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January 13, 2008

Baptism - a big deal

Milestonesbabybaptismbiblechristeni There has been unrest and cries of unfairness and middle-class manoeuvring after the  report that an increasing number of older children are being baptised Catholics purely  in order to get into good Catholic state schools.  But one wonders how many of these Machiavellian parents - if they exist - are aware of the full severity of the Vatican line on baptism?  It's not like joining a golf club you can leave:
    "Born with a fallen human nature and tainted by original sin, children also have need of the new birth in Baptism to be freed from the power of darkness... Having become a member of the Church, the person baptized belongs no longer to himself, but to him who died and rose for us.  From now on, he is called to be subject to others, to serve them in the communion of the Church, and to "obey and submit" to the Church's leaders, holding them in respect and affection."
    And it is permanent.  The many "debaptism" websites are serenely denied by the Church.  Though wired.com claims that a lot of Italians are doing it.   But read the Catechism lines above and it is clear that mere school admission doesn't justify it if you don't believe it all the way...

Posted by Libby Purves on January 13, 2008 at 05:38 PM in Baptism | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Libby Purves

  • Libby Purves is a Times columnist, novelist and Radio 4 broadcaster. Her interest in the glories, inspirations and eccentricities of world religions and cultural traditions was fuelled by an upbringing in Bangkok, Israel, Africa, France and a series of convent schools.

    Bess Twiston Davies works for the Times Register section and is a regular contributor to the Faith page and Times Online. She studied Hispanic studies and English at Sheffield University and has a journalism diploma from The Robert Schuman Institute, Angers, France.


    Contact Libby or Bess at: faithcentral@timesonline.co.uk

    You might also enjoy Articles of Faith, Ruth Gledhill's wonderful blog about religious affairs.

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