Curious trend

Children catch up on baptisms for this joint celebration

(Bild: Hörmandinger Reinhard)

The number of births is falling, the number of baptisms even more so. And not just because there are more children of other faiths - parents' world views have changed. But in Upper Austria there is a curious trend surrounding baptism and first communion.

It is an unusual trend: while fewer and fewer parents are having their children baptized as Catholics after birth, the little ones often want to make up for it on their own.