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Pope urges breastfeeding in Sistine Chapel

402 replies

marmitecat · 12/01/2014 21:30

news.sky.com/story/1194030/pope-urges-breastfeeding-in-sistine-chapel

Go Pope Francis Grin

I have to admit I felt a bit awkward feeding in church with dc1 so this is pretty much the ultimate way of dispelling that worry.

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marmitecat · 12/01/2014 21:30
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AuntieStella · 12/01/2014 21:33

A longer Papal quotation from that article:

"Today the choir will sing but the most beautiful choir of all is the choir of the infants who will make a noise.
"Some willcry because they are not comfortable or because they are hungry," he said in a familiar, relaxed tone to the parents.
"If they are hungry, mothers, feed them, without thinking twice. Because they are the most important people here," he said.

I think is Pope is turning out rather well.

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willyoulistentome · 12/01/2014 21:41

Ooooh ooh. He's far more informed than my ever so Catholic Mum then, who objected to me feeding in front of brothers. I'd thought me and the 'church' were pretty much finished. Will be interested to see what else he has to say.

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Methe · 12/01/2014 21:43

It'd be a miracle if one could find room to breast feed in there.. When I went we were squashed in like sardines!

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ToddleWaddle · 12/01/2014 21:47

As a very lapsed catholic nice to see he is being progressive.

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Longdistance · 12/01/2014 21:54

I got my boobs out to feed my dd's in church. Right in front of the priest once when dd2 was baptized. Meh, he didn't even flitch.

Quite frankly, I don't think the Virgin Mary popped to Boots to get milk for baby Jesus. They have no cause to ever complain, seen as there are lots of painting/statues of Mary feeding Jesus, and it wasn't with a TT bottle Grin

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CallieG · 13/01/2014 10:46

The most sensible thing that has ever come out of a mans mouth.

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worldgonecrazy · 13/01/2014 10:47

I never felt awkward feeding in churches, CofE, Catholic and Cathedrals. If anyone wanted to say anything, I did have a retort about reading up on St. Bernard, but no one ever did.

This pope is proving to be a bit of a radical - can't see him lasting long!

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Meglet · 13/01/2014 10:54

longdistance Baby Jesus wasn't covered with a muslin cloth in all those paintings was he Smile.

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PetiteRaleuse · 13/01/2014 10:59

I have never heard of anyone having issues from a priest or other religious person for feeding in a place of worship. I remember as a child going to church and people were feeding babies any way necessary, and bored toddlers got up and ran around. The priest (Catholic) used to stop the service and tell embarassed parents to just let them run around as church at that age should be fun. I think in fact it is the only place I ever saw women other than my mum breastfeeding.

I do remember other parishioners tut tutting and grumbling though at both feeding and noisy toddlers.

I am no longer religious but this Pope does seem far more relevant than his predecessors. He is upsetting the reoigious conservatives which is a good thing imo.

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AuntieStella · 13/01/2014 11:02

Pope Francis is putting a great deal of emphasis on compassion in society in general, and on assistance to the poor; and is putting thought about the right things to do ahead the trappings of religiosity. These are important changes.

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TalkativeJim · 13/01/2014 11:09

A welcome approach.

'In another apparent first in the Vatican, he agreed to baptise seven-month-old Giulia Scardia, even though his parents married in a town hall.

Such a civil service is not technically recognised by the Catholic Church.

But the pope has said several times since his election that the Church must not make children of couples in "irregular situations" feel like "second-class faithful".'

A step in the right direction maybe!

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BlessThisMess · 13/01/2014 11:26

I have breastfed in the Sistine Chapel! Went there when my now 12yo DD was 4 months old, and as we were looking round she started fussing and fretting, so I sat on the base of a pillar and fed her. If anybody had dared to object I would have had plenty to say on the matter, but nobody batted an eyelid :-)

I am not Catholic, but I love this Pope!

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Rooners · 13/01/2014 11:29

We need him to say something decent about homosexuality next.

My mother sees him as Very Important and this would help a lot.

Thankyou!

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Halfling · 13/01/2014 11:36

This is what he has said on homosexuality - "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?" http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23489702 BBC

I so far like him and hope he lasts.

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Halfling · 13/01/2014 11:36
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Rooners · 13/01/2014 11:37

OH WOW.

I will pass that on! Thanks Smile

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PetiteRaleuse · 13/01/2014 11:42

He can't change everything but he is making baby steps. With the next one they'll choose either someone to keep up the good work or they will pick someone who'll drag them back 100 years. Depends how many senior people he pisses off with his perfectly reasonable statements.

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JugglingBackwardsAndForwards · 13/01/2014 11:44

I do like him and he has been saying some good and much needed stuff.
Lovely that he took the name Francis, my (everyone's ?) favourite saint Smile
But I'd like to see him accepting contraception as a positive thing too. Especially condoms!
Good family planning can bring many benefits for women, families, and the world.

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Bollard · 13/01/2014 11:46

The sermon on Christmas Day at the Mass I went to was about the Pope's statement "who are you to judge", with specific reference to homosexuality. This new Pope is wonderful Smile

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AuntieStella · 13/01/2014 11:50

He has said condoms can be permissible to prevent disease.

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JugglingBackwardsAndForwards · 13/01/2014 12:06

Oh good. That's a really important start, just needs to be applied as widely as possible ?!

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Lemele · 13/01/2014 12:32

As a Christian myself I am always pleased when common sense and religion are put together.

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likeit · 13/01/2014 12:33

Good to hear it!

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pinkreindeer · 13/01/2014 12:36

Churches in Italy were amongst my favorite place to nurse when I was taking part of my mat leave in Florence. Cool, quiet, benches.
Sadly in London I got awkward looks from British store clerks and waiters all the time when nursing in public. In Florence as soon as the baby started to fuss I got offered chairs, glasses of water, etc. as they assumed baby was ready to nurse. There are many issues with the pressure put on "mamas" by Italian society of course, but on the nursing count Italy won.
And here, here papa. Sometimes it is important for messages to come from the top.

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