Indian woman tells Synod her marriage to Hindu based on mutual respect

October 12, 2015

Speaking at the Synod of Bishops on October 12, an Indian Catholic woman testified that her 39-year marriage to a Hindu man has been buttressed by their respect for each other's faith.

"This religious freedom made the path of our marriage smooth and successful," Penelope Baiai told the bishops' assembly. "If it were not for my husband's tolerance and love of Christianity and my love and understanding of where he comes from, we would never have been able to celebrate our life and inter-community differences."

Baia reported that her two children regularly accompanied her to church and received religious instruction, but were not baptized. "It was my husband's desire that both our children should be allowed the freedom of choosing their own religion and I accepted it with a very large lump in my throat," she said.

 

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Further information:

• Respecting the freedom of faith, the outcome of an interreligious marriage (VIS)