Orlando – A local couple is moving forward with their son’s baptism after being told that the church was postponing it due to them being gay.
Rich McCaffrey and his husband, Eric, met with Bishop Greg Brewer, the Diocese of Central Florida, after a Facebook post stated the church had prevented the McCaffrey’s son, Jack, from being baptized because “the congregation opposed” it.
“We received a message from Dean [Tony] Clark asking us to contact him regarding ‘a development’ concerning the [April 19] baptism,” McCaffrey wrote in a Facebook post on May 2. “The Dean shared there were members of the congregation who opposed Jack’s baptism and although he hoped to resolve the conflict, he was not yet able to.”
Brewer scheduled a meeting with the McCaffreys on May 7 after a firestorm erupted on social media with people asking for an immediate explanation from the church.
McCaffrey released a statement May 8 letting everyone know that the baptism was back on and to take place this summer. It also said that Brewer would be taking an active role in the baptism.
“We spoke frankly and openly about the chain of events,” McCaffrey said. “The Bishop acknowledged he learned the Cathedral set a firm date of April 19 for the baptism, but did not support postponing the baptism. He genuinely wanted to learn about us and expressed his apologies for how it had been handled. Most importantly, he was clear he is supportive of Eric and I, two dads, baptizing our son at the Cathedral and offered to be a part of it.”
McCaffrey also addressed in the statement why they are choosing to return to the Cathedral.
“We know on many fronts there is healing to be done which will take time,” he said. “We are returning because we still have faith in the goodness of people, and we trust people have good intent and ultimately will do the right thing. This is not to say faith or trust should be given blindly, but there are moments when you must choose to rise above the fray and acknowledge you are part of something bigger.”
The office of the Diocese has not yet commented about the meeting that took place, simply reposting McCaffrey’s statement.
Brewer released a statement shortly after McCaffrey May 8.
“We talked about my being a part of the baptism and I told them I would be happy to do so. We look forward to celebrating Jack’s baptism at the Cathedral in the near future,” Brewer said.
McCaffrey concluded with a lesson to Jack.
“Aspire to live your life with grace and forgiveness. You will be better for it,” he said. “Change is seldom easy.”
