Pope Francis told moms it was ok to breastfeed in Sistine chapel

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Pope Francis is again showing a healthy and natural attitude toward God’s good creation. There is nothing scandalous about feeding one’s baby. The same media that tries to sexualize anything and everything is sure to jump on this story.
 
Unfortunate that this has to be news in my view… Women should feel free to feed their children when and where they need to. Society should accommodate mothers and babies. This should be a fundamental tenant of the pro-family movement.
 
The report said that at least one mother was breastfeeding before the homily so I’m wondering if Pope Francis made the comment in response to some tut tutting he may have noticed towards her from someone? He seems to have extraordinary savvy about what might be in hearts in a given situation! I wouldn’t be surprised. 😛
 
Over a year ago he told parents whose kids were being baptized in the Sistine chapel that it was OK to breastfeed them.
 
But how would breastfeeding (at a church with no cry room) play out here in the USA parishes?
 
My wife breastfed our children in Mass.

With the clever breastfeeding clothes and shawl no-one noticed, and the kids were quiet because they were being fed and were comfortable.

All was good.
 
Okay it might be “natural” but so is going to the bathroom and well we go to the bathroom not in front of everyone. Is it really that much to expect mothers not to go essentially topless in front everyone during mass. Couldn’t they do it in private or step out for a second or do it at home before or after?
 
boar2roar said:
Okay it might be “natural” but so is going to the bathroom and well we go to the bathroom not in front of everyone. Is it really that much to expect mothers not to go essentially topless in front everyone during mass. Couldn’t they do it in private or step out for a second or do it at home before or after?
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You don’t know much about babies, do you? Or breastfeeding moms?

Let me educate you a bit, as I have plenty of professional knowledge and person experience. Babies don’t know that they aren’t supposed to be hungry when they are at Mass. You shouldn’t force a baby to eat when they aren’t hungry just because someone thinks you should feed them before Mass…you’ll end up wearing regurgitated milk, have a fussy baby whose belly is too full and you’ll be setting up some poor eating habits for the toddler years. How about after Mass? Yep. I’m sure you will have no problem with a screaming, hungry baby sitting behind you because mom is making baby wait until after Mass to eat. Stepping out of the pew to feed the baby? Like that won’t be a bigger distraction for everyone than discreetly slipping baby on the breast.

I will say that after nearly 20 years in Maternal/Newborn healthcare and having children of my own, I seriously doubt that most moms that nurse at Mass are doing it go “essentially topless” in front of you or anyone else. Most are trying to juggle their diaper bags, purse, a sling, and of course, a hungry baby (and sometimes other children). They are simply trying to meet the needs of their baby and the last thing we need when trying to promote a prolife, baby-friendly culture is someone judging them or making suggestions on a tired and devoted mom’s gentle and God-intended parenting technique. Babies wiggle, squirm, and pull off the breast. Sometimes some skin is briefly shown. Do what you’d hopefully do if you happen to see someone’s skirt or blouse fly up…look the other way and go on about your business and focus your eyes on something other than a mom feeding her baby while you are at Mass.

So, I ask you this? Is it really that much to expect people to be supportive of nursing moms, especially in Church? Not only out of kindness, since she’s your fellow parishioner and sister in Christ, but also as an outward, although subtle, sign of promoting life and motherhood in a culture that is so pro-death and anti-child? I don’t think so. I think it should be something all Christians should be doing.
 
boar2roar said:
Okay it might be “natural” but so is going to the bathroom and well we go to the bathroom not in front of everyone. Is it really that much to expect mothers not to go essentially topless in front everyone during mass. Couldn’t they do it in private or step out for a second or do it at home before or after?
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I really wish you would not have tried compare feeding a child with relieving oneself of bodily waste…

You don’t know much about babies, do you? Or breastfeeding moms?

Let me educate you a bit, as I have plenty of professional knowledge and personal experience. Babies don’t know that they aren’t supposed to be hungry when they are at Mass. You shouldn’t force a baby to eat when they aren’t hungry just because someone thinks you should feed them before Mass…you’ll end up wearing regurgitated milk, have a fussy baby whose belly is too full and you’ll be setting up some poor eating habits for the toddler years. How about after Mass? Yep. I’m sure you will have no problem with a screaming, hungry baby sitting behind you because mom is making baby wait until after Mass to eat. Stepping out of the pew to feed the baby? Like that won’t be a bigger distraction for everyone than discreetly slipping baby on the breast. And before you comment about a bottle- not all babies will take a bottle- even if it contains breast milk. Many do and that’s great, but breastfeeding is a supply and demand system and some moms just aren’t able to pump enough to satisfy baby, especially in the early weeks were the baby is learning to effectively nurse.

