Ecumenicals: Accept interfaith marriages

An ecumenical consultation on interfaith marriages has stressed for openness and flexibility while dealing with couples from different religious traditions.

"Be open to interfaith marriages as an increasing inevitability and a positive development," acknowledged participants at the September 25-27 consultation.

Asking Church to study the experiences of mixed families, the consultation stressed on the need for leaders to be open to the development of 'increasing areas of interjection' between religious communities.

The event was organised by the National Council of Churches in India, Inter-Church Service Association and the Tamil Nadu Christian Council. The participants also included social activists, NGO workers, and leaders of the Hindu and Muslim community.

"Globalization, urbanization and development of science and technology calls for more social interaction and cohabitation among communities of faiths," said Solomon Rongpi, Secretary of NCCI's Commission on Unity, Mission and Evangelism.

Conversion and interfaith marriages often create a cultural and interreligious discomfort at a noticeable level, leading in some cases to outburst of communal instances, observed Rongpi.

"Hence, there is a need to get clarity on how to go about without creating friction and frustration in society," he said.

In a statement, the participants urged Church to stop opposing interfaith marriages theologically or institutionally, and recommend pastors/priests to solemnize marriages when even if one of the spouse is a Christian, not insisting the conversion of the other.

In addition, allow intermarried couple continue their individual religions, and study the experience of such mixed families, they said.

To help churches cope with interfaith marriages, the consultation has recommended for training to pastors and marriage counsellors, and formation of marriage counselling centres at every feasible levels.