Nun 'raped, assaulted by teen'

The alleged brutal rape of an 85-year-old nun has left a community in shock.

A teen has been arrested for rape and battery, while the nun was taken to hospital, US media reported.

Prayers from the local community of Aliquippa and around the country flooded in for the retired nun, said Sister Mary Pellegrino, congregational moderator for the Sisters of St. Joseph in Baden.

“As Sisters of St. Joseph, we live and work to bring all people into union with God, and Sister manifests that spirit every day. Sister is a passionate advocate of nonviolence, peace and justice, and each month she conducts a prayer vigil for peace in the chapel of our Motherhouse,” Pellegrino said in a statement.

“As we offer continued prayers of healing for our Sister, we also pray for the young man who has been arrested in the assault.”

Local authorities took Andrew Clarence Bullock into custody. The 18-year-old denied any involvement in the incident that allegedly happened on Friday morning.

The town was still trying to make sense of what happened, Aliquippa police Chief Andre Davis said.

“This is not acceptable on any level,” Davis said.

“This is unacceptable to the whole community.”

It was alleged that a young man approached the nun and asked her if she needed any help.

“She said that when she turned to look at him, he had a very nice smile,” Aliquippa police Detective Sgt. Steven Roberts said.

The attacker then allegedly assaulted the woman and raped her.

Friends and colleagues spoke highly of the unnamed nun

“She's always very pleasant, very happy and very helpful,” Roberts said. “She's always been concerned about people within the community, looking out for people within the community.”

Reverend Paul C. Householder said: “She's quite a talker and has a great personality."

“People enjoy her visits.”