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Alarmed by the shrinking size of Christian families in Kerala, the Catholic Church asks members to go forth and multiply

The Catholic Church in Kerala is offering financial incentives to augment the number of its believers. Church-run hospitals in the state have decided to charge a mere Rs 10,000 instead of the usual Rs 40,000 from Catholic women wishing to reverse their tubectomy or recanalisation. The bishops hope a significant number of the faithful will now rethink their fallopian tubes. This comes as the latest in a series of exhortions by the church asking its members to go forth and multiply. Reason: Kerala’s Catholic population is declining due to emigration, abroad and to other states. The size of Christian families is also shrinking, thanks to family planning. Last year, the church scuttled a state family planning bill intended to fine families Rs 10,000 if they had a third child. The bill also planned to deny such families free education and treatment in government hospitals.

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KA Shaji