Mar Thoma Church trustee’s call for mandatory HIV test before marriage sparks debate
A church official in Kerala, India, has sparked controversy by suggesting that HIV testing should be mandatory for couples before marriage within the Mar Thoma Church. The Church has clarified that this is a personal opinion and not an official policy.
Why it matters
The proposal highlights ongoing debates regarding public health, privacy, and the role of religious institutions in medical screening.
A call by Mar Thoma Church Clergy trustee K. Thomas to make HIV testing mandatory for couples before marriage in the Church has sparked a debate online, after a video of his remarks surfaced in public domain.
Speaking at a family meet organised by the Church in Thiruvananthapuram on August 30, Fr. Thomas said he favoured a system under which marriages in the Mar Thoma Church would be solemnised only after the prospective bride and groom had undergone HIV tests.
“The Karnataka government is conducting HIV tests on all campuses. I believe that all marriages solemnised in the Mar Thoma Church should be conducted only after the couples have undergone such tests. I am someone who would like to see this implemented,” he said.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in