General Chat

Catherine its not funny. my dad is catholic and mum isnt and dad left it up to us to make the choice when we were older! (we never did lol) Dad remarried and when my little brother was going to be baptised the local priest tried so hard to get me to become catholic because in the eyes of his church my mother and father had never actually married and i had to be saved!! With your friends situation i think all priests think differently with regard to what is right and wrong for them!

I never said it was funny clare? catherine xx

After reading through, I agree with your friends, if their daughter is good enough, then her brother should be, and yes he is her brother, as the daughter is 6 I would sit her down and have a chat to explain that the school will not accept her brother due to him being adopted, and that he has to go to another school, and ask her if she wants to swap schools so that she can be with him when he starts, as he will need his big sister, and let her know that she will be able to see her friends regular after school and holiday times, and they will be able to swap stories about their day at school, I know that some may think she is too young at 6 to have an oppinion of her own, but it is supprising how much they do understand, and being asked what her feelings are on this, will make it better for her, she will grow up knowing that any big dessission is discused and answers are gained through communication. Good luck to your friends. Bev Bev

I too am disgusted catherine, how narrow minded of the Church. I have encountered this attitude with the Church Of England before. My faith in God is strong but not in the establishment of the Church, Good luck to your friends, Caz xxx

Catherine, i'm C of E , but about 20 yrs ago now i was asked to be god mother to a little girl i was really looking forward to this , but the priest said no because i wasn't catholic he said that if i became a catholic i could be a god mother ! Hazelx

Doesn't surprise me at all Catherine, my views on the Catholic church have only been re-inforced by this stupid person!! Nanna-Moo (once a catholic, but not by choice!!)

im a mormon, and my question to this self appointed judge is do you think jesus refused to baptise anyone. the point of baptism is to wash away any sin, so from that moment on he is free from any sin of his parents.does it matter if he is catholic or not, HE IS A CHRISTIAN.

Report him to the Pope, all GOD'S children have a right to join their family in school, church baptisms, local churches - whatever. This priest must understand we are all different in circumstance but all the same under the heavens.

Catherin , this has touched a nerve. If a catholic priest in 1916 was willing to baptise the 3 year old illegitimate daughter , of my G. Aunt (who was C of E) before she went into a catholic rescue home , how can this man who calls himself a man of God refuse !

Catherine, you say they go to the same Catholic school but do they go to Church & are they Catholic? If so, I can't see why the Priest is refusing them baptism for their child. My friend ( a Catholic) adopted a child through another organisation but her son was baptised a Catholic & has been brought up in the Faith. I can understand why Church of England members can't be Godparents to a Catholic child. As a Godparent you promise to help the parents bring up the child in the Catholic faith, and, to quote the Catechism, 'must be firm believers'. As the C of E has differing beliefs you cannot fulfill that basic requirement. We are Godparents to a child whose parents also wanted a C of E couple to be there for her as well. They made promises as 'Christian Witnesses' but could not be full Godparents. And, Hazel, it works both ways. I was not permitted to be a Godmother to another friend's (C of E) child BECAUSE I am a Catholic. Pat

Bill, Well said:-))

I,m sorry I,m not into God ...but live and let live..correct me if I,m wrong I thought the church accepted everyone!!? Thank goodness this child has good parents to guide him ..as it seems to me the church hasnt....or cant be bothered

I am not surprised about the way the catholic church has treated this poor family. As a child I went to a catholic school where there was nuns teaching. and all I can remember was that they were really cruel. They used to scare the children with stories about burning in hell if they didnt follow the catholic faith. Although that was back in the late 40s and 50s. i wonder if anything has changed. Perhaps the lady should send her children to a mixed religeon school, and if she wants them to be catholics, teach them herself. Hope I dont sound anti catholic as i am indeferent and feel you dont need religeon to teach your children to grow up good. I hope nobody is offended by my remarks. Dave

The decision whether or not to baptise rests with the priest in charge of any particular church. Attitudes vary from parish to parish and even between successive incumbents.

Excuse me for saying so Bendy Wendy, but I don't think a priest should take up all that training be ordained sent to a particular area and then work his own field, sorry but the catholic church should have standards and guidelines which keep all priest on the same path ............ ......GOD's path that is. Report him to the Pope say I.

how narrow minded of this particular priest. even though your friend has had the agreement of another priest to baptise her son, I would still contact the bishop about this particular priest. My daughter is having a similar problem at our local church about the christening of her son who is 4 months old. Her boyfriend hasn't been christened, and wanted to be christened at the same time as the baby, but the local vicar refused, this is at the church she was chriistened at, and where she went to Sunday school etc. She has now found another church nearer to where she lives, where the vicar is willing to christen dad and baby together Kath

I don't make the rules Skwirrel old fruit.

I HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM 20 ODD YEARS AGO ( ONLY WE ARE C OF E) . OUR VICAR SAID HE WOULD NOT CHRISTEN MY DAUGHTER BECAUSE WE DIDNT LIVE IN THE PARISH . ALTHOUGH I WAS CHRISTENED AND MARRIED THERE AND MY DAD WAS BURIED THERE. I TOLD HIM THAT JOHN THE BAPTIST AND JESUS CHRIST NEVER REFUSED TO CHRISTEN ANYBODY. ( THAT DIDN'T GO DOWN TOO WELL) . IN THE END I CONTACTED THE BISHOP OF MANCHESTER WHO INFORMED ME THAT I COULD HAVE MY DAUGHTER CHRISTENED ANYWHERE I WANTED. NEXT THING , THE VICAR RANG ASKING WHEN I WANTED MY DAUGHTER CHRISTENED . EVERYTHING WAS ARRANGED AND ON THE DAY IN QUESTION - THE VICAR DID NOT ATTEND - HE ARRANGED FOR HIS CURATE TO CHRISTEN HER . AND THIS MAN CALLS HIMSELF A MAN OF GOD.

Well having spoken to my friends tonight they are getting him baptised in 2 weeks at the other catholic church, apparently the other priest wanted a commitment that the family would attend mass every week, but due to his job he could not guarentee this, their son apparently can still go to the same school as his sister so that's some consolation I suppose. Many thanks for your views on this, I have enjoyed reading them catherine xx