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Source:
http://www.mid-day.com/news/city/2005/november/122829.htm
No more mass for mixed marriages
By: Lajwanti D'Souza
November 9, 2005
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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 Pereira, 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.
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