Baptising children to secure school places is 'an abuse of sacrament' -Archbishop

An Archbishop has slammed parents who baptise their children in order to get them into local schools for abusing the sacrament.

Speaking at a schools Mass at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dublin this week, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said attending a Catholic school should be a choice that parents make after putting a lot of thought into the decision, rather than a race for school places.

“Every Catholic school has an obligation to make an annual examination of conscience and carry out its very own ‘elitist check’.” he said.

“The temptation can easily emerge to look on those with learning difficulties or from different cultural or social background as a threat to such success, a temptation to close ranks.

Highlighting his frustration at the unreasonably slow progress that has been made in divesting some schools of their Catholic patronage, the Archbishop added: “Baptising children simply to be able to attend a specific school is an abuse of baptism.”

“Parents who do not wish their children to attend religious education have a right to see their wish respected. Teachers who do not believe should not feel compelled to teach religious education or faith formation.”

Do you believe that baptising your child in order to secure a school place is an abuse of the sacrament? Let us know on Twitter @HerFamilydotie.

Baptising children to secure school places is ‘an abuse of sacrament’ -Archbishop