The gesture of two Catholic husbands who, due to financial problems, dressed in their wedding suits, took their lives on the wedding anniversary has caused a great commotion in Maharashtra. Father José Kurian told : “In this Jubilee of Hope, what happened challenges us to be close to those who are discouraged.”
Mumbai () – A few days ago, a few days ago, a Catholic couple from Nagpur, in the State of Maharashtra, who celebrated the 26th anniversary of their wedding with friends and family and then took off, caused a great commotion in India. life wearing the same clothes as on that occasion. Jeril Damson Oscar Moncriff, 57, was found hanged in the kitchen, while his wife, Anne, 46, lay motionless in her wedding dress in the living room. According to preliminary investigations, the couple – who had no children – were going through some financial difficulties.
The police stated that they had recorded a video themselves on their cell phone before making the extreme gesture, published it on social networks and sent it to their relatives. “Probably – says the report prepared by the Nagpur agents – the man allowed his wife to take her own life first. After freeing her body from the rope, he covered it with a cloth and placed flowers on it before hanging himself with a scarf. Jeril had worked as a chef in several luxury hotels and lost his job in the Covid-19 pandemic, while Anne was a housewife.
The incident has deeply shocked the local Catholic community. Father Jose Kurian, parish priest of the Syro-Malabar Church of Saint Jude Thaddeus, in Nagpur, tells : “Life is a gift from God and no one has the right to take it away. The Church always affirms and defends the dignity of life “. Therefore, each case of suicide is a sad and unfortunate event for the Church. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines it as an act “seriously contrary to the just love of oneself” and also an offense “to the love of one’s neighbor, because it unjustly breaks the bonds of solidarity with family, national and human society, towards which We have obligations. But the Church does not judge people who have taken their own lives. And the Catechism itself states: “We must not despair of the eternal salvation of people who have committed suicide. God, through means known only to Him, can prepare for you the opportunity for healthy repentance. “The Church prays for the people who have made attempts on her life.”
“In 2025, the Jubilee Year of Hope – adds Fr. Kurian – the Church is also called to be close to people who experience discouragement in life. Meetings could be organized for specific groups through which people who may need mental and spiritual support can be identified and arrangements made for them to have access to professional help. “Creating teams of appropriately selected and trained people to address mental health issues would be a great sign of hope for our communities.”
Add Comment