getting our son baptized(I'm Baptist,hubby Catholic???)?

Question

Lately there has been a war in our home over religion of all things....it didnt matter to me or my hubby that we were different denominations when we gotg married but now we have a 12 week old son and it seems to matter more then ever to us both now...i go to church 3 times a week and my hubby goes to mass on Christmas....(ok, i'm getting of point here...)
anyway...i feel like it's the childs decision to give his life to Jesus when he's old enough to understand....and my hubby feels like we need to have him baptized asap...I guess i can bend a little, after all he loves our son and wants to feel he is protected etc....if we have him baptized in a catholic church does this mean he's catholic....

Answer 1

i know exactly what you are feeling!!!!!!!!!! I had the same issues when our first son was born. my hubby and his family being catholic and my family and i being evangelist.

honestly, i had my son baptized by a catholic church even though i did not agree with the tradition and the reasoning behind it.... i did it because i was tired of the family battles and at the point i just wanted it to end.
when you get baptized, it means that you are committing yourself to being or teaching your son the catholic faith...although like in your case my hubby's family went to church on weddings, Easter and maybe ash Wednesday... so at that point most of his faith would come from my beliefs which are different.
my husband since has changed to evangelist as well, and our children have never even been to a catholic mass. so not necessarily does it mean he will be catholic.

remember, that God wants peace in your home and marriage, he understands... God bless your son.

Answer 2

Let me, in turn, ask you a quetion or two, in all seriousness...

When you brought your beautiful baby home from the hospital...did you feed him? Or - did you feel the "it was HIS decision" and his "choice" as to what or when he would eat??

Do you put him in warm clothes when you take him out in the stroller on a chilly evening? Or, do you let him decide what he would like to wear, and let him ride around in a diaper and a t-shirt?

Those questions are rhetorical, and do not require an answer...but do you hear what I am saying?

The idea of "believer Baptism" was unheard of for the first 1,500 years of the Christian Faith.

Since you go to church three times per week, I am guessing that you, like many of my Baptist friends, have a healthy respect for Holy Scripture, yes?

Then please, look over the Scriptures on this page (below) and really pray about it. You will see that the Church, for all her faults, has been spot-on when it comes to the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.

http://www.scripturecatholic.com/baptism.html

When your son is Baptized, he will be a Christian. That's all. Yes, he will be entered on the rolls as a member of your husban's parish...but is that a bad thing? When it comes time later in his life for him to make his decision on where he wants to fellowship (i.e., which "denomination" - these are man-made and matter not to God) - then he can make that "choice".

But in the meantime, please, for God's sake....get your child Baptized!

And give him a nice breakfast this morning, too! ;-)

Answer 3

My mother had me baptized, my father's mother insisted it be Catholic like my father was, so she didn't argue. But she's always told me that it was my choice to seek out Jesus, and she never made me go to church (I never went). I'm only just now this year beginning ot join the Catholic church, and it's by choice, not just b/c I was baptized that.

God will protect your child no matter what, baptized or not. Most of that stuff is a man-made concept. I realize baptism is in the bible, but I really don't think God cares. Meaning, he isn't going to turn his back on your child just b/c he isn't baptized.

What you could do is along the lines of what I did--get him baptized but still continue to let him choose. If he chooses another religion besides the one he's baptized in he can always get re-baptized in his chosen faith.

love and light to you

Answer 4

Yes because you have to be a member of the Catholic church. So you can attend classes. The classes will talk about the responsibilities of the parents are about to take baptizing their child. Once you baptize your child you have a responsibility to see that your child is raised to know God, as well as the church does. Basically it educates you about the baptism procedures and responsibilities.
And for the child deciding on whether he will believe in God or not... he will do this no matter if you baptise him/her or not. This is not a gurantee on his faith to God. I hope he does when he gets older.

Answer 5

Why can you not get your son baptized as an infant and then let him decide later on if he wants to be baptized again or convert to another religion entirely. I was baptized Catholic, it didn't stop me from converting when I found another religion that better suited my beliefs. I really don't understand why Christians seem are so threatened when other people baptize their infants in a Catholic ceremony. I really don't care if people get baptized later in life. I don't try to control other people's lives or those of their children.

Answer 6

As a Catholic, your husband has the duty to baptise the child in the Catholic Church, which would mean that the child would become a Catholic. You and your husband should contact the local Catholic Church to find out more. God bless and good lukc!

Answer 7

Baptism is a sacrament. It is not a thing for initiation or whatever, its a sacrament that removes the stain of original sin and fills the person with sanctifying grace (which was lost due to Adam and Eve. Original Sin is inherited, not committed). The sacrament of Confirmation is when your son will accept Jesus and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Well, the acceptance of Jesus is kind of ongoing throughout ones life.

Your husband has an obligation to go to Mass every Sunday, he's committing a grave sin otherwise. He needs to go to confession and confess his lack of observance to the Sabbath.

I suggest you watch EWTN to get more info.

Answer 8

>>if we have him baptized in a catholic church does this mean he's catholic<<

Yes, and he will be subject to the Church's rules. When he attains the use of reason (around age 7), he will be obligated to go to Mass every Sunday and other Holy Days of Obligation. That is why the Church requires that, to be baptized, there be "a founded hope that the infant will be brought up in the Catholic religion" (Code of Canon Law, can. 868.1.2).
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P2X.HTM

If you are not planning to bring your son up Catholic, it is inadvisable to have him baptized in the Catholic Church.

Answer 9

When an infant is baptized it is removing the stain of original sin only. If your son continues his Catholic education then he will not be confirmed until he reaches the age of accountability(when they know right and wrong)

Answer 10

The child need to grow up and be concious and then he can decide between the catholic, the baptist or giving his life to the Lord Jesus Christ.Since you have not lived a life that can provoke your husband to ask for your secret,one also doubt if you yourself you have given your own life to the Lord.Even if you will take the child to go and drop water on his forehead, it will not change anything if he grow up and give his life to God.But it would have been better the child be taken to the church I don't know for consecration to the Lord and not for baptism.My own child was consecrated to the Lord and I am praying that as he grows up he should give his life to God. I will not impose it on him. My wife and I are praying for his spiritual life even as he is just 2 years 8 months.