RSSTHAMARASSERY, India (UCAN) — An Oriental-rite diocese in Kerala, southern India, has honored parents having four or more children in attempts to check a slide in the Christian population.
Bishop Paul Chittilappilly of Thamarassery diocese addressed the March 6 function, urging the mostly peasant Catholics families to have more children.
Augustine Madathiparambil, Pastoral Council Secretary of the Syro-Malabar diocese, told UCA News that their Christian population is shrinking in the state. “Within a decade, there will be a huge decline in the Syrian Catholic population,” he added.
The Church’s concern over the number of members started since 2001, when the national decennial census showed a slide in Kerala’s Christian population.
In 1991, Christians accounted for 19.5 percent of state’s 29.09 million people. The state’s population increased to 31.84 million in 2001, but Christians dropped to 19 percent.
Church leaders have been devising means to encourage families to have more babies, urging them to end the modern trend of couples not having more than two children.
About 110 families having four or more children attended the program. Most families had four children each, while only two families had six children each.
Father Joseph Christy Palliyodil, one of the organizers, said the diocese has more such large families, but many could not travel long distances with children.
He said the Church is “happy that many young parents are rediscovering their heritage of having large families.”
Senior members of the community note that prior to 1970, when family planning methods were not popular in Kerala, Catholics families typically had six or more children.
Antony Thekkekara, a police officer and father of four, said he decided to have more babies after attending a charismatic retreat.
He wanted the Church to encourage couples in concrete ways. He suggested Catholic schools offer free education to the fourth child.
Biju Karimundackal, father of four and a businessman, said he is convinced that God will provide “whatever the children need.” He blamed families’ “selfishness” for not having more babies.
However, Thomas Kinattukara, a father of four, said raising his children demands “unimaginable sacrifices.” Finding money for education is also a major concern, he said.
Bishop-elect Remigius Inchananiyil of Thamarassery told UCA News that the diocese plans to introduce some schemes to encourage big families.
IB09057.1592 March 9, 2010 42 EM-lines (372 words)
Kerala Bishops Push For More Children As Catholic Numbers Dwindle
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