Vatican permits Catholic nun to work for state agency

A nun from the Sisters of St Ann became the first church woman to get the Vatican’s nod to work for a government wing.

Sr Jessy Kurian, a Kerala native, took oath of office as member of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions in New Delhi.

Minister for Human Resources Development Mr Arjun Singh along with the Commission Chairman, Justice Siddiqui administered the oath of office to Sr Jessy.

The Commission members Mr Ramoowalia and Archbishop of Delhi Vincent Concessao felicitated the Christian on her appointment.

National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions is a statutory body constituted by the UPA Govt. to safeguard and enforce the Minority Rights enshrined in the Constitution of India.

Sr Jessy, who also has the distinction of being the first nun to be a member of the Supreme Court Bar, presently works as a Human Rights activist. She has been strenuously working in providing legal assistance to the distressed and marginalized women.

"She got the clearance from the highest authorities of the Roman Catholic Church. Probably she is the first nun to hold an office in a government wing where she will be paid a salary," commented Hyderabad Archbishop M. Joji.

Sr Jessy has even authored books on acts of domestic violence, dowry prohibition, right to information, Hindu succession, sexual harassment of women at workplace, rural development scheme and one titled Know Your Advocate.

The appointment of the Christian is another example of the participation of devoted nuns in the public sphere such as local governance and political leadership.

Recently, the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), in its biennial meeting of over 160 Bishops and about 50 women delegates from across the country, discussed on the “Empowerment of Women in the Church and Society.”

The conference reflected and discussed on the contemporary scenario of gender relations, the forces behind gender inequality and the role of the Church in facilitating the empowerment of women.

This is for the first time in the history of the Catholic Church, a theme on ‘Empowerment of Women in the Church and Society’ has been chosen as the focus of the Meeting.

Sister Lilly Francis, who led the meeting preparations, said the CBCI was the world's first national Episcopal body to take up women's issues as a major topic for discussion. "We are pioneering," said the secretary of the CBCI commission for women.

Catholic nuns in India from decades play an active role in the advancement of Education, Health Care and various other sectors of the society.