Should I not attend a Mormon friend's baby blessing?

[jbmaloney86]

Quick question for anyone knowledgeable about the subject matter please:

Is it not right to attend my mormon friend and his wife’s blessing of their baby (this precedes their baptism which is carried out around 9 years of age I believe) ? It is being performed in a house. This mormon couple has expressed interest in going to mass with my girlfriend and I and I don’t want to lose that opportunity by possibly not accepting their invitation to attend the blessing of their new baby (if I were to offend them by declining).

Any insight is appreciated - thank you so much!

 

[1ke]

You should seek guidance from your pastor, who is closer to the situation than any one of us here.

It is not entirely forbidden to attend non-Christian religious events-- for example, a Jewish wedding, Bar Mitzvah, etc.

But, with Mormons claiming to be Christian and using terms, signs, and symbols that mimic Christian rituals, I would say you should be cautious in what you attend. You cannot attend anything in their temple anyway, since only Mormons with temple recommends can do so. But if it is something in their home or at a Ward or stake, you could be included. I’m not entirely convinced it is a good idea, but if you think you have a good chance of evangelizing them in the truth of the Christan faith your pastor would be a better judge of the situation.

 

[RebeccaJ]

Quick question for anyone knowledgeable about the subject matter please:

Is it not right to attend my mormon friend and his wife’s blessing of their baby (this precedes their baptism which is carried out around 9 years of age I believe) ? It is being performed in a house. This mormon couple has expressed interest in going to mass with my girlfriend and I and I don’t want to lose that opportunity by possibly not accepting their invitation to attend the blessing of their new baby (if I were to offend them by declining).

Any insight is appreciated - thank you so much!

The majority of my family are LDS. What will happen, is male members of the family will stand in a circle, all with a hand under the baby, and say a prayer that has the intent of blessing the child and naming him/her. That’s it. They may choose to add in other things, such as a hymn or someone saying a few words. The blessings I’ve been to have just been the blessing. Followed by food and beverages (no alcohol) for everyone.

It isn’t traditional to give gifts, so you just show up.

Me, the only problem I have in my Mormon family gatherings are the prayers. Since I don’t believe they are praying to the same God that I pray to, I am a passive non-participant. No “amen” from me.

Hope that helps.

 

[EasterJoy]

It is a good idea to talk to your pastor, but if you’re going to this on the same basis are they would be attending Mass with you–that is, as an observer, and not some kind of pseudo-godparent–then it is probably OK.

 

[FriendlyFace]

I don’t see why you couldn’t go. (I live in Utah, so this kind of thing sometimes comes up.) Like someone else said, you don’t really have to participate, but it would be a friendly gesture to attend.

 

[Irishmom2]

I don’t see why you couldn’t go. (I live in Utah, so this kind of thing sometimes comes up.) Like someone else said, you don’t really have to participate, but it would be a friendly gesture to attend.

I agree. I don’t see a problem with you attending and not participating either. It really is no different than a non-Catholic friend attending a Catholic wedding or baptism and not participating.

 

[WetCatechumen]

I went to one and was described as the child’s “Catholic godfather”. Obviously, I held no official role, and I can’t be her actual godfather as my friend and his family are LDS, not Catholic, but I didn’t feel any compromise - they know I believe my faith and mine alone to be true.

 

[coopnann]

We went to our friend’s about a year ago. Me, my husband, our then 2 and 5 year old daughters. It’s fine and they were happy to ask us and we were happy to share in their special time with their new baby and celebration.
SInce we were there for their service, at some points we did not participate, such as their communion, and did not sing the songs as they were about Joseph Smith being God’s prophet.
A year or two before that, when we had just met our friends, they had attended our Catholic church for the baptism of their Catholic friends’ baby. They and their children were present for the mass and the baptism. Though I am sure they heard things they disagreed with in the mass, they were nothing but complimentary when they spoke to me of their time there at the mass.

 

[mandajane]

I think you should attend, so long as you’re attending in the spirit of friendship and support for the family and new baby, and not curiosity or interest regarding their religion.

It can also lay a lot of groundwork for an evangelizing opportunity, by solidifying your friendship with this couple. Scoffing their religion loudly during the ceremony and refusing to attend (what they perceive to be) happy and important milestone events in their child’s life, may put some distance between you as friends.

Even if they later convert to Catholicism, and learn that such an event was “wrong”, they wont see your lack of attendance in the same light. It would still be you not attending their baby’s special day.

Also - Catholics are permitted to go to weddings and funerals in other churches claiming to be Christian so long as they do not participate in rites that would be counter to the teachings of the church - IE, you can attend and witness the blessing, but you cannot participate in it.