Anglican / Roman Catholic Baptism

[nhylan]

My wife is having a baby! We are due in January so we are busy, as always planning these things out.

My wife is Catholic and I’m an Anglican (this is actually what brought me to this website last year to begin with) and I’d like to know what the Catholic standpoint is on Baptism in an Anglican Church. I’d basically like some ideas and stories if anyone has any experience in similar situations.

In all honesty, I don’t, and the Episcopal Church don’t see a difference between a Catholic baptism and an Anglican one both are valid. I am receiving a little push back from my in-laws, which is perfectly fine, saying they would love if the child was baptized in a Catholic Church. In the Roman Catholic understanding of baptism is there truly a difference between a baptism done in an Anglican Church or a Catholic Church?

Also has anyone had any experience involving an Anglican priest in a Roman Catholic baptism or vice versa? I’m not saying the Anglican priest would perform the baptism but merely be involved in some way. I want our child to be the inheritor as much as possible in the spiritual riches of both our traditions.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Dave_B]

Congrats! I’d discuss with your wife which church you would likely take the child and baptise the baby in that church.

However if you want both involved, I think it might be best to baptise in the Catholic church, as Anglicans/Episcopalians are more laid back about bringing people in from other denominations. cheers

 

[nhylan]

Congrats! I’d discuss with your wife which church you would likely take the child and baptise the baby in that church.

However if you want both involved, I think it might be best to baptise in the Catholic church, as Anglicans/Episcopalians are more laid back about bringing people in from other denominations. cheers

Thanks Dave! These are my thoughts as well, I’ve also read stories about having the baptism recorded in both the Catholic and Anglican church so it would be considered a valid Anglican baptism as well as a Catholic one, that might be the best solution if its possible. I think we plan on raising our kids in both churches (in the Anglican understanding its the same church anyways.) Its funny, I actally think it would be best to have the kid baptised in a Roman Catholic Church while my wife (who’s the Catholic) currently has some misgivings about the Roman Catholic Church and would rather have the child baptised in an Anglican Church.

 

[Corki]

What are your plans regarding raising the child in his/her faith? Both churches regard each others’ Baptisms as valid. If you plan to eventually provide religious education and bring your child to the Sacrmanets in the Catholic Church, it is a little less complicated if he/she was Baptised Catholic.

The Anglican priest could be a Christian witness to the Baptism.

 

[FabiusMaximus]

I can’t really help with your dilemma so I apologize but I had to intervene to say: CONGRATULATIONS!!

 

[Iron_Donkey]

First, congratulations.

My understanding is that the Catholic Church recognizes any Christian baptism done in the correct formula (which is pretty much all of them except those groups which don’t believe in the Trinity), so you don’t have to worry about Catholics thinking your child isn’t validly baptized.

That said, there would be a strong (very, very, very strong) preference from the Catholic side to have the baptism done in the Catholic Church, but keep in mind that this means agreeing to raise your kid Catholic. Which is, in fact, a big reason why.

I’d highly suggest talking to a local Catholic priest for a better understanding of this kind of thing. I seem to remember there being a class for parents who want to baptize their children, for one thing, and you’d probably want to see what that entails if nothing else.

 

[Alix1912]

Any baptism performed in the Triune manner (name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is valid in the Catholic Church. I am a Lutheran MS and married to a Catholic, our kids are baptized and will be baptized in the Lutheran Church and we attend that chuch as a family. My husband’s preist pushed for us to baptize them Catholic, but we know NO one suitable who is Catholic to be a Godparent, and they are going to be raised Lutheran.

 

[Redratfish]

What are your plans regarding raising the child in his/her faith? Both churches regard each others’ Baptisms as valid. If you plan to eventually provide religious education and bring your child to the Sacrmanets in the Catholic Church, it is a little less complicated if he/she was Baptised Catholic.

The Anglican priest could be a Christian witness to the Baptism.

