Chicago: A section of Indian Catholics living in the United States Friday appealed to Pope Francis to end endogamous marriages among Knanaya Christians.

In what is conserved the last ditch effort to end to the practice of purity of blood marriages enforced among Knanaya Christians with their roots in Kerala, a southern Indian state.

The practice is enforced among these purist Catholics who have an archdiocese, Kottayam, in India and a diocese, Chicago, in the United States.

These Christians claim to be descendents of 72 Jewish families settled in Kerala in their fourth century. They are known as Knanaya Christians because they were led by a trader named Thomas Kana. They marry only among the descendants of those families to keep their Jewish blood pure. Those marrying outside the community are ostracized even after 17 centuries.

For years, some people in Kottayam archdiocese and elsewhere have conducted an organized and systematic campaign both in India and the United States to end the practice, which they say is shameful, unchristian and racist.

On July 3, 2013 they conducted an all American Knanaya Seminar at the Chicago Cathedral hall.

Ever since appeals, organized letters and memorandums were repeatedly send to responsible bishops in leadership positions both in US and India and even to Pope.

They bemoan that Church authorities have not responded to their appeals. The president of Knanaya Association of North America (KANAhas sent a letter to Pope Francis who is currently visiting the United States.

Given below is a copy of the letter the association gave to Apostolic Nuncio to handover to Pope Francis:

August 31, 2015

To: His Holiness Pope Francis Apostolic Palace Vatican City

Our Beloved Holy Father:

We wanted to meet you in person during your visit to America. However, His Eminence Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, Apostolic Nuncio, informed us that it will not be possible to meet you in person given the limitations of your fixed official schedule. As such, we are sending our petition through the Apostolic Nunciature as guided by the Nuncio.

Holy Father, we need your help, our families and children are hurting. We are being hurt by the race obsessed practices in Kottayam Archdiocese in Kerala, India and Syro-Malabar Diocese in Chicago, USA. Your direct intervention is appreciated since other hierarchical authorities find it difficult or unable to end this practice.

Practice in Kottayam Archdiocese of Kottayam is a diocese established in 1911 for Southists (Knanaites). Knanaya people are descendants of a group of Christians who migrated to Kerala, India from Middle-East in A.D. 345.

Based on an alleged custom and tradition, the practice of the Kottayam archdiocese is that if a member enters into a marriage with another Catholic (non-endogamous marriage), the member is asked to leave the eparchy of Kottayam. The member is compelled to join another Catholic diocese along with his/her spouse. Their biological children and adopted children of Knanaya parents will not be allowed to be members of the Knanaya diocese.

This is being practiced to protect presumed racial/blood purity of the Knanaya community. As a result of this practice, many young men and women in the community remain unmarried for fear of the ignominy of getting married to a non-Knanaya Catholic and getting expelled from the community. This unchristian and uncivil practice inflicts psychological and emotional wounds on our families and children. This diocese does not evangelize and bring people from outside into the Christian fold.

Practice in Chicago Syro-Malabar Diocese for resolving a dispute regarding membership among Knanaya Catholics who migrated to USA from Kottayam, the Congregation for Eastern Churches then under Cardinal Lourdusamy issued Rescript Prot. N. 124/83 dated January 30, 1986 (the “1986 Rescript”) indicating that “the Congregation does not accept the customary practice followed in Kerala of excluding from the community those who marry non-Knanaya spouses, is extendible to the United States of America.” As such, Knanaya Catholic missions established in the USA were directed to include all Knanaites without regard to their non-endogamous marriage status. Though they initially agreed to it, it was scuttled by the effort of the Kottayam bishop.

When the Chicago Syro-Malabar diocese was established in 2001, Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath was instructed by the Congregation through Rescript Prot. No. 85 dated 10-21-2001 that “the Holy See continues to follow the directives outlined in the 1986 Rescript” with regard to Knanaya churches in the Chicago Syro-Malabar diocese. After many years, by the circular of December 20, 2012 Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath complied with the 1986 Rescript.

However, Knanaya bishops and clergy refused to implement the directives outlined in the Rescript, though they pretended to implement it. Although several appeals were filed by Kottayam bishops to revoke the 1986 Rescript, they were rejected by the Congregation after being reviewed by Cardinals.

Holy Father, please help us to restore justice, and to end discrimination and exclusion!

Sincerely in Christ,

President, Knanaya Association of North America (KANA)

Enclosures:
1. Copy of the Rescript Prot. N. 124/83 dated January 30, 1986 (the “1986 Rescript”).
2. Copy of the Rescript Prot. N. 85/2001 which directed Chicago Syro-Malabar bishop to follow the 1986 Rescript.
3. Copy of the circular letter of Bishop Mar Angadiath dated December 20, 2012.
4. Copy of the circular letter of Bishop Mar Angadiath dated September 19, 2014.
5. Letter dated March 20, 2015 from the Congregation.
6. Copy of the Canonical Complaint filed to revoke Bishop Angadiath’s circular letter of September 19, 2014.
7. Copy of the court verdict in “Biju Uthup” case where, after an in-depth analysis of all aspects of the practice of Kottayam diocese, the court ruled against the diocese (a res judicata decision).
8. Copy of a DNA study report showing that Knanaya is a “mixed” community of people of Middle Eastern and Indian origin, and not a “pure” community of people with only Jewish ancestry as claimed.
9. Papal Bull that erected Kottayam diocese which does not say anywhere in it that Kottayam diocese should protect racial purity of the Knanaya community.