Mar Thoma Church priest suggests mandatory HIV tests for marriages

Rev. Dr. K. Thomas, a priest and trustee of the Mar Thoma Church, has sparked controversy in Kerala by suggesting that HIV testing should be made mandatory for all marriages conducted within the church.

Speaking at a church family gathering in Thiruvananthapuram, Thomas argued that such tests would allow parents to ensure that brides have not been sexually abused or had their bodies “misused.” He cited reports of HIV testing in educational institutions in Karnataka as a precedent for the proposed requirement.

The remarks have drawn significant criticism on social media, with many accusing the priest of insulting young people and subjecting women’s sexual histories to unnecessary scrutiny. Thomas later attempted to clarify his comments, stating his intentions were to address parents and that he was exercising his freedom to speak within his own church.