Government withholds convent–reform proposals

Kerala's communist led government has put a hold on a recent proposal by the Women’s Commission to make laws that restrict age for girls intending to join convents.

The Women's Commission apart from requesting refrainment of girls below 18 years age from joining convents also urged the govt. to frame laws to protect their property rights.

Christian Today learnt that the Kerala govt. directed the Commission to make a detailed study on the issue, after consulting with the Church leaders.

In response, its chairperson D Sridevi said, a detailed study on the topic with recommendations would be submitted to the govt.

Pinarayi Vijayan, state secretary of the Marxist party that leads the state coalition, told UCA News his party would not like to interfere.

"I presume the Religious orders have their own rules regarding admissions. I don't know under what circumstances the commission has made such observations. It's not proper for our party to comment on such issues," he remarked.

Apart from Church leaders, several govt. officials too have castigated the proposal, calling it 'unwarrented'.

Congress Party Kerala unit President Ramesh Chennithala, was quoted as saying, "Those recommendations were a pre–planned strategy to muzzle religious affairs" of Christians.

The Opposition party leader said the communist–led government attempted to hurt feelings of religious minorities in the state. He asked for an apology from the Women Commission.

On June 3, the Commission chairperson D Sridevi said, "parents who force their children who are not yet adults to nunnery in the churches in Kerala need to face legal action.” She suggested women who decide themselves to be Catholic nuns should be at least of 18 years of age.

The Commission has also demanded that the convent authorities provide rehabilitation facilities for nuns who leave convents. It suggested making legal provisions for nuns to own inherited properties and wealth in their own names.

Fr. Paul Thelekkat, the spokesperson of the Syro Malabar Church of Kerala, said the commission is unaware of the proceedings to be a nun. “No body in the Church can pronounce vows before the age of eighteen, not even a temporary vow in the church," he said.