Kozhikode: The Roman Catholic diocese of Thamarassery is going to insist on an ideal age for marriage. It wants boys to get married before 25 years and girls before 23 years.
A pastoral letter issued by Bishop Remigiose Inchananiyil in the churches under the diocese on January 8 (Sunday) urged believers to treat it as a rule of the diocese which was evolved during discussions of diocesan eparchial assembly held in December.
In his pastoral letter, Bishop Remigiose Inchananiyil said that the opinion of the church is that girls should marry before 23 years and boys before 25. The church is bound to follow the law of the land that men should marry after 21 years and women 18 years.
However, majority of the men in church are marrying around 28 years of age whereas women after 25, which is creating serious issues in family life.
“Late marriage will negatively affect the relationship of the couple and also the birth, health of progeny and formation of family atmosphere," the letter said.
“Instead of starting family life after ensuring professional stability, it is high time youngsters should go back to the tradition of forefathers who secured a healthy family life after getting married,” the bishop reminded.
“The delay of youngsters in getting married has resulted in an increase in the number of unmarried,” the pastoral letter pointed out.
Fr Abraham Kavilpurayidam, the diocesan spokesperson, told this newspaper that the circular of the Bishop was based on a series of discussions held in the eparchial assembly of the diocese. "The decision on marriage is just one among many," he added.
The pastoral letter also warned against hiring event management groups for marriages, banned presence of flower girls and bridesmaids during marriage ceremony in the church, avoiding fireworks during church festivals and burial of the dead within 24 hours of the death.
"A survey in the diocese itself showed that around 1,200 youngsters including men and women after 30 years of age remain unmarried in our diocese, which was shocking," Fr Kavilpurayidam said. "These men and women will remain unmarried for life," he feared, adding, "These men and women struggling to ensure financial stability in life before marriage are losing the blessing of a marital life."
