A three-member church inquiry committee in Kerala has declared an interfaith marriage solemnised by the Syro Malabar Church between a Catholic woman and a Muslim man, invalid, Times of India has reported.
According to the committee ruling, there were serious lapses by two senior priests when they conducted the marriage and now both the priests stand censured.
The committee concluded that the marriage which took place on November 9 did not follow canon law.
“The commission collected details from the priests and bishops of Irinjalakkuda and Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese and submitted a report to the major archbishop. It stated that the marriage did not follow Canon law and was hence invalid”, a senior Syro Malabar Church priest was quoted saying in a report.
The Syro Malabar Church is a very powerful and influential organisation in Kerala and now a probe in this matter has been ordered after objections were raised over the clergy encouraging interfaith marriages.
It must also be noted that the cases of love Jihad were first raised by Christian clergy in Kerala due to number of Christain girls marrying Muslim men.