Former Catholic Sister Dismissed After Speaking Out Against Sexual Harassment
For ten years, Annastasia Kinse devoted her life to God as a Catholic sister with the Congregation of Mother of Perpetual Help of the Archangels Sisters. But in 2025, her decade-long journey of faith and service ended abruptly, leaving her traumatized and publicly humiliated. In an exclusive interview with The Bureau News, Kinse revealed the injustice she faced after reporting sexual harassment.
Answering the Call: Life as a Catholic Sister
Kinse, a native of Plateau State, joined the convent in July 2015 and took her perpetual vows in 2023, becoming the first reverend sister from her village. During her religious service, she also worked as a graduate assistant at Veritas University, Abuja, while pursuing a master’s degree.
“Religious life was my calling — a full surrender to God,” Kinse said. “I wanted to serve sincerely and wholeheartedly.”
Public Dismissal Sparks Controversy
Her life changed dramatically in mid-2025 when her congregation announced her dismissal on Facebook and WhatsApp. A letter dated July 21, but only received by Kinse on September 24, accused her of violating her vows and claiming she had converted to Islam — allegations she described as “completely false.”
“What really happened,” she said, “is that I reported sexual harassment at Veritas University. Instead of support, I faced punishment.”
Speaking Out Against Sexual Harassment in Religious Institutions
Kinse said the harassment came from her head of department, and she had evidence in the form of recordings and videos. “I wasn’t trying to destroy anyone,” she explained. “I just wanted justice and to prevent it from happening to others.”
Her confidential report quickly became public, leading to a disciplinary panel she described as “intimidating and hostile.”
“They seized my phone and asked degrading questions like, ‘Why did you go to his office if you knew he would harass you?’ It felt like I was the one on trial,” she recalled.
Despite asking for counseling and mental health support, Kinse received none. “After the hearing, priests and staff arrived at my home with a nurse. I felt trapped and terrified,” she said.
Clarifying Her Viral Post About Conversion
Kinse’s Facebook post claiming she had converted to Islam went viral, sparking widespread debate. She clarified it was an emotional response, not a real conversion. “It wasn’t apostasy,” she said. “It was grief, anger, and frustration. I thought of my aunt, who had passed away as a Muslim.”
Betrayal by the Church
Instead of receiving compassion, Kinse said a priest who had previously harassed her was sent to “counsel” her. “He twisted the story and spread lies against me,” she said. She also attempted to contact her bishop through letters and messages, but her efforts were ignored. “I devoted ten years to God’s service, yet I was treated as if I never existed,” she lamented.
A Humiliating Exit from the Convent
On her last day, Kinse’s belongings were dumped outside without explanation. “My religious habit was taken away. I couldn’t believe it,” she said. That night, she posted on Facebook to tell her story.
“Ten years of devotion — gone in a single night. I was humiliated, betrayed, and discarded by the Church I loved.”
Faith in God, Not in Systems
Despite her ordeal, Kinse said she has not lost faith in God, only in the systems that failed her. “I still pray every day,” she said. “I am healing, slowly but surely.”