Forbidden to attend Catholic Baptism

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QwertyGirl said:
He probably fears that there will be others in attndance at the baptism who have a problem with homosexuals or with you choosing to have a partner. He has handled it poorly.
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I thought the same. Baptisms usually bring out all the grandparents, in-laws, aunts, uncles etc and some of them may not be on board with the idea of someone showing up with their same-sex partner. I’m sorry your friend handled it badly, but having a new baby creates a lot of pressures for its parents, and the dad may be sleep-deprived or trying to avoid getting the third degree from his mother-in-law. One thing is for sure: when babies show up, the focus starts to get pretty tightly on the family because there isn’t so much time or space for outside friends anymore, especially outside friends who aren’t also raising babies and can share that experience.
 
The Catholic Church doesn’t have a tradition of “shunning”.
That being said, it’s possible that some of the guests are children who are old enough to be aware of your relationship. This puts parents in an awkward position— if you’re openly defying the Church’s teachings on sexuality.
Teaching children about sexuality and the morality around it is a serious obligation.
 
Go the traditional route:

Pray for the child to sleep for 100 years. On awakening, the problem will have resolved itself, and everyone will live happily ever after.
 
I would worry more about God’s invitation than anyone else in the whole world.

He is inviting you (all of us) to heaven. And He requires sacrifice.

I would respect your friends request, even though a Mass with Baptism is open to the public. It’s not a matter of Canon law, but whether you actually honor what Baptism means.

It would be a contradiction to support someone else’s Baptism, yet profane your own.
 
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Not enough information to substantiate this claim or opinion.

Depends…is the Baptism part of a regularly celebrated Mass, or a private ceremony?

If it is part of a parish communal Mass, It is not their choice to say who is “forbidden” from attending…it is only their choice to not invite the couple…if anyone, sinner or saint, wants to attend a Mass, they are welcomed…it is not the parent’s place to approve an attendance list for a Mass.

Peace and all good!
 
Who? OP, or me (last poster)…not enough information or justification to substantiate the comment.
 
Perhaps on that account you are correct, if the OP would regularly attend this Mass regardless of the event.

However, if the reason to attend is for the Baptism, then it’s a justifiable request. It’s not about Church law, but someone who publicly profanes Baptism.
 
“Influencing others to sin.” The dilemma for me would be not myself or other adults, but instead my underage children. That’s the great difficulty in this if it were me. It is not hateful or homophobic to want to shield my children from reaching the conclusion that a same sex partnership is OK in Gods eyes. With older children you can explain that it was their choice, but it is a choice we disagree with and think is wrong. But with younger children, it seems to plant a seed within them that this is OK and normal. I have a real hard time with that. I’m dreading the first time I face it. Before this generation, behavior like this was a secret. Now that it is out there in the open and even applauded, it has created a whole new set of difficulties for those who don’t think it is right.
 
rcwitness said:
Perhaps on that account you are correct, if the OP would regularly attend this Mass regardless of the event.
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Not sure I understand this…what does “if the OP would regularly attend this Mass regardless of the event” have to do with it?

Inquiry is a process that is on God’s timeline, not ours…what if the OP does not regularly attend this Mass? What if a single attendance becomes the impetus for him/her to come back and eventually (even years later) join into full communion with the Church?

Nobody, ever, should be discourage from attending any Mass with the rationale that they are not somehow ready, properly disposed, reverent, or worthy enough…if this was the case, I should have been discouraged rather than encouraged from entering into full communion at the age of 56.

All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in His name!

Peace and all good!
 
0Scarlett_nidiyilii said:
The Catholic Church doesn’t have a tradition of “shunning”.
That being said, it’s possible that some of the guests are children who are old enough to be aware of your relationship. This puts parents in an awkward position— if you’re openly defying the Church’s teachings on sexuality.
Teaching children about sexuality and the morality around it is a serious obligation.
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I believe you are mistaken. Excommunicated people are indeed “shunned”. Not that the OP is excommunicated (to the best of my knowledge). So, it does appear that the Catholic Church does have a tradition of shunning - - isn’t that what excommunication is?
"An excommunicated person also cannot be received into a public association of the Christian faithful (#316.1)."
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Although:
"On the other hand, a person can also incur automatic excommunication. “A person who is an apostate from the faith, a heretic, or a schismatic (#1364); or one who procures a successful abortion (#1398) is automatically excommunicated. In these cases, the local ordinary or a delegated priest can remit the penalty.”
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Is someone who believes in SSM necessarily a "heretic" or a "schismatic"? Is an Episcopalian a "schismatic" by definition?
 
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If the OP is only desiring to attend the Mass on account of the Baptism, then it certainly does matter.
 
rcwitness said:
If the OP is only desiring to attend the Mass on account of the Baptism, then it certainly does matter.
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“If” a frog had wings, he wouldn’t bump his butt when he hopped!

Why put restrictions on “why” or “if” a person attends a Mass, but instead celebrate their attendance and the hope that they witnessing the Mass would inspire them to turn to God?
 
Thank you everyone for the support and clarification! Yes, this baptism happened with a mass after the sacrament was performed.

I ended up not going to the Mass but I did see photos on Facebook, it was pretty much family and the godparents that went so I’m sure there might have been outside unseen pressure from the in laws being present.

I was very disappointed and hurt that it happened, and considering that my church consistently baptises, confirms gay people and children of gay folks, it was jarring to say the least!
 
rcwitness said:
It’s not about Church law, but someone who publicly profanes Baptism.
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What the what??? Are you saying that his being there with his partner “profanes baptism??” The OP and his partner are human beings made in God’s image and likeness, not infectious pathogens. They don’t have the power to un-baptize a wee babe or nullify the baptism.

Again, are we to vet every sinner, every person in violation of Church teaching before they may attend a baptism? Because if we do, they only witnesses showing up will be chirping crickets. And last I checked, chirping crickets can’t administer the sacraments.
 
Yes, openly and unremorsefully choosing a homosexual life is profaning Baptism openly.
 
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That mortal sin profanes the very meaning of Baptism? Really? You need that spelled out?
 
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