Hello

We have had our Children Baptised with our friend who is a Minister in the Anglican Church.

My DH is Anglican. I am Catholic.

I would really like our children to attend our local Catholic School. Main reason is because it is our only other option, apart from our local public primary school AND I really would like our Children to go to a nuturing school that has a 'religious' caring upbringing/education.

Forgive me for my lack of knowledge! BUT, as the Catholic School is requesting a copy of the Baptismal Certificate - is their Baptism Certificate appropriate to give them, even though it is not a 'Catholic Baptism' that my Children had???

I hope I am making sense? Is all Baptism's the same, or have the same meaning? Or would I have to have our Children Baptized into the Catholic Church?

It's all very confusing for me! As it seems to be for many people.

Another question : Can you be Baptized twice - into two different faiths??

To me, the Anglican Church (Christian Faith) is worshipping the same God and believes in pretty much exactly the same thing? So, it's a bit of a struggle with me wishing the Children to be bought up as Catholics, but my DH strongly wanting them to be Christians ...??? (as DH, Children & I attend our local Uniting Church).

THANKS to anyone who can enlighten me!

I think you will find it depends on the school. eg I went to a Catholic school but anyone could buy their way in (I am an athiest!), whereas I have friends who have tried to send their kids to a different and more strict Catholic school and they have to be Catholic.

Whilst Anglican / Catholic have most of the same beliefs and many of the same traditions (and you all believe Jesus was the son of God, and God made the universe etc etc), the Catholic chuch definitely sees the differentiation, especially if you do a quick google on the reformation and how the Church of England came into being! Big, big difference.

So in a nutshell, no the school will not see your kids as being Catholic, but they may not care - if they are all about school fees. If they do care I believe you can have your kids 're-christened', and then go through confirmation and first communion if that's what is required and it's important enough to you.

Theoretically the baptism should be accepted, but it will depend (as PP pointed out) on the particular parish/school.

Preferences for our school are:

1) Practicing Catholics with siblings at the school
2) Practicing Catholics within the Parish
3) Practicing Catholics from outside the Parish
4) Other Orthodox Baptised (ie. Greek Orthodox etc)
5) Other Baptised Christians
6) non Christians

You cannot be baptised more than once in the eyes of most Christian churches (including the Roman Catholics). Sometimes, if it is not certain whether or not someone was baptised as an infant a "provisional" baptism might be performed, but this is not relevant to your children.

The Roman Catholic Church will recognise an Anglican baptism as valid. The certificate will be proof of this valid baptism. However, depending on the ages of your children and what else they have done since, they may wish your children to receive some sort of instruction and initiation into Roman Catholicism; on this process I am no expert, but others might be able to advise you.

Roman Catholics and Anglicans have most of their beliefs in common, but do differ on some fairly significant points. If you're not sure what they are, then I suggest it's worth doing some research before settling finally on a denomination for your children. (If you're interested I can say a lot more from the Anglican side, and there are some very informed Catholics here who can help you with that side). The fact that you are happily worshipping in a Uniting Church suggests to me that you may not agree with all of the Catholic teachings which are relevant here.

Thank you for your replies.

I suppose it's just that because I am Catholic, I would like them to go to the local Catholic School. I loved the Catholic School I went to (from Primary through to High School) - so feel that it would be a good school environment for my children (from friends whose children attend this local catholic school and say only good things, and from my own perspective on the orientation day).

I just feel that some other friends/people who attend their children to the Catholic School tend not really to be Catholics. As they have told me personally that they only started going to the local Catholic Parish the year before their eldest born goes to School, just so that they could 'get in' to the local Catholic School. Obviously they also had their Children Baptized at that same time, in that Church.

I think it's a little hypocritical, that's all.

I am a Catholic, although due to DH's strong views at the time (he has changed his tune a little now) my Children were christened at our local Uniting Church. We all attend Church, the Children go to Sunday School there and I also volunteer regularly within the Community, through the Church. Therefore I still see myself as more 'Catholic/Religious' or however you may word it, than those who just go and attend their local Catholic Church for a few months before school enrolment!

Should I not be hypocritical and do the same thing. Should I change and worship at our local Catholic Church and get the children 're-baptized' into the Catholic Church, just so we can get them into the School? That just doesn't seem right to me.

Anyhow, that's life I suppose! Your thoughts?

I understand your frustration at the apparent hypocrisy.

I think you may find, though, that in attending the Uniting Church the Catholic Church will see you as an unobservant Catholic, in need of reconciliation at best, before they can consider you a Catholic in good standing. You can't have the children re-baptised, though. It's not done. There would be some sort of initiation process for them (as I said, I'm not the expert on that).

I think you probably need to talk to the school; be honest about who you (plural) are and where you're at, and how willing to move your church affiliation you would really be. At the end of the day, if it comes down to the school of your choice or the church of your choice (or possibly, the choice to worship together as a family rather than separately from your DH), which is more important to you?

I agree with Ange Vert.... don't lie.

My SIL correctly put down that my nieces and nephew were Baptised Lutheran (in Berlin Cathedral). They have been accepted at the Catholic Schools which were applied to (my brother is Catholic).

Don't worry at all. Just fill in the forms accurately and explain that your family is a christian one that worships together at the Uniting Church. If there is room for you at the school you will be offered a place.

Keep your honour and integrity. Be faithful in small things.

Your children, like you, have been baptised into the "one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church" and the back of the baptismal certificate should have a list of all the churches that recognise the validity of the sacrament. The Catholic Church in Australia is second on the list.