Non-Practicing Catholics and Baptism- help

Bubsie1020

I was raised Roman Catholic as was my husband.  We were married in a Catholic church which now will not baptize our baby because as they said "We haven't made donations every Sunday" so we were dropped as parishioners.  Funny that they bapitized my 2 nephews to an out of wedlock mother who was not a parishioner either, but hey.  Anyway, does anyone know of any other denominations that are more accepting?

rider5344

Maybe just try a different church?  We are roman catholic and ours is VERY accepting, we have never made donations, my daughter was born out of wedlock and the priest was great!  HE suggested her inclusion in our wedding and also DS's baptism.  They also allowed us to have one godparent who was not even catholic.  If you want to stay roman catholic, just try a different church, many are much more liberal and accepting.  You just happened to find a bad one

MarSamWhitney

Is there another church you would be interested in joining first? Maybe put a little research into it, as to what you are specifically looking for, and get a repore with that church.

We are Methodists, and I love it there. We do not reject people for not making donations, but I think it might seemed a little odd if you just showed up one sunday to schedule a baptism.

kg_08

It may just be that particular church, have you tried another Catholic church in your area?

Personally I am Baptist and my church is very accepting, but your LO won't be baptized there. I think the only ones who baptize babies are the Catholics.

ShellyD914

I think it really depends on the Church, becuase I just called up the other day and told them that I was looking to baptize my DD.  She asked me what date I wanted and booked it. Mailed me out a registration form and that was it.  I was actually taken back by how easy it was.  I definitely thought they were going to give me a hard time for not being a registered parishioner.  Good luck!

Wufroggy79

Yikes! I think that may just be the parish. We just joined the parish that is down the street from us two months before LO as baptized. H is Catholic, I'm not. We def don't go every week, and we don't send in money when we don't go either. It's a pretty liberal parish though. They would have allowed me to have as many godparents as I want, any gender (I.e. Two female godmothers and no godfather), and they would have allowed only one godparent to be Catholic. I asked because I really wanted my Jewish friend to be a godparent, which made my MIL about pass out and die.

weberm05

All churches are different, our preist is very strict. He's not worried about donations, but rather seeing people in church. He won't baptize a child if he doesn't see the parents attending.  I don't blame him. 

LadybugPicnic2011

I think it is just your church.  I had DS 2 baptised at one church and DS1, DD and myself at a different church.  All of them required one parent be a practicing Catholic (you dont have to donate), attend a 2 hour class on what it is and why, and have at least one Godparent be Catholic.  With DS2, I was not Catholic but my ex was (we wern't married), with DS1 I was a singe parent and he and I were baptised at the same time, with DD I am married but it wasn't blessed by the church and DH is not Catholic.

Wufroggy79

kdodge423:

kg_08:

It may just be that particular church, have you tried another Catholic church in your area?

Personally I am Baptist and my church is very accepting, but your LO won't be baptized there. I think the only ones who baptize babies are the Catholics.

wrong. Basically any denomination created before the 17th century does infant baptism. OP- why are you wanting to baptize? If you aren't going to practice the religion (which you will promise to do as part of the ceremony) what is the point?

She is correct at least about most Baptist churches that I know. I think they wait until around a first communion age when LO can make the choice for him/herself.

juliedooley

We are going to baptize DS in a Lutheran church in our neighborhood (before his 1st birthday, really!) that we visited and liked. I was raised Catholic but no longer practice for many reasons, and DH and I were married by a Lutheran minister who is a friend of the family. I'm very comfortable with the Lutheran denomination because their traditions are very close to what I grew up with, but have less of the stuff I don't identify/agree with and I've found seem generally more accepting.

That said, I do know some parishes are more accepting than others, and I'm sure there are some conservative Lutheran churches where I wouldn't feel comfortable. But if you want to baptize LO, I think it's important that you find a parish/congregation where you feel comfortable and accepted first--if you don't, then you'll never bring your children there and I feel like that does kind of miss the point. I see baptism/christening as a 'welcome to this church' kind of thing.

JnDbaby4us

Definitely try another Catholic Church in the area.  We are members and go every week, but several of the other parents in our class, admitted that they didn't attend our parish regularly to the Deacon and he was fine with it. 

saturdaynightdoubletree

I agree that you could probably just try at a different church. Or register and start going to church for a bit before trying to baptize LO? GL!

spritz

weberm05:

All churches are different, our preist is very strict. He's not worried about donations, but rather seeing people in church. He won't baptize a child if he doesn't see the parents attending.  I don't blame him. 

A sacrament should be withheld from the child because his/her parents don't go to church?  I totally disagree.  Sacraments are a gift from God.  I don't believe that it is up to another human to decide if someone gets baptized or not.  Think of the people Jesus baptized.  Good thing he wasn't so judgmental.

