"Twelve hours after my son was born still I asked to see a Catholic priest because, as a life-long Catholic, I knew that babies had to be baptized and that you should ask for a priest to come when someone dies. He [the priest] started talking about “God’s will” and never looked me in the eye. When I asked him to baptize Joshua he said “Oh, is he here?” even though my son was lying in a crib right next to my bed. He began lecturing to us about the three methods of baptism in the church: traditional baptism of a live baby, through martyrdom, and through “intention” when a baby dies inside the body of a Catholic mother who had intended to baptize him. So, he explained, “the baby” (never calling my son by name) was already baptized and it can’t be done again. I was stunned.  I couldn’t believe that my church wouldn’t accept my beautiful baby boy into the community of faith. Joshua was rejected. Unfortunately, because I wasn’t thinking clearly I didn’t yell at him and get him out of the room immediately."

Lynda

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