced to go on leave.
    
She said she earned the wrath of the Church for questioning the propriety of charging high rate of fees for courses in the self-financing colleges run by the Church. The Church also had resented her participation in public debates on social issues.
    
Jesmy had been part of the college for long, a press note issued from the CMC provincial house said. There was some resentment among students and parents about some of her activities after she became principal.
    
She and her relatives were informed about this. She had gone on leave on her own saying she wanted some rest, it said.