Anonymous wrote:http://cvcomment.org/2013/03/04/challenging-the-myth-of-catholic-decline/

Actually, the Catholic Church is growing and has been steadily growing, outpacing general population growth, since the 1990's

True. Even if the numbers are decreasing in the US, there are huge surges in Africa and Asia. The church is global and the net growth is encouraging.

Sad that faith has become a hassle to many.

http://cvcomment.org/2013/03/04/challenging-the-myth-of-catholic-decline/

Actually, the Catholic Church is growing and has been steadily growing, outpacing general population growth, since the 1990's

Anonymous wrote:If you do not like the way the church is treating you, please realize that it is an option to leave the church. I say this as someone who made a similar choice.

Two of my three children were baptized in the Arlington Diocese. Agree with the OP that the requirements are ridiculous and frankly, made us feel anything BIT welcome ... We moved/changed address and subsequently joined a new parish when we had a newborn. I right away asked about baptism and was told I had to wait 6 months...that was the rule. Ugh.
Leaving the church was the best thing I've ever done.

We we warmly welcomed into the fold of a Protestant church and had our third baptized at 2 months. The pastor was thrilled to baptize our baby and did not care that we weren't members.

My newer congregation is full of ex Catholics. We're leaving in droves!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When we got married, it was one thing after the other. Now we have a newborn and I'm trying to have her baptized. THey make this whole process SO. UNBELIEVABLY. DIFFICULT. I am really on the verge of just saying screw it. I don't understand why they are doing this? Shouldn't they want to encourage young adults to remain active in the Church/introduce the next generation to Catholicism? If that's their intent, they are seriously going about it the WRONG way.

You know what else is SO. UNBELIEVABLY. DIFFICULT? Being forced to carry a wooden cross to your intended place of death, having thorns placed on your head in a crown to mock you, being naked and nailed to a cross in the hot sun to slowly die while your mother watches.

He made the ultimate sacrifice for you, for your child, to be cleansed of original sin (ie baptism) and you are upset about paperwork.

Perhaps you want to rethink your reasoning for wanting your child baptized.

Standing up and clapping

Me too. Thanks getting right to the heart of the matter.

Anonymous wrote:It is too much because you have so little love your heart.

We're not talking about humanity or love in our hearts, we are talking about needless rules and regulations.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When we got married, it was one thing after the other. Now we have a newborn and I'm trying to have her baptized. THey make this whole process SO. UNBELIEVABLY. DIFFICULT. I am really on the verge of just saying screw it. I don't understand why they are doing this? Shouldn't they want to encourage young adults to remain active in the Church/introduce the next generation to Catholicism? If that's their intent, they are seriously going about it the WRONG way.

You know what else is SO. UNBELIEVABLY. DIFFICULT? Being forced to carry a wooden cross to your intended place of death, having thorns placed on your head in a crown to mock you, being naked and nailed to a cross in the hot sun to slowly die while your mother watches.

He made the ultimate sacrifice for you, for your child, to be cleansed of original sin (ie baptism) and you are upset about paperwork.

Perhaps you want to rethink your reasoning for wanting your child baptized.

Standing up and clapping

It is too much because you have so little love your heart.

^^^ Completely agree with you 13:56. Makes no sense, I became an Episcopalian.

I agree with this lady. I went to Catholic school for 5 years and became a believer but since my parents (one a Catholic, the other Protestant) had never had me baptized, I am now in my 50's and still want to be baptized. I joined a parish about a year ago with this desire in my heart but was told I had to attend a year-long ROTC course at night, then needed a sponsor, etc. etc. I don't understand this. I'm an adult, I know what I'm doing, I've read the gospels, I'm a believer, why can't I be baptized on that basis? I struggled on with their requirements but after a few months found that several of the women in the Catholic league were treating me with suspicion because I'm an outsider and didn't grow up here. One woman even started questioning me on one occasion in front of a roomful of people which was not only embarrassing but made me question what being a Christian means if they could be so judgemental of someone whose only goal was to be baptized. Although a handful of other devout women were still guiding me, I decided to stop going to this parish as I felt like an outsider. I still want to be baptized but feel reluctant to put myself out again at another parish. Why so difficult indeed, I agree.

Anonymous wrote:Baptism is a sacrament. It isn't a feel good excuse to get family and friends together to have a party. As such, the priest gas an obligation pursuant to the vows he took to ensure that parents ang godparents understand, honor and adhere to the their obligations before he can administer the sacrament.

+1

Baptism is a sacrament. It isn't a feel good excuse to get family and friends together to have a party. As such, the priest gas an obligation pursuant to the vows he took to ensure that parents ang godparents understand, honor and adhere to the their obligations before he can administer the sacrament.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you just say disalushioned? Yeah, I am too.

Sorry, didn't realize the spelling police were here. Disillusioned.
Thanks.

Did you just fall off of a turnip truck?

What is wrong with you? Bully.

Why does the Catholic church do anything they do?

Power and money.

They have to keep you in line.

If you do not like the way the church is treating you, please realize that it is an option to leave the church. I say this as someone who made a similar choice.

Seems like some of this depends on the diocese and the particular parish. Coming from the Midwest, I have found the diocese of Arlington to be particularly strict and Old School. OP, sorry for your loss.