Breast-Feeding in the Back Pew

[Diplomat]

Excerpt:

Early this year, a Georgia woman claimed she was kicked out of worship for breast-feeding her infant. I know a bit of what she must have felt: On a family trip to St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, as I started to breast-feed my son in the sanctuary, I was whisked away by a security guard to the bathroom. Countless other Christian women, trying to feed their children without having to miss a sermon, have faced the disapproval of others who think breasts have no place in the sanctuary.

How widespread the no-breast-feeding rule is in U.S. churches is hard to say. But one thing's clear: Our squeamishness over breast-feeding has little precedent in the church. Instead, Christians have long celebrated this aspect of Jesus' early life.

READ FULL STORY

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/december/breast-feeding-in-back-pew.html

[Peasie]

What's your opinion, Diplomat?

I am all for breast-feeding and I won't hold it against someone who needs to breast-feed their baby in a Christian sanctuary during worship. (I wouldn't breastfeed my child during church service, but that's just me.)

There are some moms though who feel entitled to nurse their babies any where at any time. I think that's fine if they live in a culture where that is the norm or if they worship at Our Lady of LaLeche.

Many times too, babies make slurping and gurgling noises during breast-feeding. That might be a problem for some congregants during reflective worship.

[Diplomat]

Personally, I do not believe breast-feeding should be allowed in the sanctuary for some of the reasons you mentioned. In my last church building, the nursery was fitted with live streaming of the services so feeding mothers were not missing anything while outside the sanctuary. A number of progressive churches have the same setup.

[Peasie]

OK, I see your point. I'm of the Episcopal tradition, so you know I have liberal tendencies

I don't agree with you though as far as the part of "should not be allowed." It sounds so autocratic. I don't think that's the way you meant it. But it got my spidy senses all a-tingling as I am wary of decreeing what is allowed and what is not allowed as far as Christian worship.

BTW, I didn't like the tone of that writer's article I felt it was a stretch for her to go from "being banished as a breast-feeding mother" to that of "Our sacred spaces should not exclude but embrace the bodily aspects of our humanity." That's a little over-the-top IMO.

[Diplomat]

OK, I see your point. I'm of the Episcopal tradition, so you know I have liberal tendencies

I don't agree with you though as far as the part of "should not be allowed." It sounds so autocratic. I don't think that's the way you meant it. But it got my spidy senses all a-tingling as I am wary of decreeing what is allowed and what is not allowed as far as Christian worship.

BTW, I didn't like the tone of that writer's article I felt it was a stretch for her to go from "being banished as a breast-feeding mother" to that of "Our sacred spaces should not exclude but embrace the bodily aspects of our humanity." That's a little over-the-top IMO.

Peasie, re the bolded portion, breastfeeding isn't a part of Christian worship though I did think the writer's tone was a bit extreme but I ignored it in trying to understand the point she was making.

And thank you for giving me the benefit of the doubt; much appreciated

[Peasie]

Peasie, re the bolded portion, breastfeeding isn't a part of Christian worship though

That's not what I meant though I meant they should be allowed in participating in worship. Or at least they should not be not allowed. When we start allowing and disallowing in worship, I think we start going down a slippery slope.

[Diplomat]

I know what you mean; I just thought it was funny when I read it

[twiney]

As a breastfeeding advocate I believe women should have the opportunity to breastfeed there babies when they need to. If your sanctuary does not have a nursery where they can enjoy the service without "disrupting" (mostly those who have other issues) then at least the back pews should be made available for them to sit where it will be less distracting. Every body is right on this one so lets all compromise... they have a right to breastfeed and you have a right to enjoy the service without listening to the slurping baby enjoying his meal and the mother has a right to participate in the service too. Breastfeeding is still been seen as a big deal and some breast feeding mama's need to stop making it into this sacrificial lamb ...