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Hi, A.M. —
There was some missing information in your original
question which makes it hard to answer.
You said:
I was informed during a Baptismal
Class that my child's name was Okay.
- What is your child's name?
You said:
The reason being that the Catholic
faith frowns upon Muslim names.
.
.
- Does the Catholic Church frown upon Muslim names?
I can understand
the Deacon's concern. In Christian theology the relationship
between The Lord God and his children is a "Loving
Father-Son" relationship. In Muslim theology,
this would be heresy; a "Father-Son" relationship
would not be allowed.
Only a "Master-Slave" relationship
would be allowed in Muslim theology.
If your child's name is a foreign-language [Muslim]
translation of an anti-Christian sediment,
any non-fluent Muslim-speaking Christian Deacon would be obliged not
to allow this.
Example:
If your child's Muslim name translates to English
into words like:
- Master-Slave
- Sin
- The Devil
- I hate Christians
- I hate Catholics
- or something that is not in accord with Catholic teaching and theology . . .
It would not be allowed. I am not implying that
you would use malicious words for your child;
I'm trying to give you some reasoning why the deacon
would need to check things out.
You said:
- What is the issue with names given at Baptism, First
Communion, and Confirmation?
- If their given names are Saint names, why should they
be changed?
There are only two times where a name is given:
- at Baptism, and
- at Confirmation (the Confirmation name is not
meant to replace the Baptismal name.)
It is usually the name of a special saint that
will help and assist the Confirmation candidate
in proclaiming the Gospel.
This portion of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
should help. If your children are named after saints,
there is no reason at all why the deacon should
be questioning anything about the name.
III. The Christian Name
2156 The sacrament of Baptism is conferred "in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19) In Baptism, the Lord's name
sanctifies man, and the Christian receives his
name in the Church. This can be the name of a saint,
that is, of a disciple who has lived a life of
exemplary fidelity to the Lord. The patron saint
provides a model of charity; we are assured of
his intercession. The "baptismal name" can
also express a Christian mystery or Christian virtue.
"Parents,
sponsors, and the pastor are to see that a name
is not given which is foreign to Christian sentiment." (Code of Canon Law, Canon 855) |
The good news is that more and more, I am hearing
about positive Catholic-Muslim faith-sharing meetings
going on at the Vatican.
I think the key is understanding the big theological
differences between the two faiths.
If you can tell us your children's name that would
help.
Mike
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