Make HIV test before marriage compulsory: CBCI

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Make HIV test before marriage compulsory: CBCI

Tuesday January 13 2004 00:00 IST

THRISSUR: The general body meeting of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India

in progress at Marimatha Major Seminary, near here, on Monday appealed to both

Central and State Governments to bring in legislation making medical

certification compulsory, including HIV test of youths, before their marriage.

Bishop of Marthandam, Yoohanan Mar Chrysostom, told mediapersons that the

Catholic Church was making efforts to educate the youths to disclose their

physical condition, including HIV affliction if any, before marriage.

This was considered necessary in view of the increasing incidence of HIV/AIDS.

The efforts of the Church would be strengthened if appropriate legislation was

enacted. In many developed countries such a system was in practice, he said.

Legislation while providing legal validity to such certification would also

provide justice to the victims of such marriages.

In the absence of such legislation in India, the Catholic Church has been

considering annulment of marriages in which a partner is deceived by the other

regarding the health condition, he said.

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