Baby shower dilemma

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VintageRose

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One of my fellow employees is a lesbian. She and her partner recently adopted a sweet little baby. Our company is holding a baby shower for them next week in our Conference Room.

Out of kindness and compassion for their new baby should I: (1.) Attend and bring a gift. (2.) Attend and only bring a lovely card. (3.) Attend and bring nothing. (4.) Be a bit too busy with work to attend. (5.) Other suggestions?

Thank you for your thoughts.
 
Imho-you are celebrating the baby and the babies life. So I would go, and ask if the other employees are chipping in, and then contribute and sign the card. If not, I would buy a baby card and present. In both situations I would attend as well.
 
I would make myself busy with work so I would not have to attend. It does not seem morally sound to attend.
 
DaddyGirl said:
👍

I agree with the above. Even if you stop in for a little bit, it would show thoughtfulness. It’s wonderful that this baby who has no family is being given a home and presumably the couple will offer much love to her.

Besides, you’re not being asked to attend a same-sex marriage.

Is it Catholic teaching that a gay person cannot adopt a child??

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That is Catholic teaching. Pope Francis called gay adoption discrimination against children.
 
Any of those options are okay except “attend and bring nothing”. A shower is a gift-giving occasion. Personally, I would have no moral qualms about going. It’s a celebration of a new life.
 
Could you give a gift for the baby and not attend the shower?
 
anon67074017 said:
That is Catholic teaching. Pope Francis called gay adoption discrimination against children.
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Regardless of whether the parents of the child are gay, the whole celebration of the “baby” shower revolves around celebrating the birth of a new “baby,” and not the parents. The baby is innocent of having gay/lesbian parents. I don’t see anything wrong with going, as long as it doesn’t make you seem like you approve of this adoption.
I think stopping by momentarily to give a gift to the new baby would be the best option.
 
It is very unwise to attend that baby shower because it can cause the sin of scandal to faithful Catholics among the workplace.

If it was me I wouldn’t attend or even give a gift for an event such as that.

It would be better to pray for that child
 
I personally would not attend the baby shower. I would buy a gift/giftcard and drop it by my co-worker’s desk or workstation at another time.
The gift is for the baby; but I would not attend a shower for a lesbian/gay couple as for me that would constitute approval.
 
I’m tired of blending social stuff with work settings.

Its one thing to be pleasant to people at work in the usual course of a work day and its also fine to become “outside” friends with people from work, but that party and celebration thing during the work day and passing around the money envelope for all the occasions you can thing of is overdone.
 
I think fellow Catholics in the workplace who are more concerned with one attending a celebration of a new life and the finding of that baby a home with two loving parents as constituting a scandal, maybe need to have a long look at themselves. Especially if they consider what might have been the fate of this precious child. :rolleyes:

Attending does not constitute approval (it certainly wouldn’t in the minds of the couple, and you, VintageRose, know your own heart) of the relationship, or their marriage if they are married - it constitutes showing joy and affection towards their child. I personally would certainly attend, send a card, and either have a small gift of your own or chip in to one colleagues are preparing 🙂

By the way VintageRose, your user name is beautiful 🙂
 
Murmurs said:
I think fellow Catholics in the workplace who are more concerned with one attending a celebration of a new life and the finding of that baby a home with two loving parents as constituting a scandal, maybe need to have a long look at themselves. Especially if they consider what might have been the fate of this precious child. :rolleyes:

Attending does not constitute approval (it certainly wouldn’t in the minds of the couple, and you, VintageRose, know your own heart) of the relationship, or their marriage if they are married - it constitutes showing joy and affection towards their child. I personally would certainly attend, send a card, and either have a small gift of your own or chip in to one colleagues are preparing 🙂

By the way VintageRose, your user name is beautiful 🙂
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What do you mean “what MIGHT have become the fate of this child.” This HAS become the fate of this child. When will we ever learn. I would give the child a prayer enrollment card for a gift and NOT attend the party. God Bless, Memaw
 
Murmurs said:
I think fellow Catholics in the workplace who are more concerned with one attending a celebration of a new life and the finding of that baby a home with two loving parents as constituting a scandal, maybe need to have a long look at themselves. Especially if they consider what might have been the fate of this precious child. :rolleyes:

Attending does not constitute approval (it certainly wouldn’t in the minds of the couple, and you, VintageRose, know your own heart) of the relationship, or their marriage if they are married - it constitutes showing joy and affection towards their child. I personally would certainly attend, send a card, and either have a small gift of your own or chip in to one colleagues are preparing 🙂

By the way VintageRose, your user name is beautiful 🙂
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Well said! In my humble opinion, this child needs the love and support of everyone who comes into contact with this family.
 
VintageRose said:
One of my fellow employees is a lesbian. She and her partner recently adopted a sweet little baby. Our company is holding a baby shower for them next week in our Conference Room.

Out of kindness and compassion for their new baby should I: (1.) Attend and bring a gift. (2.) Attend and only bring a lovely card. (3.) Attend and bring nothing. (4.) Be a bit too busy with work to attend. (5.) Other suggestions?

Thank you for your thoughts.
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Personally, I would not attend the shower but would give a practical gift for the baby at another time (either before or after the shower). Contrary to what some people say, the shower is a party for the mother and I would not feel comfortable celebrating this. At my office, I stopped going to all of the baby showers for planned out-of-wedlock children for the same reason. But I still gave a nice gift for the baby.
DaddyGirl said:
👍

Is it Catholic teaching that a gay person cannot adopt a child??

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Yes, it is. The Church considers it a form of child abuse to intentionally place a child in a home without a mother and father, especially one where he/she will be brought up with a twisted sense of morality.
 
Corki said:
Personally, I would not attend the shower but would give a practical gift for the baby at another time (either before or after the shower). Contrary to what some people say, the shower is a party for the mother and I would not feel comfortable celebrating this. At my office, I stopped going to all of the baby showers for planned out-of-wedlock children for the same reason. But I still gave a nice gift for the baby.

Yes, it is. The Church considers it a form of child abuse to intentionally place a child in a home without a mother and father, especially one where he/she will be brought up with a twisted sense of morality.
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Pretty much this. 👍
 
Catechism:

1868 Sin is a personal act. Moreover, we have a responsibility for the sins committed by others when we cooperate in them:
  • by participating directly and voluntarily in them;
  • by ordering, advising, praising, or approving them;
  • by not disclosing or not hindering them when we have an obligation to do so;
  • by protecting evil-doers.
scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c1a8.htm#V
 
I would say just go and give that cute little baby a gift.

This is different than a gay wedding! (At the wedding, you see something immoral/invalid taking place, while at this baby shower, the couple already adopted, the focus is on the baby, not the couple). For this baby shower, you are there as a friend/colleague celebrating the precious little baby!

If you feel uncomfortable, then don’t go but give the baby a gift at least. It’s better than attending+not giving anything.
 
DaddyGirl said:
So…he also thinks a *single *parent adopting a child is child abuse? It is church teaching that single or widowed person should not adopt?
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I don’t think a single parent should adopt unless there’s a really good reason. I mean adopting a child’s not like picking up a pet. Kids should have as good a chance at a normal life as possible. We shouldn’t be juggling them off to just whoever’s next in line.

Because a big chunk of criminals come from single-parent homes. Because while someone’s away working all the time the kid doesn’t get enough emotional support.
 
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