The record
Written from the 1 report below. Nothing here is unsourced.
- A trustee of the Mar Thoma Church, clergy trustee K. Thomas, suggested at a family meet in Thiruvananthapuram that marriages in the church be solemnised only after couples undergo HIV tests.
- He cited Karnataka's move to make HIV testing and counselling camps mandatory in colleges, prompted by a reported rise in infections among people aged 18 to 35.
- The remarks have sparked a debate online after a video surfaced.
- The Mar Thoma Church has clarified that this was Rev. Thomas's personal observation and it holds no official position on the matter.
What to watch next
- Whether the Mar Thoma Church formally responds to or clarifies its position on the proposal
- Reactions from Kerala church bodies or state authorities to mandatory pre-marital HIV testing
- Implementation of Karnataka's mandatory HIV testing and counselling camps in colleges
Who said what2
Only words found exactly in the article are shown, attributed and linked to the line they came from.
Thomas
Mar Thoma Church Clergy trustee
1 quote · 1 outlet
“I believe that all marriages solemnised in the Mar Thoma Church should be conducted only after the couples have undergone such tests.”
In the article
…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. His remarks come against the backdrop of a recent report of a rise in HIV infections among people aged between 18 and 35 in Karnataka. Following the…
Mar Thoma Church
1 quote · 1 outlet
“The Church has not taken any official position in this regard”
In the article
…to any form of abuse,” the priest added. Only a personal observation: Church The Mar Thoma Church, meanwhile, sought to distance itself from the suggestion, describing it as a personal observation by Rev. Thomas. “ The Church has not taken any official position in this regard ,” a source at the Church headquarters in Thiruvalla said. Published - September 03, 2026 02:08 pm IST…
Coverage1
All filed from India
Named India · Government of Karnataka · Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society · Mar Thoma Church · Thomas
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