Surging inter-faith marriages concerns Church

The surging inter-faith marriages among Christians is very much worrying the Church in Kerala.

It is concerned that these might possibly cause isolation of the couple from their families and its socio-cultural after-effects later in their family life where church's role is limited.

Senior Vicar General of the Thrissur Archdiocese Fr Raphael Thattil, talking to the Indian Express, said that there is a considerable increase in Catholic youths seeking permission from the Archdiocese for approval of their marriages.

Thatill noted that inter-faith marriages has gone up to between five and eight a week in the past two years in the Thrissur diocese. Apparently, these marriages reduce the role of the church during times of disputes, and eventually it turns an issue to be dealt by a civil court, he says.

Some of the reasons for this, Thattil attributes to: increasing IT youths working outside Kerala, the individual freedom from the control of parents and the financial empowerment.

"Absence of parental and religious guidance, the atmosphere at work places where close discussions and interactions between young men and women involved in the same project are inevitable, the free time available on holidays and the influence of western culture are other factors leading to the situation," he said.

The church, Thattil says, is mulling over setting of pastoral care centers for youths seeking religious guidance in their personal lives. To some extent, he says, alertness by parents could prevent the situation.