Dwindling numbers worry Kerala church

KOCHI - A four-day assembly of the Syro Malabar Catholic Church that concluded here Sunday expressed deep concern that the numbers of its faithful were dwindling.

“We are worried because life is a gift of the god and it is a matter of concern to us because the rich and educated do not take parenthood in a responsible manner,” church spokesperson Paul Thelekat told IANS.

“They see children as a hindrance to their happiness and decide to limit the number of children. Sex is seen as a matter of enjoyment and that is not considered to be responsible parenthood,” he added.

The Episcopal Assembly is held once in five years and is the consultative body of the church which recommends to the Synod (council) about what needs to be done, he said.

“We have also asked our faithful not to go for grandiose functions during marriages, opening of churches and other events,” Thelekat said.

The assembly was attended by 47 bishops, 159 priests, 73 nuns, 126 men and 48 women drawn from the 29 dioceses of the church, of which 11 are based outside Kerala.

Environmental issues also came up for discussion in the meet besides the routine issue of how faith should be practised by all.

Christians in Kerala account for 23 percent of the state’s 32 million population.

The Syro Malabar church has more than 50 per cent of the Catholics in the state. Kerala’s

Catholic church comprises the the Syro Malabar, the Syro Malankara and the Latin churches.