Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!watmath!att!dptg!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian
From: thompson@athos.rutgers.edu (Marge Thompson)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Infant baptism
Message-ID: 
Date: 9 Aug 89 06:52:53 GMT
Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
Lines: 41
Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu


I finally had to get into the act.  I am Godmother to 6 children.  I
am a Lutheran and yet, two of my God Children are Catholic.  Let me
assure you that as Godmother, I took my vow and still take my vow
seriously.   I have made sure that all of the children have been
brought up in a Christian environment.  The five older children have
all reaffirmed their baptism (confirmation) as they reached the age of
13 to 14.  The youngest one (age 10) goes to Church every week, is
involved in his church activities and is preparing to start his
studies for his confirmation.  I truly believe it is because I took my
job seriously and continually checked with the parents to make sure
that the children were going to Sunday Church School or Church as they
grew up.

I had a problem with only one Baptism.  When my friend was questioned
by the Priest who was to be the Godmother, she mentioned me and said I
was a Lutheran who was baptized and confirmed and the Priest gave her
a hard time.  She settled it all by asking him what was she to do, go
out into the street and find someone and say, "hey, are you a Catholic
and will you be my daughter's Godmother?"  In fact, the day of the
Christening, I, the Lutheran, had to teach the Godfather (a born
Catholic) the Act of Contrition and the Apostle's Creed so that he
would be able to repeat them at the Christening.  

My Godchildren are like my own.  God did not provide my husband and I
with children of our own.  Perhaps if He did, my Godchildren would not
have gotten so much attention, however, I would like to feel that no
matter what the circumstances, taking on the responsibilities of God
Parent to a child means caring and sharing and making sure the child
is brought up in his/her respective religion.

It all sums up like this...I was born of my parents on June 21st.  I
was born again in Christ on August 12th, two months later and I
reaffirmed my baptism on May 12, 1945 ....three dates  I still celebrate
and I am 57 years of age.

If you take on the responsibility of Godparenting, then take it
seriously enough to follow up with the children and make them aware of
Jesus.

Marge Thompson