Justin John and Vijimol after their engagement ceremony at St. Xavier’s Church in Kottodi, Kasaragod in April. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
All the excitement surrounding Justin John’s wedding with Wijimol Shaji, which was expected to mark the end of endogamy practiced by Kananaya Catholics, faded away with the ceremony at Kasargod on 18 May, which was agreed upon. In absence turned into a moist satire. Kanaya Church,
Upset over the church’s apathy, the groom is now all set to file a contempt of court petition in the High Court against Kanaya Church.
The 31-year-old groom was set to marry Vijimol, a member of St. Anne’s Church, Kottodi in Kasaragod, under the Nanaya Archeparchy of Kottayam, under the Syro-Thalassery Archdiocese. Malabar Church.
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Though he was entitled to obtain consent or marriage curi from his church as per the order of the High Court, he was refused citing absence of application at the last minute. As the marriage rites could not be completed, the bride and groom exchanged garlands in a brief ceremony held outside St. Xavier’s Church.
“After meeting all the conditions for a woman to be married, such as attending pre-marital courses and going to confession, there is no reason why the Church should deny me consent,” Mr John said. According to him, the marriage was to be conducted in the parish of the bride to avoid a possible law and order situation in her own parish.
Meanwhile, the Kanaya Catholic Renewal Committee, a reform group leading the legal battle to end the practice of endogamy in the Kanaya Church, also filed a contempt of court case in the High Court against Kuri’s refusal to marry Mr. John. will file
Kanaya Archeparki, on its part, clarified that the groom failed to submit the relevant documents and complete the process for his marriage. “She approached the parish for consent only on the eve of her marriage. We need to complete the canonical process before issuing consent for the marriage,” said Fr. Michael Vettikkat, spokesperson for the Kanaya Archeparchy, Kottayam.
As to a question whether Mr. John’s membership of the Naya Archeparchy lapsed with the marriage, Fr. Vettikat replied that the court had prohibited the termination of membership of a member who married outside the sect.