Endogamy must end: Reformers

Kottayam: The Knanaya Catholic Naveekarana Samithi has  demanded  an end to the practice of endogamy and permission to  marry  those belonging to the other Catholic and Christian denominations.  Endogamy is the custom of marrying only within the limits of a local community, clan or tribe. The samithi raised the  demand in the context of the Vatican appointing a committee  to study the issues of the Knanite community.  Bishop Michael Mulhal of Pembroke was appointed last year to   study the issues  and submit a report.   

Over one lakh members of the church who married  outside the  community have  left  the  church in the  Kottayam diocese. According to the practice in the Knanaya community, if a member  marries outside the community, he/she will have to leave the church.  If a childless couple adopt  a child, the child will not get legal status. The Knanites are allowed to marry  from the  Knanaya Jacobites, who share the same ethnicity. 

“Endogamy should be abolished since the practice is against the Canon Law, the Constitution of India and  is a human rights violation.  It is the right of a person to marry anyone according to his or her wish. Those who are marrying outside the community should not be ousted from the community,” president of Knanaya renewal samithi T.O.  Joseph told DC.   Mr Joseph, who  married  a girl belonging to the Ernakulam-Angamaly diocese, was forced to leave the community years ago.

According to the custom, a man or woman who  marries outside the community will be readmitted to the community only after the partner dies. The children born in the first marriage will not be given  legal status. “Endogamy has been practised by the Knanite community for many centuries. It is not imposed on anyone,” Archbishop of the Kottayam Archdiocese, Mar Mathew Moolakattu, told DC.  There are approximately 1.6 lakh Knanites in different  parts of the world.