Stuck in the middle:(?

Question

Heres the deal... My husband is catholic and I am christian. His family are die hard catholics and my family is very much against catholics. We have a 15 month old daughter that his family has been pushing that we get babtised. My husband and even more so his family wants her to be babtised at a catholic church. My mother and family are very upset by this and I am stuck in the middle. If she is babtised catholic does that mean she is catholic? What do I do about the family? She is due to be babtised next sat and my mother isnt speaking to me. Also what happens during a catholic babtism..sprinkle of water or full summersion? Thanks!

Answer 1

Ok, you knew going into this that he's Catholic so, if you cannot find a way to either convert, or just simply raise your child as both, that's your problem.
You knew it's a big deal to him. And evidentally it's a big deal to you.
Plus, they're not THAT different anyways.
Take her to Mass and a Church youth group.
She will be educated enough to make her own decision someday, and will chose then if she wants to be one or another.
I know several Catholics who regularly attend both Mass and Church.
Get her baptised in both settings.
Trust me, she will be all the better for it when she grows up.
I would have given anything to have more than one religious input, and still look forward to going to a Mass someday!

And if your family doesn't like it, they should have said so when the preacher said "Speak NOW".

Sheena

Answer 2

the head of you relationship is your husband,you both decide together. catholics are christian and baptizing your baby is very important, your mother and other family is acting very childish and very unchristian even making this an issue. as christians they should acknowledge the catholic church as christian(without the catholic church your mother or other family members would not have a bible). to find out the significance of baptism and why catholics baptize infants you will find the scriptural bases at scripturecatholic.com, almost all catholic websites cover the sacraments. go with your husband to the local parish priest so he can take you through the steps of what will happen at the baptism. there will not be full submersion and you will also need a godfather+godparent, in other words a guardian for the child should anything happen to you or your husband. the baptism brings your child into christianity under the catholic church, when the child grows up she will make the decision to remain catholic or follow another course, if she remains catholic she will then after first holy communion, at the age of reason reaffirm what happened at her baptism and confirm that she is christian and will walk with jesus(the sacrament of confirmation).

Answer 3

Well, its worse than you think.
When you and your husband were dating, both of you probably made this statement- "well, it really doesn't matter, he is catholic and I am whatever". But now, it does matter-a whole bunch. You have only 2 choices: 1) you can compromise as you did when you dated your husband, this is the easy way-but it will not fix the problem. or 2) you can make it right. How do you want this whole thing to end? Figure out what you want this to be like when it is over, then back into it. Doing what ever you have to do to get it there.
What are you most? Are you most -in love with your husband, or are you most -a Christian? Its yours and your daughters life (and your husband's), you have a tough decision to make-either way will hurt someone.
If you are really a born again Christian-you can not allow your children to be baptized in a catholic church. if you are not a real Christian-then it really doesn't matter.

Answer 4

Regarding your statement, "My husband is catholic and I am christian." Catholics are also Christians.

"If she is babtised catholic does that mean she is catholic? " I believe that the Catholic Church would consider her to be Catholic, but that does not mean she would. That would depend on her raising.

As for the mode of baptism, I believe that they will either sprinkle or pour some water on you baby. They won't immerse her.

Good luck with your mother!!

Answer 5

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that baptism is necessary for salvation, which explains why your husband's family are so concerned about your daughter being baptized. I would advise you to have a long and frank discussion with your husband about how your child will be reared. This is a good time to have a clear understanding between you. Lots of interfaith couples face this dilemma and make it through alive, so don't think it can't be done. Another thing that needs to be done is to check with the priest who will baptize your daughter and find out exactly what he expects of you and your spouse. He may refuse to baptize a child if he thinks it unlikely she will be brought up in the Catholic faith. I could be wrong about that. You should check.

If it were me, I'd go ahead with the baptism in a Catholic church but make it clear to both families that the religious traditions of both of the child's parents will be honored. Having your daughter baptized may make her a Catholic in the eyes of Catholics, but that's not binding on you unless you make it so. Let your families know that you and your husband will rear your child as you both decide to, together.

Another thing to think about. In Catholic tradition, your daughter will be called upon later (sometime between 11-14 years of age) to decide whether or not to "confirm" the baptismal vows you or your husband will take in her name at her infant baptism. She can decide for herself at that time whether she wants to do so or go another course.

Read the following for arguments for and against pedobaptism and credobaptism. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infant_baptism

Answer 6

You say your husband is Catholic, and you are Christian? Aren't you both Christian? Don't you believe in the same God? Really, doesn't this come down to ceremony and ritual differences? If it is causing disruption, baptise the child twice, once in each church. Being baptised "Catholic" doesn't change the soul of an individual, nor their relationship with God. Not being baptised doesn't change your soul, either. Forget the families. What do you and your husband want?

Answer 7

Baptism is a personal choice. The baby isn't old enough to determine if she wants it, so the Catholic 'sprinkling' is just a show. Go ahead & deal with it for the sake of peace in the family.
The word baptism literally translates as total immersion according to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.
Explain that to your parents & maybe it'll make it easier for them to deal with. I would also encourage them to attend, as a show of good faith on Their part.

Answer 8

Catholic -sprinkle of water.
Feel sorry for you. I went through the same thing with my in-laws but lucky for me, my husband and I had decided before we married that our children would be baptized Catholic like me. We let no one stand in our way. It seems to me like you need to talk to your husband and both of you should decide together.
By the way, your daughter could decide when she' older that she wants to become a Christian, a Mormon, etc. Being baptized Catholic, won't prevent that.

Answer 9

Realize I'm Jewish here, so take my opinion with a grain of salt!
For the sake of peace in the family, I would baptize the baby, knowing in your heart what you believe to be truth.
G-d looks on the heart. A baby has no knowledge of what is happening, so who cares what "the Catholic Church" thinks! What does G-d think?
If your daughter grows up to be G-d fearing, then she is who & what G-d wants her to be. Don't worry about the logistics. At this point of the game, keep the peace.

Answer 10

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptism

All you could ever want to know about baptism.

1) Catholics are christians as well. Any level of protestantism is christianity as well. I know a lot of *other* christians don't like Catholics but...denial of that is well, still denial.

2) If you baptise a baby catholic, then in the eyes of the Catholic church, they are catholic.