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The Syro-Malabar Church, once politically and socially powerful in Kerala, has been losing its bargaining power in politics due to the lack of sufficient community members to mobilise. (Source: Representational Photo/ Wikimedia Commons)
Faced with shrinking numbers of the community in the state, the Kerala-based Syro-Malabar Catholic Church has warned the faithful against reckless overseas migration, urged them to become active in politics and explore opportunities within the home state.
In a circular to be read out in churches on January 18, Syro-Malabar Church head and Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil said the “shrinking numbers of the community has weakened our presence in public places”.
Stating that the Church has declared 2026 as the community empowerment year, Thattil said the observance is meant to empower youth and families. “The dwindling population of the community, which has reduced our presence in public places, should become a point of debate. Members of the Syro-Malabar Church should actively come to the arena of politics and public governance. Thoughtless migration to foreign countries has pushed at least a section into huge financial liability,” the circular said.
In the circular, issued after a four-day-long meeting of bishops under the Church, the Major Archbishop said, “Instead of being job seekers, we have to understand the potential to become job creators and providers. Although farming is said to be unprofitable, we have several commendable models of how scientific farming can provide jobs to many.”
Church spokesperson Fr Tom Olikkarott said the issue raised in the circular reflects the ground reality. It is applicable to all communities facing a decline in population. “I do not want to give any interpretation for the circular,” he said.
The Syro-Malabar Church, once politically and socially powerful in Kerala, has been losing its bargaining power in politics due to the lack of sufficient community members to mobilise. The decline of the regional Christian party Kerala Congress (M) and its various splinter groups, which once dominated Central Kerala politics, is mainly attributed to falling numbers of Christians, particularly Catholics.
The migration of youth in search of jobs and their subsequent settlement in the US, Canada and European countries has created a void in many families, especially in districts of Central Kerala.
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To encourage youth to stay back in Kerala, various dioceses have recently begun providing training for members to appear for competitive examinations. To boost the morale of farmers, dioceses have also started farmer producer companies with community members as shareholders, focusing on new farming initiatives and value-added products.
To tide over the population crisis, the Church in 2011 launched a drive to promote larger families, offering various incentives for couples having four or more children.
Sabu Jose, executive secretary of the Church’s pro-life movement, said: “Now we have around 5,000 families with four or more children. It shows our message has been received positively. At the same time, our findings show that the Church in Kerala has around one lakh men yet to find a partner. One reason is the absence of enough women in the matrimony landscape in Kerala.”
Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More
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