Author: Lajwanti D'Souza
Publication: Mid-Day
Date: November 9, 2005
URL: http://ww1.mid-day.com/news/city/2005/november/122829.htm
In a bid to encourage Mumbai's Catholics to
marry within the community, the church has decided that individuals marrying
outside the religion, will not be allowed the wedding mass.
According to the Archdiocese of Mumbai, headed
by Cardinal Ivan Dias, this recent directive comes from Rome, and will discourage
Catholics from mixed-marriages. Such couples are also not given the sacrament.
But there are voices of protest among both
clergy and flock. Priests say that with young Catholics working at call centres,
airlines and media, there is every likelihood that mixed marriages will increase.
Fr Joe D'Souza, head of St Anthony's Church,
Mankhurd, said the new rule was not in keeping with the times. "The church
has to change. Today's working conditions are such that people work long hours
at office. We should be open to the idea of mixed marriage as people are bound
to find love at their workplace."
Defending the rule, Fr Anthony Charanghat,
spokesman for the Archdiocese of Mumbai, said that the decision was taken
to curb the increasing trend of Catholics marrying outside the community.
"We hope that these (mixed) marriages
are happening for the right reasons and that they are convinced about their
decisions. We respect every religion, but we have decided to apply this rule
to encourage marriage within the community," he said.
Married couples speak
Married couples are also hurt at this step-motherly
treatment for mixed marriages. Francisca Lobo, married to Mukund Nair, said,
"As it is, the sacrement is not administered for mixed marriages. We
got married in church because we wanted to."
Another couple, Anna Marie D'Souza and Biswajit
Das, said the rule was unfair. "We respect each other's religions and
will bring up our children in a way that they understand both faiths. Religion
should not act like a corporate house and dictate terms," said D'Souza.
