To avoid putting baby Messiah “at odds” with Christian communities in the US, Judge Lu Ann Ballew has ordered parents of the child change his name to Martin.
Parents of the child had gone to court to decide which last name the seven-month-old would carry. Ballew shocked the court with a further decision to change the child’s first name.
“The word Messiah is a title and it’s a title that has only been earned by one person and that one person is Jesus Christ,” stateded the judge, according to local newspaper The Tennessean.
Messiah’s mother, Jaleesa Martin, is appealing the ruling. There was no religious reasoning behind the name, she said. Both parents liked the way the name sounded, but could not agree on the child’s last name.
“I never intended on naming my son Messiah because it means God and I didn’t think a judge could make me change my baby’s name because of her religious beliefs,” said the mother.
Besides, the only name stupider than ‘Messiah Martin’ would have to be ‘Martin Martin’.
Jaleesa Martin has since gone public saying that she refuses to abide by the court’s ruling, telling a local newspaper that, ‘I refuse to call my child Martin. His name is Messiah. If I have to do what I have to do for my child and my rights, then I will.’
Plus, any time the lad is bad down the track, Jalessa can just turn to him and say: “You’re not the Messiah, you’re a very naughty boy!”
Worth it!
Image: vancouversun.com
