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Not to comment on the story, just responding to a request to spin a post:

Don’t know about Ireland a hundred years ago. Priests who follow the teachings of the Church do not baptize babies of parents who are not going to practice Catholicism nor raise the child to be Catholic, as evidenced by a refusal to attend Mass regularly, for instance.

It has nothing to do with ostracism, as the parents have the choice.

The priest does not want the child to be judged Catholic if he is not going to practice Catholicism.

It goes to the belief that we are judged by what we know, and by judgment, that is God’s judgment.

The child has a chance at eternal salvation when the priest is attentive to this situation.

Shouldn't they at least have baptized the dying babies? Doesn't sound like they did which was the reason given for why they were dumped in a septic tank as a mass grave. I would call that despicable behavior for a Catholic church run ministry seeing as Catholic doctrine permits the baptizing of dying innocents.

I, personally, believe that ALL innocents will be covered by the mercy and grace of God and that baptism is for cognizant persons who have received Jesus Christ as Savior and want to publicly testify to their conversion and desire to follow Christ.

And that - right there - is the heart of the problem.
Treat young girls as “fallen” - as the fathers of these babies escape scorn and shame.
What are parents to do? Send their daughters to The Home. Try to give them another chance at life - leave the forgotten babies with the nuns.
(One article I read described The Home as being involved with Protestants as well)
PARTLY a religious issue - obviously- concerning teachings regarding fornication.
But when a group of people determine that child abandonment is a less severe “sin” than fornication ... That is a cultural problem.

So it appears while The Home may have helped families cope with embarrassment & shame - a bunch of outnumbered nuns were expected to care for an unmanageable number of children with little money - food- or supplies.
Anyone who read Angela’s Ashes has an idea what the mortality rate was like during this time period due to disease.

Evil?
I’m guessing if you do not have the resources to properly feed, clothe, and care for a large number of children - you won’t be wasting money on coffins.

The priest does not want the child to be judged Catholic if he is not going to practice Catholicism.

Interesting.

There are FRoman Catholics who claim that ANYONE who is ever baptized is by default a Catholic. That being baptized anywhere makes them Catholic.

So which is it?

It goes to the belief that we are judged by what we know, and by judgment, that is God’s judgment.

Belief?

Fact:

Leviticus 5:17-19 New International Version (NIV)
17 “If anyone sins and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though they do not know it, they are guilty and will be held responsible. 18 They are to bring to the priest as a guilt offering a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the wrong they have committed unintentionally, and they will be forgiven. 19 It is a guilt offering; they have been guilty of[a] wrongdoing against the Lord.”