By Matters India Reporter

Kochi: A marriage between a Catholic woman and a Muslim man in Kerala has been declared “invalid” by an enquiry commission of the Syro-Malabar Church.

Cardinal George Alencherry, head of the Oriental Church, had ordered the probe by a three-member commission after a section of his people questioned the clergy “encouraging” mixed marriages.

“The commission collected details from the priests and bishops of Irinjalakkuda and Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese and submitted a report to the major archbishop. It stated that the marriage did not follow Canon law and was hence invalid,” says a press note from the Church December 31.

The wedding was held on November 9 at St Joseph Church in Kochi’s Kadavanthra and the ceremony was attended by Emeritus Bishop Mathew Vaniakizhakkel of Satna.

A photograph of the couple with the bishop, published in a newspaper, drew criticism from certain sections of Catholics in Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese.

The commission’s report to the cardinal found the marriage invalid on grounds of “serious lapses” by the parish priest and the bishop, who could now be censured.

Earlier, the Syro-Malabar Church had courted controversy after it set rules to ensure that interfaith marriages are held strictly following the canon laws. After the latest controversy, the Church had said that it would prepare a set of protocols and send to bishops to ensure that the interfaith marriages are solemnized in the Catholic way.

The Church had also asked its bishops to treat inter-faith marriages as “disparity of cult marriages” but conduct them in the proper Catholic way. According to the guidelines, the Church will not mix wedding ceremonies with practices of other communities and religions for interfaith marriages.

Bishop Vaniakizhakkel later regretted attending the marriage and creating confusion among the faithful.

“I attended the mixed marriage because of my close association with the bride’s family. However, I regret attending it,” the 74-year-old Vincentian prelate explained in a letter.

The bishop’s “exemplary step” of regret reportedly brought “great relief” to the traditional faithful in the archdiocese. Bishops normally do not attend mixed marriages.

Only in special cases, the Church allows a Catholic to marry a member of another faith, who does not want to be baptized. However, such marriages are not considered sacrament even if conducted inside a church, the website explains. Only marriages between two Catholics are treated as sacrament.

The Church laws also stipulate that mixed marriages should be simple without gaiety if held inside a church.

12 Comments

  1. Disappointed at the entire process and the conclusion, and the impact it has on the image of the Catholic Church in Kerala and, to some extent, in India. If the bridegroom was not a Muslim but a Hindu or of another religion, I wonder what would have been the Church’s response !!!

  2. We do not know whether the girl got such dispensation from her bishop. Without knowing all facts we will not be able to know the truth In my own daughter’s case the dispensation was obtained and there was no problem at all.

  3. “The commission collected details from the priests and bishops of Irinjalakkuda and Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese and submitted a report to the major archbishop. It stated that the marriage did not follow Canon law and was hence invalid,” says a press note from the Church December 31.
    Is there no Value to the Commission’s findings and the decision taken by the authority on the basis of the same ? Whe we criticise, we must know all facts

  4. A press release can not make a statement that a marriage between a Catholic and Muslim is invalid. It only attracts the public. If it is invalid, it is not because the couples belong to different faith traditions. Probably Dr. Farhan and Dr. Monica did not follow the norms set by the church. Catholic Church has given detailed instructions regarding such marriages. If the couples had followed the instructions, no one would say that their marriage was invalid, and thus accusing the catholic church, thus making a bad news. Bad news may be a good news for the media which needs and feeds on such news. A bishop’s presence or absence does during a marriage ceremony is immaterial. Hence his reaction too is not important to be commented .Often the presence of such church officials is only to add solemnity. During this time when lots of discussions are going on regarding interfaith marriages, it is not prudent to drag the church into the street.

  5. The marriage rituals conducted in churches are only ceremonial and has no official validity now.
    You have to register your marriage with the nearby government officials to confirm the status and demand a certificate as proof.
    Certificates issued from other offices are not valid any more.
    In other words, if church refuses to conduct a marriage due to some reasons, it doesn’t make any difference, people want only to have the function and photographs as for remembrance and nostalgia.

  6. The couple should file a case in the High court against the church authorities.

  7. We are witnessing ‘continuous dramas’ exhibited by the church in Kerala. Who violated the Canon law? Why should the church “victimize” the bride and bridegroom?

    Let the CLERGY who try to blame the couple go to hell.

    The couple will live happily as they were united in LOVE. God’s abundant blessings will be on them always.

    Did the church officials in Kerala quote or refer the ‘Canon law’
    a) when a priest impregnated a minor girl, then, while in jail wanted to marry her?
    b) when a group of priests sexually abused a woman several times ‘breaking the confessional secret’?
    c) when sisters and novices were ‘murdered’ inside Kerala convents?
    d) when the Cardinal was involved in corruption case and got himself absolved with his money power?
    e) when sisters and novices were murdered inside Kerala convents?
    f) when there was a movement against the “Rapist Franco” who still moves around freely and when his devotees published his photos in the Calendars?

    Hypocrisy is abundant in the churches (different rites) in Kerala.

  8. I hope the happy couple had the wisdom to get the marriage registered with the civil Registrar of Marriages. In which case, they can call out the parishioners who objected for the bigots they are. By the way, anyone has details of members marrying Hindus in India, muslims in the UK and Jews in the US? I have been researching thus for 25 years

  9. The couple should have married under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, without changing one’s religion. The Church cannot declare a marriage invalid, if it is approved by the government of India.

  10. Looks like the bishops of Kerala are cozying up to the BJP’s idea of love jihad. This is shameful.

  11. In 1974 my sister married a Hindu after obtaining dispensation. The marriage was solemnizes by Bp Cecil D’sa of Lucknow. He later became an archbishop. Kerala could learn several lessons from the North 🤔🤔

  12. If canonical procedures were not followed the marriage can be rectified, not annulled. It seems that traditionalist right wing forces are gaining ground in Kerala. Unfortunate.

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