Taking away Sacraments as discipline

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Would it be acceptable to take away a sacrament as a form of discipline? For instance, if a teenager, who is looking forward to and excited about making Confirmation, disobeys their parents, would it be okay for a parent to cancel their Confirmation and put it off until another year as a form of punishment for misbehaving?
 
kptrs said:
Would it be acceptable to take away a sacrament as a form of discipline? For instance, if a teenager, who is looking forward to and excited about making Confirmation, disobeys their parents, would it be okay for a parent to cancel their Confirmation and put it off until another year as a form of punishment for misbehaving?
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I can’t imagine any scenario in which this would be appropriate. Saraments aren’t a parent’s prerogative to “weaponize.”
 
kptrs said:
Would it be acceptable to take away a sacrament as a form of discipline? For instance, if a teenager, who is looking forward to and excited about making Confirmation, disobeys their parents, would it be okay for a parent to cancel their Confirmation and put it off until another year as a form of punishment for misbehaving?
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Short answer: No.

As a parent and grandparent, after I picked my jaw up from the floor and eye rolled to the point of near-blindness, I wound up feeling very sorry for not just this child but for the parents, who obviously have been extremely poorly brought up in exactly what sacraments (and appropriate discipline) are, and perhaps not solely through their own fault. What a sad situation. Prayers.
 
kptrs said:
Would it be acceptable to take away a sacrament as a form of discipline? For instance, if a teenager, who is looking forward to and excited about making Confirmation, disobeys their parents, would it be okay for a parent to cancel their Confirmation and put it off until another year as a form of punishment for misbehaving?
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We want to change your behavior so we are e to deny you gifted of the Holy Spirit?
No that doesn’t make sense, however the Eucharist can be harmful if received unworthily.
As a parent I use reception of the sacraments as incentive. If one of my kids is misbehaving I know a trip to confession is in our future. Confession has been a great help with parenting!
For our entire family!
 
Would it be acceptable to refuse someone the grace of God for any reason?

I would think God would be very upset, to put it mildly, at those who would inhibit someone from coming to Him, from receiving His graces…
 
kptrs said:
Would it be acceptable to take away a sacrament as a form of discipline? For instance, if a teenager, who is looking forward to and excited about making Confirmation, disobeys their parents, would it be okay for a parent to cancel their Confirmation and put it off until another year as a form of punishment for misbehaving?
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:eek:

How would denying a child the grace of a sacrament be beneficial to the child’s behavior? The parents would more likely push the child away from the Church while destroying their relationship with the child.

The mind reels…
 
I would like to add that I am against any withdrawal of something special unless for an extremely serious infraction. So I don’t agree with saying no Homecoming dance or no sking trip unless the child committed a serious crime. Take away everyday things that can be returned, not something that can never be gotten back and that is of anharshness that only occurs from time to time.
 
kptrs said:
Would it be acceptable to take away a sacrament as a form of discipline? For instance, if a teenager, who is looking forward to and excited about making Confirmation, disobeys their parents, would it be okay for a parent to cancel their Confirmation and put it off until another year as a form of punishment for misbehaving?
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:eek: No! Do not deny God’s grace to your child!
 
kptrs said:
Would it be acceptable to take away a sacrament as a form of discipline? For instance, if a teenager, who is looking forward to and excited about making Confirmation, disobeys their parents, would it be okay for a parent to cancel their Confirmation and put it off until another year as a form of punishment for misbehaving?
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Absolutely, without exception, NO!
 
kptrs said:
Would it be acceptable to take away a sacrament as a form of discipline? For instance, if a teenager, who is looking forward to and excited about making Confirmation, disobeys their parents, would it be okay for a parent to cancel their Confirmation and put it off until another year as a form of punishment for misbehaving?
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As a priest, I am frankly horrified at the very concept of a parent doing such a thing.
 
Thank you everyone. I would not do this to my child. Unfortunately, when I was preparing for my Confirmation, my mother threatened to cancel my Confirmation if I didn’t change my behavior. 😦
 
kptrs said:
Would it be acceptable to take away a sacrament as a form of discipline? For instance, if a teenager, who is looking forward to and excited about making Confirmation, disobeys their parents, would it be okay for a parent to cancel their Confirmation and put it off until another year as a form of punishment for misbehaving?
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By discipline, you mean punishment. And I agree with many above that it is inappropriate for a parent to do this.

However, I believe it is the duty to pastors of souls to delay (but not completely withhold?) sacraments to those who they judge are ill prepared, and this is a form of *discipline *(teaching/training).

:twocents:
tee
 
Gertabelle said:
:eek:

How would denying a child the grace of a sacrament be beneficial to the child’s behavior? The parents would more likely push the child away from the Church while destroying their relationship with the child.

The mind reels…
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Plus one.
 
tee_eff_em said:
By discipline, you mean punishment. And I agree with many above that it is inappropriate for a parent to do this.

However, I believe it is the duty to pastors of souls to delay (but not completely withhold?) sacraments to those who they judge are ill prepared, and this is a form of *discipline *(teaching/training).

:twocents:
tee
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👍

Regardless of our age, if we are not properly disposed . . .🤷
 
It is not the parent’s to intervene or interfere in these things at all.

I bet the parents didn’t tell the local Church authorities what the child was supposed to have done wrong and I bet the local church authorities weren’t equipped to evaluate that - or if they were, they would have come down firmly on the side of the child’s confirmation as per schedule.

An interdict is not a thing to be trifled with.

And another thing - hardly anyone understands what confirmation is anyway. What do those parents think about their own confirmation if they had one?
 
You want discipline? Double up on the Sacraments. We’re all patients in this hospital called the World. Let us see our physician.
 
kptrs said:
Would it be acceptable to take away a sacrament as a form of discipline? For instance, if a teenager, who is looking forward to and excited about making Confirmation, disobeys their parents, would it be okay for a parent to cancel their Confirmation and put it off until another year as a form of punishment for misbehaving?
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The sacraments do not belong to the parents, therefore the sacraments are not theirs to take away or withhold. The sacraments belong to Christ and his Church, administered through the priest or bishop and available to all who are properly disposed and not prohibited by law from receiving them.

Their child has rights under Church law, and what you propose is a violation of those rights.
 
1ke said:
The sacraments do not belong to the parents, therefore the sacraments are not theirs to take away or withhold. The sacraments belong to Christ and his Church, administered through the priest or bishop and available to all who are properly disposed and not prohibited by law from receiving them.

Their child has rights under Church law, and what you propose is a violation of those rights.
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Not only rights, but obligations. Concerning Confirmation: “Can. 890 The faithful are obliged to receive this sacrament at the proper time. …”

Dan
 
No, punishments are supposed to have a medicinal end to them. Why take away the Sacraments which are the greatest help we have to becoming good, aka saints? If your child came home with a D in math, would you take away his tutor as punishment?
 
On the other hand, if – as a form of parental discipline – the parent says, “your behavior is so egregious that, if you don’t shape up in a hurry, we’re not going to have a party for you, for your Confirmation”… well, that wouldn’t seem to be sinful. I’m not sure I’m going to argue for its appropriateness, but nevertheless… 😉
 
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