 Also, no one knows everyone else's situation.  There may be a very good reason someone isn't in church every Sunday.

weberm05

kdodge423:

spritz:

weberm05:

All churches are different, our preist is very strict. He's not worried about donations, but rather seeing people in church. He won't baptize a child if he doesn't see the parents attending.  I don't blame him. 

A sacrament should be withheld from the child because his/her parents don't go to church?  I totally disagree.  Sacraments are a gift from God.  I don't believe that it is up to another human to decide if someone gets baptized or not.  Think of the people Jesus baptized.  Good thing he wasn't so judgmental.

 Also, no one knows everyone else's situation.  There may be a very good reason someone isn't in church every Sunday.

There are other days they could go and still be active members of the church and this would be a non issue. But they don't.

And why should they perform a sacrament when they know full well the parents are not practicing their faith and likely have zero intention on backing the promises they have to make during the ceremony? It's nothing but lip service and demeans baptism.

Also- Jesus didn't baptize children. He blessed them though.

 

 

I don't know how it is in other areas, but in ours, the priest and everyone in the communty knows who goes to church.  You have the people who want to baptize their child, have first holy communion made, get married in a catholic church, etc but does not want to actually attend church....well they might make an appearence on christmas,but otherwise that's it.  They are the same one's that their child make their 1st holy communion and never come back to pick of their pics b/c they never go to mass.  The pics get thrown away after father announces for months they are in the church ready to get picked up.

Jessie_ea

weberm05:

All churches are different, our preist is very strict. He's not worried about donations, but rather seeing people in church. He won't baptize a child if he doesn't see the parents attending.  I don't blame him. 

This. My church is the same way. Their only requirement is that you are a member of the parish and attend mass regularly. They don't want people getting their child Baptized without the intention of raising them in the church. Baptism is a child's first sacrament and is a way of welcoming them into the faith and beginning their spiritual life. My parish believes that if you don't attend mass then you have no intention of providing your child with the tools he/she needs to become strong in their faith in God and the church.

NewFamily09

Ummm, I don't know of any other denominations that would do that.  Are you serious that they won't baptize your son because you didn't donate money!!!??  That is RIDICULOUS.  No wonder people are so skeptical of Christians nowadays.  What the heck does money have to do with being baptized?  Come to my church.  You don't have to give a cent.  We don't even pass around an offering plate because they don't want to pressure people.  I love our church because everyone is welcome- we have homeless people, people with piercings, tattoos, old folks, college kids, everyone.  Of course, they usually don't baptize babies.  We're nondenominational and our belief is to baptize people when they are old enough to have made the decision themselves.  We do baby dedications, though.  It's a little different. 

SapphireKat18

kdodge423:

There are other days they could go and still be active members of the church and this would be a non issue. But they don't.

And why should they perform a sacrament when they know full well the parents are not practicing their faith and likely have zero intention on backing the promises they have to make during the ceremony? It's nothing but lip service and demeans baptism.

Also- Jesus didn't baptize children. He blessed them though.

 

I so agree with you on this. I feel the same about people who are adamant about finding a church to get married in even though they haven't set foot in one since they were 13. Like, it's not important enough to practice on a daily basis...only for a select few important days.

But @ the OP, this reminds me of a lady my mom knew. She wanted her kids baptized in the Catholic church. They told her she had to attend and give 3 months' worth of offering first, so she said "Can't I just give you the $12 now and get it done?" They didn't appreciate that.

RumbleLina

If you really want to raise your child Catholic then try to find another church.

I have never heard of being booted out of a congregration because you do not or cannot make donations every Sunday. That is crazy. I am Roman Catholic and none of the churches within our area do this.

RumbleLina

kdodge423:

nbeseau:

kdodge423:

kg_08:

It may just be that particular church, have you tried another Catholic church in your area?

Personally I am Baptist and my church is very accepting, but your LO won't be baptized there. I think the only ones who baptize babies are the Catholics.

wrong. Basically any denomination created before the 17th century does infant baptism. OP- why are you wanting to baptize? If you aren't going to practice the religion (which you will promise to do as part of the ceremony) what is the point?

She is correct at least about most Baptist churches that I know. I think they wait until around a first communion age when LO can make the choice for him/herself.

cheese and rice, read what she said. Only Catholics baptize. Not even remotely close to being correct.

PS- Baptist church- founded in early 1600's, which is the 17th century. Which falls exactly in line with the time frame I posted that pre-17th century denominations infant baptize, later founded ones do not. Damn, I hate when I am proven correct. Thanks for playing. Try to keep up with the conversation next time. No one said Baptists don't do later baptism.

 

You do realize that she wasn't disagreeing with you....right? She was adding her two cents from information she knew about Baptists that she knows of and when they baptize. Bring your defense shield down a bit.

Wufroggy79

Allysun - AMEN! That's exactly what I was doing.