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Original poster

I was asked to leave Church yesterday in the middle of mass

122 replies

dillydally · 06/06/2005 09:39

as dd was being boisterous (not having a tantrum but not sitting demurely on a pew either)
She is 23 months old (just) and the priest stopped mass and said "I think its time for that child to leave Church".

If anyone wants to know why christian religions are dying, it is because the young are not welcome in church. You apparently have to be a mute pensioner to be part of the congregation.

OP posts:
TrophyWife · 06/06/2005 09:40

OMG. im speachless

nutcracker · 06/06/2005 09:41

that is awful

coppertop · 06/06/2005 09:41

How on earth do they expect families to be a part of the church/parish if it's a child-free zone??

lilaclotus · 06/06/2005 09:42

gosh!

sweetheart · 06/06/2005 09:42

We went to a christening yeterday and the vicar told those of us with children to let them get up and run around if thats what they wanted - he said it was no use trying to hold them down and keep them quiet.

Can't believe this priest was so insensative!!! Do you go regularly - could you perhaps make your feelings on this subject heard???

Xena · 06/06/2005 09:42

I would have replied to the effect of,'Jesus said Let all the little children come to me not all the QUIET little children'

moondog · 06/06/2005 09:43

Unbelievable......

Original poster
dillydally · 06/06/2005 09:43

and the sad thing is...I thought she was being well behaved really, not shouty at all, but wandering off a lot.

OP posts:
gossifer · 06/06/2005 09:44

i'm not religious but i find that outrageous, i would have thought your little one would be welcomed with open arms - i went to my grampas funeral a few weeks ago with my ds (13weeks atthe time) and they had a family room with toys & a changing mat just off the main room (C of E does thatmake any difference?)
could you ask to talk to someone about it?

hotmama1 · 06/06/2005 09:44

Well said Xena. Quite speechless at his arrogance - I would def complain.

Lonelymum · 06/06/2005 09:46

Dillydally, as someone who sat through countless masses while children happily scream away in the background and who has always thought how wonderfully tolerant other Catholics must be to accept the disturbance, I am gobsmacked that happened to you. I would have serious words with the priest if I were you, or else find another church and let him know you are doing so.

Tommy · 06/06/2005 09:46

Dilly Dally I am really shocked
You should write to your Bishop - where do you live? This sort of thing really gets my goat. Who the hell does he think he is? It's your church and your DD's - not his church. he'll be gone in a few years and you might well be still going there for ever (although unlikely if you're made as welcome as this) I am very for you

I went to a wedding on saturday and the vicar said "We have a rule in this church that if you're under 3 and over 93 you can make as much noise as you want - others have to be quiet" which was very sweet - there were lots of children (and adults TBH) making a noise there!

Lonelymum · 06/06/2005 09:46

And crikey, how embarrassed you must have been! Let him know that too while you are about it!

Hausfrau · 06/06/2005 09:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jodee · 06/06/2005 09:47

Shocked as well. Agree with Xena - WWYD??

At the very least (and he shouldn't have made an issue of it at all) he could have asked one of his assistants to have a quiet word with you, instead of embarrassing you in front of the whole congregation. Saddened for you.

Tommy · 06/06/2005 09:47

(BTW - hello LonelyMum - hope you are OK - haven't "chatted" with you for a long time)

Hulababy · 06/06/2005 09:47

How awful

Like Sweetheart, when we have been to christenings/small weddings we have been told the opposite. Let them wander and look. Holding them down is more likely to cause children to complain and make more noise.

Can yo complain?

jodee · 06/06/2005 09:47

WWJD I mean!

MRSflamesparrow · 06/06/2005 09:48

ShockAngry

LGJ · 06/06/2005 09:49

Where do you live ??

Write to the bish.................

Call the diocescan office this morning.

I can hardly type I am so angry

Lonelymum · 06/06/2005 09:49

Hello Tommy!

Feel quite enraged for you DillyDally. Tommy's post says it all for me really.

Original poster
dillydally · 06/06/2005 09:51

Thankfully, my mother was furious on my behalf and told me the priest must be an agent of the devil!
She has written to the Cardinal to complain and has sent a copy to the priest directly.

She read the letter out to me..bless her...she said it was Gods house not the priests and he has no right to send anyone away.

I live in east london and being honest the congregation was so small I was a bit shocked - no-one else in the church was complaining about her.

My lovely mother was trying to console me saying that DD was much closer to the angels than the priest was.

OP posts:
Miaou · 06/06/2005 09:53

That is just horrendous, dillydally. Bad enough that he expected your dd to be quiet, but to stop the mass and say it to you in front of the whole congregation - that is just outrageous!!!!!! I am just furious on your behalf. How humiliating for you.

Look at the responses - so far everyone thinks the same - that priest was totally out of order.

Did you see/get any reaction from the rest of the congregation? Sympathetic looks or "quite right too"?

Original poster
dillydally · 06/06/2005 09:55

I was a bit embarrassed so scurried out with DD bundled in one arm and all her belongings (coat and juice) in the other.
I am not planning to return to that church in the near future.

OP posts:
assumedname · 06/06/2005 10:02

Awful.