Judge rules girl of 10 can choose to convert from Judaism to Christianity

By Leon Watson

PUBLISHED: 23:29 EST, 2 August 2012 | UPDATED: 23:31 EST, 2 August 2012

A judge has written to a 10-year-old girl explaining why he has decided she should be allowed to be baptised as a Christian even though her Jewish mother wants her to wait until she is older.

Judge John Platt tells the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons: 'Sometimes parents simply cannot agree on what is best for their child, but they can't both be right.

'Your father thinks it is right for you to be baptised as a Christian now.

Judge John Platt told the girl in a letter why he has decided she should be allowed to be baptised as a Christian even though her Jewish mother wants her to wait

'Your mother wants you to wait until you are older so they have asked me to decide for them. That is my job.'

His letter to the child is reproduced in a written judgment in the case which has now been made public, but nothing can be published which would lead to the identification of any of the parties.

The judge, who heard the case at Romford County Court in Essex, thanks the girl, who is referred to as C, for 'telling me so clearly why you want to be baptised now', adding: 'It is important for me to know how you feel.'

The judge says: 'My job is to decide simply what is best for you and I have decided that the best thing for you is that you are allowed to start your baptism classes as soon as they can be arranged and that you are baptised as a Christian as soon as your minister feels you are ready.'

He points out to C: 'Being baptised does not mean that you give up your Jewish heritage.

'That will always be part of you and I hope that you will continue to learn more about that heritage and about your mother's faith.

'Even after you are baptised you are still free to change your mind about your faith later when you are older.'

And he adds: 'Finally, and this is the most important thing, both your mother and father will carry on loving you just as much whatever happens about your baptism.

'I understand that the past few months have been a difficult time for you but that is over now and the decision is made. I send you my very best wishes for the future.'

In the main body of the ruling, the judge says that both the child's parents are Jewish.

Following their 2010 divorce, they agreed a shared parenting arrangement for C and her brother.

After the marriage breakdown, the father converted to Christianity.

Judge Platt said that, with the agreement of the mother, both children attended Christian church services with the father on the alternate Sundays when they are with him.

The daughter 'wishes to be baptised as a Christian'.

The judge said the mother's firm belief is that C is too young and immature to make such an important decision in her life and that this should wait until she reaches the age of 16.

The father's case was that he has 'no intention of denying his or his children's Jewish heritage and culture' and accepts that 'both his children have been born of a Jewish mother and consequently are and always will be Jewish'.

Giving his decision in the case, Judge Platt said he was satisfied that C's 'welfare interests are best served by allowing her to be enrolled in a baptism class and to present herself for baptism into the Christian church as soon as she is ready'.

He said he had decided that 'C's wishes to be baptised as a Christian must be respected'.

On the issue of confirmation, the judge said: 'In the light of her Jewish heritage, I would consider it appropriate that she should attain a much fuller degree of understanding and greater maturity before being confirmed and I therefore propose that she should not be confirmed before her 16th birthday without the consent of the mother.'

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