Kerala bishop soft-pedals 'love jihad' but expresses concern over 'certain mixed marriages'

Bishop of Thalassery has expressed concerns over mixed marriages in Kerala without explicitly terming it as 'love jihad'.

Mar Joseph Pamplany, Auxillary Bishop of Thalassery told Manorama that the church was concerned about certain mixed marriages and has urged the Kerala government to take the matter seriously.

"In a society as diverse as ours, mixed marriages are natural and it has happened in the past too," said Bishop Pamplany.

"But in recent times, unlike in the past, such marriages appear planned in some cases. That is the concern of society and it is our request to the government to take it seriously.

"As this is a complicated issue, we don't insist on referring to it as 'love jihad' because the word jihad has a spiritual connotation among the Muslim brethren hence if it hurts them we don't want to use it."

However, Pamplany cited "a former DGP" who talked about possible "sleeping cells of certain terrorist outfits functioning in the state that trap young women".

"We side with the parents who have lost their children to this. The church empathises with concerned parents, but the church is not against any religion," he added.

Recently, allegations of 'love jihad' were raised by CPM leader George M Thomas after a Muslim member of the party married a Christian woman. He later aplogised but the woman's father insisted that it was a case of 'love jihad' and moved the High Court.

Last year, Bishop of Pala Diocese, Mar Joseph Kallarangatt had caused a furore by claiming the presence of 'love and narcotic jihad' in Kerala. He had said that young Christian women were becoming victims of the alleged 'extremist methods'.