Anonymous wrote:Not the case for my sister. She was a parishioner, and her older son was baptized there. But when she tried to have her younger son baptized a handful of years later, the priest said no....not without addressing their "irregular marriage." I know it sounds unreal, that's why I called the archdiocese. The guy is a complete and total jerk, and everyone knows it. The archdiocese would not intervene bc "technically the priest was RIGHT."

Then change parishes. My H and I did not get married in the church and both our kids are baptized and we are both god parents.

Enough people leave the parish and the archdiocese will intervene.

I don't know why Catholics tolerate bad behavior of parish priests.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Argentine of Spanish and Italian descent, but call myself Latina sometimes. Why can't I? This pope is just as Argentine as half the people I know here, why are you calling him Italian? Did he apply for citizenship? Not that I know of. Also, he speaks Italian like an Argentine.

Do you mean he speaks Spanish, Argentina's national language. I guess he speaks lots of languages but Spanish is Argentinas national language.

No, she means he speaks Italian with a Spanish acccent. It was easy to detect when he spoke today if you actually speak either one of those languages.

Thanks for clarifying. I did not understand it that way. I have not heard him speak.

Eh, not really PP. That sort of hardline approach is what's driving folks away. They got married in a small, private ceremony bc they didn't have money and werent attending church anywhere regularly (like most of did, right?). Once they had their first kid, they joined the parish and had no problem getting their first baptized. They dealt with the parish secretary to set it up, attended the class, and the deacon did the ceremony. Several years later, they call up to arrange for the baptism of their second child....shouldn't have been an issue since they had been contributing parishioners for four years. Unfortunately, Father Bully answered the phone and gave my sister all kinds of grief. He didn't want her husband to take the baptism class (which he had already taken THERE several years prior). Rather, he said he wouldn't perform the ceremony unless the dad converted (or at least began taking classes towards converting). And then he said they had an irregular marriage and that the second step would be for them to be married in the church. My sister got off the phone in tears and called my mom (hardcore catholic....catholic schools kindergarten thru college and masters) who said my sister must have misunderstood. So my mom called the parish office and sadly Father Bully answered the phone and picked a fight with my mom (who is essentially June Cleaver but milder). That's when I got involved. This guy is a first class jerk, and everyone knows it. Like I said, when I called the archdiocese the first time to complain, I didnt mention the priest or parish...but the woman I spoke with knew...she asked if it was Father Bully at Parish X....then she said they get lots of calls about his interpretation of Catholicism.

So, he's 76 and has one lung. I don't see how he can make it through Pope training camp.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's not true. A priest in Rockville, md wouldn't baptize my nephew bc his parents were married by a priest...I'm not kidding. Mom is catholic, dad is non catholic Christian, and they were married by some Internet pastor in a garden. Priest said my BIL would have to take a class to become catholic and they would need to redo their vows with a priest. I'm not lying. I actually called the archdiocese of Washington to inquire and complain, and the woman I spoke with guessed which local priest I was calling about. So, yes PPs....old school priests still stick to their guns on certain issues like this.

The church does require baptismal prep classes and most require you to be a parishioner. It seems as though the priest had figured out:

1. These two didn't want to be married in the Catholic Church

2. These two don't attend mass/aren't parishioners

3. These two could really use an intensive baptismal prep class to understand what baptism in the Catholic Church means (since the likelihood of them raising their child in the church is minimal)

If they really want to be Catholic then they would have known that matrimony is a sacrament which has to be performed by a priest. Things you don't really skip due to venue. They could have easily been "married" again and done their baptismal prep course. If you really want your child to be raised Catholic this is what you do and most priest will work with you to make that happen-- if you really want that.

This poster is correct. My husband and I were originally married by a JP. We later decided it was important to us to be in a Catholic marriage. It was very easy. We had a convalidation. Not a big deal at all, if you are sincere.

Anonymous wrote:That's not true. A priest in Rockville, md wouldn't baptize my nephew bc his parents were married by a priest...I'm not kidding. Mom is catholic, dad is non catholic Christian, and they were married by some Internet pastor in a garden. Priest said my BIL would have to take a class to become catholic and they would need to redo their vows with a priest. I'm not lying. I actually called the archdiocese of Washington to inquire and complain, and the woman I spoke with guessed which local priest I was calling about. So, yes PPs....old school priests still stick to their guns on certain issues like this.

