By our religious Correspondent
Kochi, Nov 07 (IVC) The Syro-Malabar Church (SMC) has allowed Catholic couples to register civil marriage before solemnizing it in the ChurAch , Church’s Chancellor Fr Abraham Kavilpurayidathil said here recently.
“This is not for everyone. It is meant for those who live abroad or who want to move abroad with their prospective life partner”, he added.
Catholics “who for serious reasons such as obtaining a family visa to foreign countries find it necessary to register their marriages under relevant civil law” before sacramental marriage can apply seeking permission for such registration, said in a decree issued by the Cardinal George Alencherry , the major archbishop and head of the SMC.
Indian laws allow a couple to move abroad as husband and wife only if their marriage is registered wwith the appropriate civil authorities. Couples who get married in the Church later register with civil authorities to start the process of moving abroad, Fr Abraham said.
