Catholic confirmation vs JW Baptism

by juliew 5 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  juliew

  How can one explain to a court system that getting confirmed as a Catholic is not the same as getting baptized as a Jehovahs Witness.

  The court system seems to be under the belief that many children get confirmed around the age of 12 and that a child should have the right to make the decision to get baptized a JW at that age as well.

  My arguement is that if you want to leave the catholic church at a later date or commit a serious sin you are not shunned or excommunicated.

  Looking for something to show the court that using confirmation as a comparison to determine the age at which a child should make this decision is not the same since JW baptism is life altering.

  Seems like therapists also don't understand or see the big deal with letting the kids get baptized if they want to.
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  zebagain

  At a last convention i saw a little girl being baptised.. she was apx 8 or 9.
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  Band on the Run

  I understand your point. Some judges might be reluctant to acknowledge it b/c if all religions are grouped together, the judges cannot be accused of bias to one religion. There may be case law requiring it. I don't know. The competition between the cousins in my family was great. My two female cousins always beat me at WT praise. They were baptized around 11. Meanwhile, the overseer's daughters were pulled out of schooll. My brother and I begged to be baptized.

  My mom said no way. She said she regretted her baptism at 14. We were told that baptism was a commitment requiring maturity similar to marriage. She said we could start considering it at 35. I know if I were baptized I would feel less free.

  Why don't you try to document for the judge the differences? The only trouble I ever heard any Catholic receive was an unusual case of a notorious Mafiosa. I don't know what Catholic doctrine was in the past. Plenty of people were excommunicated. How about almost everyone in England?
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  juliew

  Wish there was something documented somewhere that I could use as a reference.
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  nonjwspouse

  Go to a priest for help with that. The two situations are definitly different and priests many times are exceedingly nice and helpful.m Maybe even a Nun?
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  Band on the Run

  There should be materials online. Call the Diocese. Maybe you should see if you can admit in court first. Most lawyers will do a free consultation.