Catholic bishops in the southern Indian state of Kerala have urged the state government to enact stringent laws to curb misuse of social media after a nun’s picture was morphed and shared on social media with offensive slogans. Sister Lucina Porunnedam said a social media user altered one of her photographs holding a placard with a slogan against alcohol consumption. The morphed picture had anti-Church slogans.

“It is a deliberate attempt to defame Catholic nuns and portray the Catholic Church in a poor light,” she told UCA News.

She lodged a police complaint on May 18 seeking action against the social media user.

Sister Porunnedam, who co-ordinates an anti-liquor campaign in Tellicherry Archdiocese in Kerala, is a member of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart.

The accused used offensive slogans against Catholic nuns and priests, she said. “The morphed photo also took pot shots at Christ and belittled Catholic priests,” the 45-year-old nun said.