Catholic School expects my child to be baptised, what to do?

Question

Hi everyone, thanks for reading my question....

I want my daughter to have the best education on offer, and for her to be aware of a God. I also agree with the moral/ethical values the Catholic churches encourage in our precious children.

I used to be a practising Christian, and for various reasons - I stopped going. So I am agnostic I guess. I have never attended Catholic churches, but rather various others.

When I checked out a local Catholic School, I was very impressed and am strongly 'for' my daughter attending this school. Baptised children are given strong priority, and I don't want to risk my daughter missing out.

So I want to get my daughter Baptised. But I am not a religious person, neither is any of my family whatsoever. Will she be accepted for baptism? What do I say when they ask about her 'Godparents' whom are also not Christians...?

Please give me all the advice you have!

Hi everyone, and thank-you for taking the time out to respond.

To answer some of the questions - My daughter is 3.5 years old (so she's still in preschool)....

Secondly, I understand baptism - I am a baptised christian (Can't find my certificates, lost in many many moves), but wasn't baptised in a Catholic church.

I do understand God, and fully believe in God - but have not studied the Catholic Faith itself, rather Christian Churches (AOG, COC)...

Answer 1

Well, I agree with the previous poster that Catholic schools do not require children to be baptized. However, when a school is crowded, it makes sense for them to give priority to kids of the parish the school is attached to. You, as an outsider, would be lower on the totem pole as far as admissions go. Can't be helped.

You cannot have your daughter baptized by a Catholic priest unless you intend to raise her Catholic. If you don't, then the baptism is illicit and the priest would be committing a mortal sin. So it would be really hard for you to find a priest who would agree to baptize your daughter simply because you want to get her into St. Whatever School.

I think your best course of action is to (A) get your daughter on the waiting list ASAP. (B) Do some more investigation into the Catholic religion, since you agree with the general morals of the faith and you do believe in God. There is a (free) class for adults called RCIA. You can take this class to learn all about Catholicism, and in the end, you can decide whether or not you want to become Catholic and whether or not you want to raise your daughter Catholic.

Bonus: In my parish, parents who are enrolled in RCIA are given preference over the non-Catholic, non-RCIA parents. So it may move your daughter up the waiting list to a "middle" group.

I congratulate you on wanting the best possible eduation for your child!

Answer 2

Baptised

Answer 3

obliviously, you don't know what baptism is, you and your daughter should meet the pastor of the church, and understand why christians are baptised. Well the reason of baptism is to be accepted into God's family and to be cleansed of all your sins. Seriously baptism isn't the only way to heaven you have to believe that Jesus Christ, Son of God is your Savior. Take the advice a true believer in God gives you: go to church, take communion, study the Bible, repent of your sins, and live along the guidlines of the ten commandments, and if your not baptized, you should get baptized also. I really hope that you will take this advice seriously, and that the Holy Spirit will come into your heart. Remember, JESUS LOVES YOU, and he is watching over you all the time, even if you don't believe in HIM.


GOOD LUCK!

Answer 4

Is she old enough to understand and accept the meaning of baptism? Are you understanding the meaning of it??

The term God parent is some one who is promising before God to be sure this child is taught in the way of the Lord should the natural parents fail in this area of responsibility.

If they are not Christan then they are not qualified as God parents. They could be witnesses perhaps.

Having a good education is important, but what does a man gain of the whole world ( of education) if he does not know God?

Learning of God together is something wonderful between a parent and Child! If you don't then why should she?

If you don't wear a seat belt then why should she?

Children learn by example.

Answer 5

Give your child a chance to decide for herself if she want to embrace Catholicism or not when she grows up. In the meantime it would not hurt anything to have her baptised - she will decide for herself much later like I did - I was 24 before I became a serious Catholic. Explain to the priest that you don't know any Catholic people who can be God parents. I had the same problem for my oldest son and so asked a lady I went to Church with and he doesn't have a God father! Where I come from England they don't care whether the family is pratising Catholic or not which seems to me stupid. The answer is yes - she will be accepted for Baptism.

Answer 6

well since your not catholic and dont perfer their beliefs as far as christianity then why go to a catholic school? baptism should NOT be forced on children. they should be old enuff to understand what baptism is for! im almost certain they would probably hold it against your child cuz of the family. though i dont know cuz ive never been, but i hear theyre strict religion. are there no other private schools she can attend that will be good for her or what you agree with?

Answer 7

Well, you may have a few problems. First of all, the children are usually baptized as an infant! I said, usually. They do make exceptions but, you will need to speak one on one with the priest who oversees your daughters school.

Secondly, you as parents, and the Godparents have to take an oath that you all will teach her about God and will maintain the Christian lifestyle. You will need to denounce, satan as well!

It is not about the money you pay to the priest! It is about a way of life and how that child will be brought up in the home and church! So, you really need to speak to the priest.

Best wishes

Answer 8

Catholic schools typically do NOT require their students to be baptized Catholics.

You should clarify this matter with the school before enrolling your child.

But why have such respect for the Catholic educational system, yet reject Catholic theology?

You're missing the whole point of a Catholic education.

Makes no sense to me!

Answer 9

Being Baptized is a outwardly sign that you have accepted Jesus as you personal savior . That you trust and believe in him and his word and will try to live by his word . It DOES NOT mean that she will go to heaven , or be blessed in any way . If it does then why did Jesus suffer so much , shed his innocent blood , and die on the cross for then ? If you want her to go to that school , I would do it just to get her in ...explain to her why it's being done. Romans 10:17, Acts 4:12

Answer 10

The jap Orthodox Church (of which the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is a factor) and the Roman Catholic Church are actually not in communion. mutually as each believes interior the validity of the sacraments of the different, a baptized Orthodox Christian can't take communion in a Roman Catholic church, nor can a Roman Catholic take communion in an Orthodox Church -- opposite to the instructions of a few Roman Catholics. an analogous with different sacraments. Baptism is the formal reception into the church. and not making use of a next formal conversion, the sacraments are actually not attainable to a minimum of one baptized in the different church. You and your husband could desire to flow to the clergymen of the two church homes, and determine how little ones are to be raised. it rather is maximum suitable to start interior the church you have been married in.