Celebrating Our Baptism ... Again and Again and Again

Retired Auxiliary Bishop Richard J. Sklba's collection of memorial cards from funerals inspired this recent Herald of Hope column for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee's Catholic Herald weekly.

"The cards invariably record dates of birth and death, sometimes ordination or marriage, and occasionally include a picture, biblical citation or a favorite prayer.

"Almost never do we find the date of a baptism noted..."

This strikes him as strange.

"...initial membership in God’s eternal family marks us forever, and consequently its anniversary should really be celebrated every year."

He's been practicing what he preaches.

"On the anniversary of my baptism, I always pray for the priest (Fr. Henry Novotny) who baptized me at old Holy Trinity Parish in Racine and for my long-deceased godparents (Mary and Joe)."

NLM: Pontifical Baptism in the Traditional Rite in Madison

Today, we bring you pictures from one of the rarest liturgies in practice, the pontifical baptism from the 1962 ritual books. The celebrant was His Excellency Bishop Robert Morlino; the ceremony occurred several weeks ago at St Patrick’s church, with a family from the Cathedral of Madison, Wisconsin.

continue at New Liturgical Movement

Great photos, worth a peak!

Diocese of Madison issues statement regarding child baptism of same-sex partners

Statement - DOM and Presentation of Children for Baptism by Same-Sex Couples

Source

WisSJ: Madison Diocese changes process for baptism of children of same-sex couples

The Madison Catholic Diocese is altering the way it handles requests for the baptisms of children of same-sex couples, though the significance of the change is not entirely clear.

The process now will be centralized, with requests coordinated through the office of the vicar general, the bishop’s second in command, in consultation with parish priests. Previously, such decisions were left largely to priestly discretion and sensitivity.

Priests were notified of the change in a memo in early May from Monsignor James Bartylla, the diocese’s vicar general. A copy of Bartylla’s memo was given to the State Journal, though by a third party, not a priest. [well, it seems a priest would have necessarily leaked it to someone, not that I'm sure it matters]

The new approach comes as the Roman Catholic Church grapples with the issue internationally. An April 5 baptism in Argentina of a baby being raised by her biological mother and the woman’s lesbian partner kicked up a controversy.

The baptism angered some Catholics, who saw it as the church’s tacit endorsement of gay relationships. The two women were photographed kissing in the cathedral following the ceremony. The diocese’s archbishop said the church was not endorsing the gay lifestyle, saying, “Baptism is the right of every human person.”

Read more: http://host.madison.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/religion/in-the-spirit-catholic-diocese-changes-process-for-baptism-of/article_a344d830-ee7c-588d-bc59-97a9d06b5656.html#ixzz35U2jawbK

Brent King does well with this one; questions well answered.

It's a tricky one.  Since it's not possible for the child to be brought up in a Christian home, I can understand the case where the child is asked to wait until they are an adult.  Other issues along this line have come up before; the WWII Jewish orphan controversy,  or the case of Pope Pius IX and Edgardo Mortara.  I lean toward the private Baptism solution, but clearly this avenue would be exploited as it was obviously done in Argentina.  I do not envy our dear faithful priests.  I think it makes sense to consult the Vicar General though to prevent precisely that exploitation while still making the sacrament available if possible.

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