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 April
1, 2003
Initiation of WHAT?
For those who think they have have
heard it all: An associate across the country forwarded me a series of
letters to the editor in a midwestern Catholic newspaper about parishes
who are initiating not only adults and children, but their pets.
Yes, folks, you heard it right: the Diocese of Oshkosh, WI has issued
formal statements against the growing practice of baptizing dogs, cats,
and other domestic animals.
Feast of St. Francis, Indeed!
From what I can tell, it all started
three years ago with an October 4th celebration of the Blessing of Pets at
St. April's Parish in Wauwautosa, WI. Reports say that the pastor,
Rev. Frank Lee Cilliman, inadvertently dumped his water for the
blessing on a St. Bernard named Rufus, who then shook himself dry, thereby
spraying nearby pets and parishioners. Locals got such a kick out of the
impromptu "baptism", that they decided to make it an option for the
celebration each year.
From there, the optional rite
got out of hand. This past year multiple celebrations of the Feast of St.
Francis sprang up with invitations to bring forward pets who have not been
converted for baptism. One letter of complaint in the
Oshkosh Catholic Sentinel protested St. April Parish's use of an
alleged "baptismal certificate" for pets at the event this past year.
Official Reaction
While many have noted that this was intended to be good clean fun, the
Diocese of Oshkosh has clamped down on the practice, strictly forbidding it.
The bishop's statement, acknowledging the playful intent of the planners,
suggests that the practice "is inherently disrespectful of the dignity and
importance of the sacrament of baptism." It goes on to say that "baptism,
like all of the sacraments, is a celebration of faith, rooted in conversion
and response to the grace of Christ. This celebration does not make sense in
the case of domestic animals, from whom personal conversion and a response
of faith are precluded."
Personal conversion, indeed! And,
besides, how would you go about baptizing a goldfish?
For more on the discussion in Oshkosh,
[click here].
Chris Weber
Director,
Catholic Education Ministries of Central Maryland
301-447-3707
Copyright © 2003 by the Catholic Education
Ministries Center of Central Maryland, Emmitsburg, MD 21727. All rights reserved.
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"This celebration does not
make sense in the case of domestic animals, from whom personal conversion
and a response of faith are precluded." |
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