Cardinal urges Catholics in India to have more children

Published: 2006-08-08

NEW DELHI (CNS) -- While the population control lobby in India is clamoring for stringent measures to curb population growth, a cardinal has urged Catholics to have more children. "In pursuit of their selfish joys, even those who can afford to bring up children do not want them," said Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, head of India's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, in a pastoral letter. "There is sin and injustice to society behind the decision of not having children by those parents who have the means and normal health." Cardinal Vithayathil said in the letter, which is to be read Aug. 13 in the 25 dioceses of the Eastern Catholic church, that "those who have the means should come forward to have more children and bring them up. Responsible fatherhood and motherhood demand this." Cardinal Vithayathil told Catholic News Service Aug. 7 from his office in Cochin, India, that even rich Catholic families do not have more than two children. Despite calls for population control measures, Cardinal Vithayathil said, "The size of the family should be determined by the couple and not by the state or any other force."

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