General Chat

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Some friends of mine adopted a little boy and they have had him a year now, (he's 3) absolutely lovely lad and plays with my son. After my friend had her first child (who is now 6) they couldn't have anymore hence the long process of adoption they went through. Their daughter goes to the same catholic school as my daughter and we are all a close community, they wish to get the lad baptised at the local church and for him eventually go to the same school as which his sister currently goes. Our local priest has refused to baptise him because the child was not adopted through the catholic society adoption agency. I'm am so angry, what does this matter? They are a lovely family and can't believe the decision, they have asked another catholic church to baptise him and they have agreed, so now they are thinking of talking their daughter away from the school she goes to and putting her in the school that belongs to the other catholic church. What are you views please. catherine xx

Well, as a lapsed Catholic I think I would have spoken to the Bishop about this priest - if one parish can do it . they all should be able to. Glad your friends have found a priest who will baptise the little fella. Mary xx

I too would move my child from her school, to the school run by the other church who would welcome her brother into its community by baptizing him. Elaine x

Well Catherine as a Catholic I'm disgusted the same as you, how dare they deny a child Baptism am glad your friend's found another church to do so. Norah

I agree (and I was adopted through the Catholic children's rescue society). It's no wonder, with them having picky attitudes like that, that fewer people go to church now. I think they should be glad that the parents want to baptise the child as Catholic.

the church i used to go to refused to baptise a child because the parents weren't married, i tackled our vicar about it and he said the parents weren't living a christian life .i said what about 'suffer little children to come to thee .'he lost a few off his cogregation . through this .

Hello Catherine, If I were you, I would confront this 'Hypocrite' with the words, 'Suffer Little Children to come unto Me' and ask him by what 'God' given right he refuses to baptise the Child. Hal.

Catherine, I think first she should report him to his Bishop. I'm sure that's not right at all, I'd move their daughter too if that's the attitude of the priest who will be spiritually educating her . We had something similar when our daughter wanted to have her daughter baptised in the Church of England. The lady priest refused because the baby was being named Heaven. Daphne

I think your friend should qoute some bible facts to her priest.......Jesus would never had turned a child away. He should be baptised there and go to the same school as his sister!! he can be told that Jesus said : 'Let the little children come to me and stop hindering them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.' Matt 19:14 Much happiness Debi

How ridicules, surely if the child is being brought up now as a Catholic that is all that matters for them to be Christened. What I would say is that your friends may want to consider having a conditional christening instead of a conventional one unless the child has been in their care since birth as you can't guarantee if the birth family had him christened before he was put up for adoption. I wonder if the same Priest would refuse to baptise/ christen a convert and their children in the same manner. How you are brought up makes you who you are, not how you are born - good on your friends for finding another who will accept their son into the Church and carry out the rites of the Christening for the child so he can be brought up in a loving community by parents who only what to do what they believe is right by their son.

thing is Daphne, if they report the priest to our Bishop, then it's going to cause bad feeling, I might put it to them and see what they think anyway. Pardon the pun but they should all be singing from the same hymn sheet surely, 1 catholic priest will do it 1 won't? catherine xx

the lad was never baptised previously. The mother had lots of problems, of which I don't wish to go into to be honest. But I can assume he was never baptised. catherine xx

Susie,I agree:-))

Hi Catherine,how disgraceful!! Nobody has the right to deny a child a baptisim, this is another reason I fell out with organized religion. I would take it futher maybe to the bishop. I hope they get it sorted. Roxanne x

Sometimes i think SOME of these priests have their head stuck so far up there own a*se they think they're talking in gods voice, who made them judge & jury!?! Sorry getting on me soap box lol but does make me angry, these kids are the innocents and suffer because of other peoples attitudes Susie x

I'm a lapsed Catholic now, but, despite my marital status at the time, two of my children were baptised by my local priest and attended the Catholic primary school attached to his church. He would be appalled by this judgemental hypocrite. Daisy

What a christian ' he is/nt? 'I would appeal to the bishop! I was refused a baptism (aged 6 months) because one of my god parents was C of E .Never mind the child has a loving home, what does it matter through what society they went. The child's welfare comes first. What a ignorant man.! Best Wishes to the family , keep us updated

will do Bulldog catherine xx

And i thought the church welcomed everyone! I would be inclined to swap church/schools to, but would this upset their daughter if she is settled? Im shocked they have been treated like this by a church. xx