Catholic Sister Dismissed After Exposing Sexual Exploitation Within Church

A Catholic sister has been dismissed from her religious order following a bold public letter denouncing the sexual exploitation and abuse of nuns by priests within the Church. Sister Annastasia Kinse, formerly of the Congregation of Mother of Perpetual Help of the Archangels Sisters in Auchi, Edo State, revealed on September 24 that she received a dismissal letter dated July 21, 2025, along with a token compensation of 100,000 Naira.

According to Sister Kinse, upon returning to her convent, she found her belongings packed outside her room and was required to surrender her religious habit, signaling her formal separation from the congregation. Despite her dismissal, she expressed deep gratitude to supporters and reaffirmed her Catholic faith.

The dismissal followed a viral open letter authored by Sister Kinse titled “Religious Sisters Are Not Priests’ Wives or Bedmates,” in which she accused some priests of treating nuns as commodified objects or mistresses rather than consecrated women called to serve God. She described incidences where spiritual direction became a guise for inappropriate advances and financial benefactors expected dignity in exchange for support.

Sister Kinse also condemned abuses within the Church’s internal hierarchy – pointing to how some superiors misuse authority to silence and mistreat sisters, enabling predators and perpetuating injustice. She criticized nuns who violate their vows, warning that such conduct damages the Church’s moral witness.

Her letter struck a nerve across Nigeria’s Catholic community, sparking debate. Some faithful criticized her for airing internal matters publicly, while others hailed her courage in confronting the Church’s silence on abuse.

The controversy reportedly led to the termination of Sister Kinse’s appointment at Veritas University, a Catholic-owned institution in Abuja, although university officials said she had left prior to the allegations and denied any involvement of campus priests.

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The leadership of the Mother of Perpetual Help of the Archangels Sisters distanced itself from Sister Kinse after she revealed embracing Islam, framing her dismissal as a consequence of persistent rejection of fraternal correction.

This development spotlights ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s Catholic Church regarding sexual misconduct, authority misuse, and the urgent need for transparent channels to address allegations without reprisal. Sister Kinse has pledged to cooperate with any trustworthy platform that offers safe reporting mechanisms, underscoring her commitment to truth, justice, and dignity in the Church.