Catholic Religion..?

Question

Are you born Catholic if Just one of your parents is catholic or how does that work, I mean do you have to go to the church to make your child Catholic, Is there some ceremony or something? Do Godparents have to be members of the Catholic church?
I'm trying to learn about the religion, and I must say, I don't know much!
Any Info about the Catholic religion would help! :-)

I know you have the choice to change religion, I just ment do you have to go through classes or something to be catholic or if you have to be baptised first or whatever. I didnt mean actually be born & you are Catholic forever & you have no say in it. I guess I should have explained! :o)
Thanks for all those who have answered!

Answer 1

you are born as catholic as you are muslim you know islam claims we are all born muslim. it is not true you must make a choice for your self when you are old enough to understand. Jesus is teh saviour not the church priest or parents only you must look to him.

Answer 2

One is not born Catholic. Baptism is considered an initiation into the church. Idealy it should be a conscious choice but since the early days of Christianity, it has been obviously convenient to raise one's children in one's own faith. So among Catholics, infant and child baptism is common. But one can be baptized at any age.

In the case of a child, one parent has to be Catholic, although decisions are easier when both are of the same faith. Godparents should be Catholic, since their primary purpose is to serve as examples and advisors representing the Catholic community. The parents make baptismal vows on behalf of the children and promise to raise them as Catholics. The Church just needs some assurance that the child will grow up exposed to Catholic values and education, otherwise there's no reason for the baptism.

Adolescents and adults are a different matter. They can understand what they are undertaking, so they need to undergo a period of instruction and discernment. It's not a weekend arrangement. It can take a year to prepare.

Currently, inquirers come in for a few sessions of question and answer so they can get a rough idea of what Cathoicism is and isn't. If they are still interested, there are weekly sessions based on the Sunday readings wherein they can learn and discuss the doctrines and practices of the Catholic Faith. The program culminates in a period of self-examination and discernment during the season of Lent to determine whether the person is ready to be a full member of the Church. If so, they are normally baptized at the Easter Vigil service. But it is the decision of the person and their teachers as to whether to go through with it. (And if the person has already been baptized in another Trinitarian faith, then there is no second baptism, just a Confirmation ritual for full membership.)

So, if you are serious, you will know what you are getting into before it ever happens. You will be able to ask questions and make your own decisions.

Answer 3

If you are baptized Catholic, and you learn the Catechism, then become confirmed, (or some rites have the Sacrament of Penance first). Follow the Ten Commandments, go to church and confession at least once a year, you are Catholic. Usually the Catholic parent is responsible for the children to learn this, however, in some mixed marriages, the Catholic partner becomes lapsed or fallen away.

Catechism is usually an hour or two a week, RCIA for mature students is a more condensed version of the basic tenets of the religion.

There is a baptismal ceremony for older children and adults, and one of the Godparents, (or if it is a single sponsor), must be a practicing Catholic. This is usually held at Easter, after the students (I know there's a certain name for them, like "supplicants" or something) have been enrolled in RCIA or Catechism for some time.

The ceremony is held after the mass. Some people stick around, but usually just family and friends (a few days beforehand, the priest will have a rehersal so that you know what to expect). You have to memorize the creed and recite it out loud, and the priest asks you 3X's if you renounce the devil and all his works.

Answer 4

There are many people who are 'born Catholic', but do not know their faith. It in some ways is a cultural distinction in some families, being Catholic in name only.

There is the baptism of the child that occurs shortly after the baby's birth, that is the first introduction to Catholic faith; later on the child publicly professes their faith in Confirmation. As for people converting as adults there is RCIA classes that teach you the faith and then do the Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, this is at same time every year; it's called "Easter Vigil". In fact, call up a few Catholic churches and find out where and when and attend one. They're heartstoppingly awesome.

Yes, all godparents must be Catholic. As that is the spiritual guide the parents select for the child to assist in growth in their faith.

Please go to the link provided below I just found it myself and love everything about it!

Answer 5

To become a Catholic, one begins by being baptized into the Catholic Church. If you are baptized as a teenager or adult, there is a period of instruction and discernment to be done beforehand. If the child is an infant of Catholic parents, the parents go through the instruction and discernment.

Godparents must be Catholics in good standig with the Catholic Church. They must be faithful active members of the Catholic Church.

Feel free to contact me with any questions about the Catholic faith. I have been a high school religion teacher for 7 years.

Answer 6

First you or your child need to undergo a class for 1 and a half year call RCIA. Then you will be Baptist after than you will be confirm then you are able to receive the holy communion. If Your child under 12 he or she will only received baptism not confirmation. After he reach 13 and above he or she can be confirm but he has to undergo a class. For the God parents if you are a female you need top have a God Mother she must be a catholic that has been confirm the same thing for a male. You need to have the GOD mother during the ceremony of being a Catholic there a several stages.

Answer 7

If your parents are Catholic and chose to baptize you into the Catholic faith it is a promise to raise you as a Catholic and educate you in that faith. You have the choice not to take any of the other sacraments, your intitation is not complete until you receive all three initiation sacraments (baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation). Confirmation is Confirming your baptismal vows your parents made on your behalf and recieving the gifts of the Holy Spirit. You are still Catholic even if you don't take the other sacraments, just not in full participation.

Yes God parents have to be active Catholics in full Participation (receiving all three intitiation rites). Many Catholic parishes run inquiry courses where people can come and ask any questions about Catholicism they want, and the basic tenents of the faith our covered. This inquiry is is pre Catechumate RCIA. You do not have to be seeking to become Catholic to go to these. Nor will you be pressured to.

Answer 8

yes I am, yess the childrens should grow up as catholics or to choose what religion they want like if you father it's catholic and your mother it's muslim they have the freedom to choose when they have a resonable age. when you are baptized your godparents have to be catholics, the catholicism believe in the Bible and the traditions , these traditions are come from the first times of the apostles, we can see the Creed where the catholic faith it's exposed, just find on internet The CATHOLIC ROMAN CREED, there are another churches claimed to be catholic but yes they are catholic, we have in common the sacraments and beliefs , as well the Creed, some things are different, we are looking for the Union,as you know the Pope is the Bishop of the Roman Church, he represents the Apostle Saint Peter who was the lovely apostle mentioned in Saint John in the last chapter

Answer 9

Generally you follow the religion of your mother. so if she is Catholic then so are you. However in this day and age, you are able to choose what religion you follow, if you want to follow a religion. I don't and my life turned out pretty good. If you are looking for subjective information on being a catholic, speak to both a priest and and someone who has left the catholic church. I gave up catholicism because I didn't believe in the politics (no contraception was the biggie). Plus you can never get a straight answer from anyone.

Answer 10

The first step of initiation into the Church is baptism. If you were already baptized, speak with a priest to determine if your baptism was valid. I say this because my father came from the Jehovah's Witnesses and in the fine print of their beliefs their baptisms are not valid, so the priest had to baptize him. Secondly, you should enroll in RCIA. This program will teach you the Faith, after which you will receive the sacrament of confirmation as a full member of the Catholic Church.

Please go and talk with a priest; he'll point you in the right direction.

God bless.

Answer 11

im Catholic, both parents are too:) they had me baptized when i was a baby with witnesses called godthers/godmothers who will help u in the future spiritually, so choose them well, much better IF they are responsible and practicing Catholics, u cannot teach what u do not know isnt it? yes there is a ceremony and a seminar before it, to explain and appreciate why its being done:) try to check this websites.. catholic.org, catholic.com, and the Catholic encyclopedia in newadvent.org, God Bless!