A vast majority of readers of The Irish Catholic believe that baptism should not be refused to the children of same-sex couples and that the Church should not reconsider this position.
A poll carried out by this paper revealed that out of 670 votes, 81% of respondents believed that children should be baptised regardless of their parents’ sexual orientation, and that the Catholic Church should continue to offer baptism to children of parents who sincerely seek the Sacrament.
The poll results come in the wake of last week’s landmark announcement by the Presbyterian Church of Ireland that same-sex couples are “not eligible” to be full members of the church in Ireland or have their children baptised.
Policies
The new policies were announced on June 8 following the presentation of a report by the church’s doctrine committee which stated “in the light of our understanding of scripture and the Church’s understanding of a credible profession of faith it is clear that same sex couples are not eligible for communicant membership nor are they qualified to receive baptism for their children”.
Despite the policies, representative of the church Mark Smith has stated that the church is “not denying anyone communion, or attending worship or access to pastoral care, but rather defining what it means to be of a credible profession of faith”.
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