Church of England Delivers Wedding-Baptism Combo

Say you live in England and have a baby but aren't married. That describes a lot of people. The Church of England says unwed parents can now get a two-fer. A wedding-baptism combo promises to make the parents legal and the babies legitimate and blessed, all in one swoop.

The Church of England isn't getting any younger, but it is getting hipper, trying, as Reuters reports, "to attract worshippers with a more flexible and modern approach." Church leaders hope to "appeal to cohabiting couples in an increasingly secular Britain" by "align[ing] religious tradition with modern life."

Recent research revealed that one in every five couples who marry in church in Britain have children already. By catering to these people, the Church of England can capture a large corner of the wedding — and baptizing — market, getting more young couples and their children hooked into — and baptized in — the church. Attendance at the Church of England has declined precipitously in the past decade.

Critics, of course, say that the practice condones sex before marriage. The Church defends its policy by stating that it is catering to a demand people have at an important time in their lives.

And, besides, doing a two-for-one ceremony is just way easier, and not only that, green. As a Church spokesperson put it to Reuters: "It is more convenient, more environmentally friendly with people just making the journey once."