The church does require baptismal prep classes and most require you to be a parishioner. It seems as though the priest had figured out:

1. These two didn't want to be married in the Catholic Church

2. These two don't attend mass/aren't parishioners

3. These two could really use an intensive baptismal prep class to understand what baptism in the Catholic Church means (since the likelihood of them raising their child in the church is minimal)

If they really want to be Catholic then they would have known that matrimony is a sacrament which has to be performed by a priest. Things you don't really skip due to venue. They could have easily been "married" again and done their baptismal prep course. If you really want your child to be raised Catholic this is what you do and most priest will work with you to make that happen-- if you really want that.

Preaching to the choir, PP! But trust me, the archdiocese did nothing to intervene. The priest is a tyrant and a bully.

Fwiw, I did twelve years in catholic school and I'm a lawyer, so I pulled out all the stops when I contacted the archdiocese to complain. No luck. But she found another priest at a different parish to do it.

Given that this happened here, I can only imagine what goes on in central and south American catholic churches where priests are held in high esteem and practically run the small towns. I'm sure these sort of power trips are widespread.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Argentine of Spanish and Italian descent, but call myself Latina sometimes. Why can't I? This pope is just as Argentine as half the people I know here, why are you calling him Italian? Did he apply for citizenship? Not that I know of. Also, he speaks Italian like an Argentine.

Do you mean he speaks Spanish, Argentina's national language. I guess he speaks lots of languages but Spanish is Argentinas national language.

No, she means he speaks Italian with a Spanish acccent. It was easy to detect when he spoke today if you actually speak either one of those languages.

Exactly what I meant, thank you for clarifying. I speak both and his argentine accent when he spoke Italian was very heavy.

You are welcome. I sort of enjoyed the sound of the accent. Charming.

Anonymous wrote:Not the case for my sister. She was a parishioner, and her older son was baptized there. But when she tried to have her younger son baptized a handful of years later, the priest said no....not without addressing their "irregular marriage." I know it sounds unreal, that's why I called the archdiocese. The guy is a complete and total jerk, and everyone knows it. The archdiocese would not intervene bc "technically the priest was RIGHT."

But "technically" he was NOT correct. That is why I have trouble with this account. Now, godparents are another matter. One of them must be a practicing Catholic, in good standing which means not in a irregular marriage. Some priest will ask for a copy of the Catholic marriage certificate. In this case, they are technically correct but certainly NOT in refusing to baptize a child.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't fathom caring.

+1

Lots of old white men up there. What? No black Catholics? No Asian Catholics?

One of the most influential cardinals is from Ghana. Another from Philipines. Get your facts straight. Biggest growth of the church is in Africa.

Yes, I know that. So, why has there never been a black pope? And why, amongst ALL those faces standing next to the pope, we're there. I people of color?

The new pope is Latino.

Argentines don't generally consider themselves Latino, do they?

they most definitely do. i had an argentine colleague who went on and on about how she was.

Not the case for my sister. She was a parishioner, and her older son was baptized there. But when she tried to have her younger son baptized a handful of years later, the priest said no....not without addressing their "irregular marriage." I know it sounds unreal, that's why I called the archdiocese. The guy is a complete and total jerk, and everyone knows it. The archdiocese would not intervene bc "technically the priest was RIGHT."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Argentine of Spanish and Italian descent, but call myself Latina sometimes. Why can't I? This pope is just as Argentine as half the people I know here, why are you calling him Italian? Did he apply for citizenship? Not that I know of. Also, he speaks Italian like an Argentine.

Do you mean he speaks Spanish, Argentina's national language. I guess he speaks lots of languages but Spanish is Argentinas national language.

No, she means he speaks Italian with a Spanish acccent. It was easy to detect when he spoke today if you actually speak either one of those languages.

Exactly what I meant, thank you for clarifying. I speak both and his argentine accent when he spoke Italian was very heavy.

Anonymous wrote:Apparently some of you folks haven't had the privilege of dealing with an old school priest who is on a power trip. Oddly enough, there are tons of priests like this in MoCo.

I think I get the confusion here. Parents who are no longer practicing Catholics, have no intention of raising the child in the faith, but just want a pretty place for a naming ceremony and excuse for a party after.
Yes, if this is detected, you might actually be turned away.
Same thing with weddings but sometimes it is easier to fake it until after the ceremony.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Argentine of Spanish and Italian descent, but call myself Latina sometimes. Why can't I? This pope is just as Argentine as half the people I know here, why are you calling him Italian? Did he apply for citizenship? Not that I know of. Also, he speaks Italian like an Argentine.

Do you mean he speaks Spanish, Argentina's national language. I guess he speaks lots of languages but Spanish is Argentinas national language.

No, she means he speaks Italian with a Spanish acccent. It was easy to detect when he spoke today if you actually speak either one of those languages.

Apparently some of you folks haven't had the privilege of dealing with an old school priest who is on a power trip. Oddly enough, there are tons of priests like this in MoCo.