Kochi (AsiaNews/ICNS) Six priests and two nuns yesterday obtained the right to practice law after a year of battles against the Bar Council of Kerala which had refused them membership.
The new Catholic lawyers prevailed over the Council which last year prevented two nuns and a priest from joining its ranks on the grounds that a religious vocation was analogous to a profession.
In India state-wide bar associations have the power to decide who can practice law. According to their rules state anyone already working in another profession cannot become a lawyer. In Kerala the local bar association had ruled that anyone involved in religious activities could not practice law. Despite such restrictions, the men and women religious did not give up.
Sister Tina Jose was amongst the first to launch an appeal in the Kerala High Court against what she considered religious discrimination. Eventually, other law school graduates joined her battle for "professional justice".
Two months ago the Court in this southern Indian state ruled that a religious vocation could not be considered a profession.
Upon hearing the news Card Varkey Vithayathil had said that "it is a sign of the high regard for the Catholic Church, which is always in favour of the truth and of its love for the poor. This way there is recognition that the Church is an institution defending human rights in their integrity".
"I am so thrilled to be a lawyer. I want to serve the poor unnecessarily caught in legal cases," Sister Tina said.
The other religious who can now practice law are: Fr Thomas Puthusseri, Fr Tharian Mundadan, Fr Joseh Puthua, Fr Joy Kolenchery, Fr Sunny Kalappura, Fr Roy Joseph Kaduppil and Sister Tessy.
Sister Tessy said that she was "extremely happy and proud to have the right to practice".