00:00On that note, it's a senior priest of the Marthoma Church in Keralam
00:05that's attracted criticism for suggesting that the HIV tests be made mandatory
00:10before marriage is conducted by the church.
00:13Marthoma Church priest, trustee, Reverend Dr. K. Thomas
00:17has made the remarks while addressing parents at a recent family gathering
00:22organized by the church here.
00:24And he's also urged parents to ensure that their daughter's body has not been misused
00:28while they bring them to the church for marriage.
00:31Video of the priest's speech during the very event was telecast by several media houses.
00:36Now, claiming that Karnataka government has decided to conduct an HIV test
00:40on college campuses, that is.
00:44He said similar tests should be conducted before marriages in the church.
00:48Now, what's the context behind this entire story?
00:50Remember, in Karnataka, there's been a surge in HIV cases that's been reported.
00:54And these are cases that have just been reported.
00:56So, as a preventative measure, or at least to monitor this entire matter,
01:01Karnataka government had come out with this entire advisory that
01:05tests need to take place through college campuses.
01:08Now, in that very context, this particular reverend has come out to speak
01:12from the state of Keralam now, saying that before marriage,
01:16everybody should have to go through, at least church marriages,
01:18everybody should have to go through HIV tests.
01:20Listen to what he said first before we proceed with more details.
01:25The Karnataka government has come out of HIV testicles.
01:55Shibhimol, a very good morning to you.
02:01You know, Keralam, over the last couple of days,
02:03seems to be embroiled with controversies coming in,
02:06especially with those holding certain positions across religious faiths
02:11coming in to make certain statements.
02:13This time it's a church and it's a reverend who's come out to make the statement.
02:16While in Karnataka, it's indeed a cause of alarm,
02:18the rate at which the HIV cases have gone up.
02:21Tests have been ordered by the Karnataka government about campuses,
02:25throughout campuses, that is.
02:26But this statement that everybody needs to be, you know, going through HIV tests,
02:32maybe some may say it's a preventative measure,
02:34but the kind of remark that's been made of him,
02:37it's not been looked at in good light.
02:43Well, you know, the statement has sparked a debate with many actually coming out in support of him,
02:48saying that if you meant that both the male and the female,
02:51the bride and the groom has to go through the HIV test,
02:54yes, then it makes sense because it can be seen as a preventative measure.
02:57But if you're referring only to female here or the bride here,
03:01then that's not right.
03:02That's not something acceptable.
03:03It's generally the discussion that's taking place on social media regarding the statement.
03:08But he was addressing a, you know,
03:10family gathering of the Martoma Church here in Tiruvannathaparam,
03:13and that's where he made this statement saying that,
03:15you know, I'm going to address the parents here,
03:17the parents who have gathered here.
03:18He took the example of, you know,
03:20of meeting a 17 and a half year old child who was a girl who was living,
03:25who was in a live-in relationship with a man,
03:27with a boy who is just 18 year old.
03:29So both of them are not matured enough.
03:31So they're going through, you know,
03:33but they're saying that they're living together
03:34and they're living like a married couple.
03:36So that's where he brings in this topic,
03:38saying that Karnataka has done massive test campaign
03:41across the campuses in Karnataka.
03:44So in that case, in our community also,
03:46I feel they will have to go through the test before they get married.
03:50And that's an essential part.
03:52He also goes on to say that the parents should have a responsibility
03:55to ensure that when the child is entering the wedding hall,
03:59their body has not been misused.
04:01That's where the controversy really arises.
04:03That's where the, you know,
04:04the intention of the statement is really being questioned,
04:06whether it's just applicable to women.
04:08If that's the case, then no,
04:10that's not something that we appreciate.
04:11If it's on both sides, then yes.
04:13He also went on to say that he didn't expect that,
04:15you know, this will become a major discussion.
04:17But he says that he stands by whatever he said,
04:20as it came from his understanding of the issues that's happening around,
04:23understanding of the stories and the children
04:25who are brought to him for counselling by the parents.
04:29Right, should be more.
