Mumbai: A few Christian women whose ancestral family graves are located in St Andrew’s Church cemetery, Bandra, have taken objection to a decades-old rule which disallows spouses and children of married daughters from being buried in those graves.
They term this as a discriminatory practice since the spouses and children of married sons can be interred there.
St Andrew’s Church, though, says it has in fact kept in step with times and liberalised the rules to permit married daughters to be buried in family graves. Allowing their husbands and children too to be interred there is another matter.
Each cemetery in the archdiocese may have varying rules about utilisation of burial plots. At present, this appears to be a localised dispute.
The Catholic Church has taken cognisance of the matter and is investigating it. Fr Nigel Barrett, spokesperson for the archdiocese of Bombay said, “We at the archdiocese are in the process of ascertaining the facts of the case. Once we get a clear picture from the parish priest as well as from those who have raised concern, we would be able to respond, keeping in mind the needs of the people and the concerns of the parish.”
Former corporator Karen D’mello who raised the issue said, “I belong to St Anne’s parish but our burials are performed at St Andrew’s since our church does not have a cemetery. St Andrew’s has devised its own rules. This is not mandated by the archdiocese. This is not right. It is discriminatory because if the spouses and children of married sons are allowed to be buried in the family grave, why not those of married daughters. What if a family has just one girl child, or two daughters?”
Advocate Nolencia Pereira, legal advisor for St Andrew’s Church, said. “In the original regulations established in the 1960s regarding the burial practices at St Andrew’s graveyard, it was explicitly defined by family are here meant himself, his wife and children. In the case of sons of the family they retain their right to the family grave even if, after marriage, they have made a home of their own. Daughters of the house once married are not entitled to the use of this family grave, as by marriage they enter the family of their husband.”
“In response to evolving societal norms and in accordance with contemporary legal standards, St Andrew’s has revised its policies, as mentioned in point 18 of the rules and regulations: ‘Family grave is for an individual family or families of all co-users.’ The parish priest will have the number of each family grave, and issue an identity paper in favour of the head of the family bearing the grave number. Only one identity paper will be issued per grave. The parish priest shall also maintain a register of such records and make necessary entries as and when changes occur. NB: Family means husband, wife, and children only (including married daughters — but not her husband or children) to allow for the burial of married daughters in their parents’ graves. However, even the church has limitations. Although we would love to, we are unable to permit the burials of married daughters’ husbands and children. Fr Clarence (parish priest) has consistently shown progressive thinking and fairness in these matters,” Pereira said.