I will say that after nearly 20 years in Maternal/Newborn healthcare and having children of my own, I seriously doubt that most moms that nurse at Mass are doing it go “essentially topless” in front of you or anyone else. Most are trying to juggle their diaper bags, purse, a sling, and of course, a hungry baby (and sometimes other children). They are simply trying to meet the needs of their baby and the last thing we need when trying to promote a prolife, baby-friendly culture is someone judging them or making suggestions on a tired and devoted mom’s gentle and God-intended parenting technique. Babies wiggle, squirm, and pull off the breast. Sometimes some skin is briefly shown. Do what you’d hopefully do if you happen to see someone’s skirt or blouse fly up…look the other way and go on about your business and focus your eyes on something other than a mom feeding her baby while you are at Mass.

Now, I ask you this: Is it really that much to expect people to be supportive of nursing moms, especially in Church? Not only out of kindness, since she’s your fellow parishioner and sister in Christ, but also as an outward, although subtle, sign of promoting life and motherhood in a culture that is so pro-death and anti-child? I don’t think so.
 
boar2roar said:
Okay it might be “natural” but so is going to the bathroom and well we go to the bathroom not in front of everyone. Is it really that much to expect mothers not to go essentially topless in front everyone during mass. Couldn’t they do it in private or step out for a second or do it at home before or after?
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There’s rather a big difference between defecating and naturally feeding babies.
 
boar2roar said:
Okay it might be “natural” but so is going to the bathroom and well we go to the bathroom not in front of everyone. Is it really that much to expect mothers not to go essentially topless in front everyone during mass. Couldn’t they do it in private or step out for a second or do it at home before or after?
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You’re comparing eating to defecating? Really? Since when is eating a private activity?
 
boar2roar said:
Okay it might be “natural” but so is going to the bathroom and well we go to the bathroom not in front of everyone. Is it really that much to expect mothers not to go essentially topless in front everyone during mass. Couldn’t they do it in private or step out for a second or do it at home before or after?
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They aren’t standing at the altar, they’re sitting quietly in their pew. This is an archaic attitude that only reinforces to women that they should be uncomfortable feeding their children because of outdated morals.

No one would look twice at a mother bottle-feeding her infant during Mass. Any mother who manages to get herself to Mass with an infant should be commended and she should feel free and comfortable to care for that child as she sees fit.
 
boar2roar said:
Okay it might be “natural” but so is going to the bathroom and well we go to the bathroom not in front of everyone. Is it really that much to expect mothers not to go essentially topless in front everyone during mass. Couldn’t they do it in private or step out for a second or do it at home before or after?
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The Catholic Church has ALWAYS said that not all nudity is sinful, and has been pretty consistent, though less vocal, with that opinion since at least the days of John Paul II. If the pope, the head of our church, an institution which defines our morals, says its ok, then why is there an issue?
 
boar2roar said:
Okay it might be “natural” but so is going to the bathroom and well we go to the bathroom not in front of everyone. Is it really that much to expect mothers not to go essentially topless in front everyone during mass. Couldn’t they do it in private or step out for a second or do it at home before or after?
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Breastfeeding babies are eating. Most people I know don’t go away from others to eat in a car, a bathroom or a stairwell unless they have an eating disorder. If a church does not have a crying room, then eating in the church where families join together in the Eucharistic meal is THE perfect place to breastfeed. I’ve seen countless moms breastfeed in the parishes I’ve belonged to throughout the years. No one batted an eye.

BTW, newborns typically breastfeed every 2 hours (3-4hrs bottle fed). So you start feeding at 1 and you feed to 1:30. Then at 3:00, you’re feeding again. When a baby goes thru growth spurts, the time between feedings can be even less. There were days where my son would breastfeed almost constantly. We’d be lucky if we got a 30 minute break. You don’t deny a baby food because you’re at church and you don’t skip church because you have a baby.
 
casslean said:
They aren’t standing at the altar, they’re sitting quietly in their pew. This is an archaic attitude that only reinforces to women that they should be uncomfortable feeding their children because of outdated morals.

No one would look twice at a mother bottle-feeding her infant during Mass. Any mother who manages to get herself to Mass with an infant should be commended and she should feel free and comfortable to care for that child as she sees fit.
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What do you mean outdated? Breasts are considered inappropriate in public even in beaches (not nude ones) women don’t go topless but its fine in Church? Thats a great idea though why not bottle feed for that 1 hour when you are in church is that still impossible?
 
boar2roar said:
What do you mean outdated? Breasts are considered inappropriate in public even in beaches (not nude ones) women don’t go topless but its fine in Church? Thats a great idea though why not bottle feed for that 1 hour when you are in church is that still impossible?
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Apparently you’ve not been around breastfeeding.
  1. With a little discretion no-one sees anything.
  2. If you are breastfeeding you can’t just chop and change from bottle to breast.
  3. Have you seen the paintings in the Sistine chapel?
 
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