Despite a strong backing from laypersons, a proposal permitting the baptism of children born to unwed mothers within the Church of Ireland was turned down at its General Synod in Armagh last Saturday. The proposal sought recognition from the Synod for the contemporary reality of single parent families or couples having children outside of wedlock.
Marital status notwithstanding, the rejected arrangement called for the baptism of infants, a stance advocated by Professor Patricia Baker of the Dublin and Glendalough diocese and seconded by Lynn Wright of Kilmore, Elphin, and Ardagh. About 40% of births in Ireland happen beyond the institution of marriage. In the voting session, 144 lay delegates supported the motion, while 83 opposed it. The clergy, on the other hand, saw 69 in favor and 72 against; thereby resulting in the motion falling through.
The Synod proceedings at Armagh City Hotel experienced a temporary halt due to a protest by Martina Burke and her family members. Mrs Burke’s son Enoch, formerly an instructor at Wilson’s Hospital School run by the Church of Ireland in Co Westmeath, is presently at Mountjoy Prison for failing to heed instructions to keep away from the school. The Church of Ireland has confirmed that due to the Burke family’s interruption, the Synod was put on hold and resumed after 45 minutes.
Professor Baker argued that in most cases, clergymen willingly perform baptisms without inquiring about the mother’s marital status. The main concern, she said, revolves around the refusal to baptise infants solely based on the marital status of their mothers. Dr Lucy Michael, a delegate from Dublin, questioned the motives behind denying baptism to children, emphasizing that it’s the children being baptised and not the parents.
Rev Sam Johnston of Down diocese opposed the motion, encouraging the Synod to empower clergy and bishops to handle these intricate times. Rev Mark Lennox of Dromore diocese mentioned that the proposal created doubts about his ordination vows, while Derry’s Archdeacon Robert Miller suggested it hinted at a lack of trust in the clergy.
Catherine Simpson, from the diocesan of Down, found the purpose of the motion agreeable, but felt that it was unachievable in practice. Meanwhile, it was beyond belief for Susan Compton, from the diocese of Elphin and Ardagh, that there existed sectors within the Church of Ireland where Baptism was not administered to children.