My dear friends,
         The answer is probably no. We deal with the parents or legal guardians of a child to plan Sacraments. Since these are the people who will be training the child in the ways of the faith, it’s critical for the custodian of the child to be the one who desires baptism. If those people do not value the sacrament, they will not teach the child to do so either. Baptism may make an indelible mark on the soul, but without being taught how to live as a Catholic, it’s a tough course. If the parents of the child were divorced or not together, then the parent with custody makes choices. In cases of joint custody, we need both parents to agree. Grandparents, aunts, and uncles do not have a say in the matter. The exception to this would be if you should have legal custody of your grandchildren. In that case, you would be the person raising the child and the one who makes the choices about how he or she is raised. In that case, and only then, do you have the right to have your grandchild baptized. If you do not have custody of a grandchild, all you can do is to encourage your child to come to Church and see about the sacraments. Always remember that an invitation is much more welcoming than a command or condemnation.
      The loss of email has been difficult. That email has been the contact with the applicants for the several positions we have open. That email allows parishioners to shoot me questions at any time of day or night for me to answer. That email updates me on the happenings around the Archdiocese of Hartford. With the server down, I feel out of touch. I’m not sure I am doing all I should be and question what I’m missing. That communication is pretty important.
      As I reflect on the need I have for my email, I am reminded of other communications that are critical. I need my family and friends to keep me grounded and happy. I need my news from the papers, television, radio, and internet. I need the mail to deliver critical items. Above all, I recognize the importance of my personal prayer time and reading Scripture. I have to speak with God. Without this, I have nothing; I’m lost!
      My vocation is tied to reading and praying over Scripture. The continued study of it nurtures and sustains my spiritual growth. While I don’t spend hours and hours at it each day, I do touch base all the time. I will read something and let it sink in as I work throughout my day. I take solace from the words of the prophets and Our Savior as I confront hardships in ministry or my personal life. If I don’t read something from the Bible for a day or two, I feel somewhat adrift. It’s a source of constant inspiration, education, and elucidation. Without it, I’d be lost.
      So, as I wait for the email to come back online (saying my prayers to Saint Isidore of Seville), I turn to my Bible as a means of communication with God. It gives me the patience I need with the other problem. “Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).”

My dear friends,
     “I should have named you Thomas,” my mother once told me. “You question everything! Doubting Thomas!” Well, she wasn’t wrong. I do ask questions and try to learn the meaning behind things. Why take things simply on face value, when you can see if there is some greater truth or deeper meaning? There may be other ways to read a situation or interpret something, or there could be a conflicting point of view. Now, I don’t just question for the sake of it either. I do give due credence to proven theories and historical information. I try to question, but do it with some respect and care. These are facts of who I am, and I cannot deny it. Mom may have been onto something there!
       I’ve never been a Christian who just accepts things blindly, never questioning what we’re taught. I know that sounds odd coming from a priest, but I’ve never exactly fit the mold! I will look at the teachings and the rituals of the Church and ask why we have them. I will wonder why we have structured things the way they are. I think we have to be able to examine what we have been handed to make sure things are as they should be, and not just because it has always been that way. I do respect the authority of the Church, or I wouldn’t have dedicated my life to it. I love the Tradition, but that love comes from trying to understand why it is here in the first place. I think of it as informed questioning
      Thomas questions the account of the Resurrection given by the other disciples. They all tell him that the Lord is risen and they’ve seen him. He doubts. He will not believe until he has seen Christ, with the nail marks in his hands and feet, and can put his hand in his side. He has good cause to be skeptical, since they have not been the most reliable witnesses. These are people who ran off and abandoned Jesus in his hour of despair. When Christ appears again to the Apostles, and Thomas is with them, he calls Thomas to see and believe. Forever, this has earned him the title of Doubting Thomas.
       Thank God for Thomas’ doubts. He asks the questions we all are thinking. He raises the objections that will come over the centuries. He is wrestling with an unimaginable reality, the dead coming to life. He verifies that Jesus has risen, bearing the marks of crucifixion, but is gloriously transfigured as well. The proof offered to him is offered to us. We can question, but also know it has been asked and answered before us. Doubt, but listen to the answer given. It helps us make sense of what is a great mystery. Thank you, St. Thomas, for asking what needed to be asked. I am glad I follow in his footsteps.

Happily yours in Christ, Fr. Joe