Kerala’s Catholic population dwindling

(January 11, 2011) An archdiocese in Kerala, southern India, recently invited a Swiss family to encourage its people to go in for larger families. Francisca and Anthonini Pietro came with their eight children to promote pro-life and large families in Tellicherry archdiocese. The couple spent two weeks visiting various parishes. Fr. James Puthenna-dayil, who directs the Family Apostolate in the archdiocese, said the Swiss couple inspired many families during their stay. “Of course deeds move people than words. Wherever the couple went as the promoters of pro-life they won the people’s heart,” he added. Anthonini, a doctor, belongs to Lugano diocese in Switzerland. His wife, a lawyer who left her job to attend to the family, assured parishioners in Kerala not to become too anxious about having many children. God will take care of the children, she said.
Last year, Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, head of the Syro-Malabar Church, had voiced concern over the dwindling Catholic population in Kerala. He asked his people to have more children to keep the Church alive. Since then, many dioceses have started campaigns to create awareness about having more children.