A remark by a priest and trustee of the Mar Thoma Church calling for HIV tests before marriages within the Church has triggered controversy in Kerala, as reported in Kerala Kaumudi.
Dr K Thomas made the remarks at a Mar Thoma Church family gathering in Thiruvananthapuram on 30 August 2026. He also said that the Church should ensure that women being brought in as brides had not been sexually abused.
Thomas referred to a counselling case involving a 17-and-a-half-year-old girl and an 18-year-old boy. According to him, the girl told him that the two had been in a relationship and had been “living like husband and wife” for six months.
He then cited reports about HIV testing in educational institutions in Karnataka and said that similar testing should be made a requirement for marriages within the Mar Thoma Church.
“I believe that all marriages taking place within the Mar Thoma Church should be conducted only after undergoing such tests,” Thomas said.
He further said that parents should be able to “assure” themselves that a woman being brought to the Church as a bride had not been sexually abused.
The remarks have drawn criticism, particularly over the suggestion that women’s sexual history or alleged abuse should be subjected to scrutiny before marriage.
Thomas later attempted to clarify his comments, saying that his intentions were good and that he was addressing parents rather than youngsters.
“I do not want anyone in the Mar Thoma Church to be seen as someone who has gone astray,” he said.
He also defended his right to make such remarks within the Church, saying, “I have the freedom to say what I want within my own church.”
This comes just around the same time as the regressive remarks made by Grand Mufti of India Kanthapuram Aboobacker and Islamic scholar Ansar.
Kanthapuram Aboobacker Musliyar had made remarks advocating restrictions on women’s movement and saying that women should remain confined to their homes.
At the same event, Islamic scholar Abdul Hakim Ansari said that having three children was a “ticket to heaven”.
In all the cases, it is noteworthy that the comments have been made by leaders of the abrahamic faith. But politicians and activists want to burn Manusmriti.
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