I agree with Corki, you have said that if it is considered valid by both Churches would be best. if you wish to raise them Catholic but leave the decision to them, Corki’s suggestion is the best option imho

 

[ajcstr]

Any baptism performed in the Triune manner (name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is valid in the Catholic Church. I am a Lutheran MS and married to a Catholic, our kids are baptized and will be baptized in the Lutheran Church and we attend that chuch as a family. My husband’s preist pushed for us to baptize them Catholic, but we know NO one suitable who is Catholic to be a Godparent, and they are going to be raised Lutheran.

Catholics would say that a Baptism is valid no matter who did it (including a lay person) if it was done using the Trinitarian formula as mentioned above. In this sense its different than the other sacraments. I baptized my month old son using tap water when he was very sick and I wasn’t sure he would survive the night. I didn’t know about the correct formula then and I am not sure if I used it at the time (I may have just used the name of Jesus), but that Baptism would have been considered valid by the Church if I did.

 

[Corki]

Thanks Dave! These are my thoughts as well, I’ve also read stories about having the baptism recorded in both the Catholic and Anglican church so it would be considered a valid Anglican baptism as well as a Catholic one, that might be the best solution if its possible. I think we plan on raising our kids in both churches (in the Anglican understanding its the same church anyways.) Its funny, I actally think it would be best to have the kid baptised in a Roman Catholic Church while my wife (who’s the Catholic) currently has some misgivings about the Roman Catholic Church and would rather have the child baptised in an Anglican Church.

If the child is baptized in the Catholic Church, the Anglican church might record the Baptism. However, if the child is baptized in the Anglican church, the child could not be officially entered into the Baptismal record of the Catholic church unless or until you (or the child) decided to bring him into full communion with the Catholic Church.

The reason for this is that once the child’s baptism is registered as a Catholic, he falls under Catholic canon law. He would have to receive his Sacraments in the Catholic Church, attend Catholic Mass every Sunday (one he is of the age of reason) and be obligated to marry in the Catholic Church when he is older.

It doesn’t sound like you want to “lock him in” to Catholicism that way. You can’t really raise a child in both a Catholic and non-Catholic church after they are about 6 years old anyway. Once they hit catechism age, you will either be preparing him to receive the rest of the Sacraments in the Catholic Church or not. You can raise your children as Anglicans with exposure and knowledge of the Catholic faith or raise them as Catholics with exposure and knowledge of the Anglican faith.

 

[Plyhmrp]

If it really came down to it, the child could be baptised in the Anglican Church and then if the child chooses to be Catholic he or she could become Catholic through RCIA/RCIC when the child reaches the age of reason. Personally if I had a kid I would let he or she make a choice to what Church he or she would want to join.

Congrats!

 

[Tyuiop411]

My wife is having a baby! We are due in January so we are busy, as always planning these things out.

My wife is Catholic and I’m an Anglican (this is actually what brought me to this website last year to begin with) and I’d like to know what the Catholic standpoint is on Baptism in an Anglican Church. I’d basically like some ideas and stories if anyone has any experience in similar situations.

In all honesty, I don’t, and the Episcopal Church don’t see a difference between a Catholic baptism and an Anglican one both are valid. I am receiving a little push back from my in-laws, which is perfectly fine, saying they would love if the child was baptized in a Catholic Church. In the Roman Catholic understanding of baptism is there truly a difference between a baptism done in an Anglican Church or a Catholic Church?

Also has anyone had any experience involving an Anglican priest in a Roman Catholic baptism or vice versa? I’m not saying the Anglican priest would perform the baptism but merely be involved in some way. I want our child to be the inheritor as much as possible in the spiritual riches of both our traditions.

Thanks in advance.

The Catholic Church would recognise an Anglican baptism as valid. But the more important question is which church do y’all intend to raise the child in? If I were you I would iron this issue out with my spouse and have the child baptized in the church you intend to raise the child in. Otherwise, if you attend both a Catholic parish and an Episcopal church you will eventually just confuse the child since the child can not be a practicing member of both churches after a certain age.

 

[kylemccloughan]

My son was baptized Catholic but is an Anglican and is being raised Anglican. It made no difference to his current faith as to what church he was baptized in. I hope that helps. As to my own personal opinion, I would most certainly have the child baptized Anglican. I’m just sayin’.

 

[Conor7]

Not to add more confusion to the debate, but if someone would have given me a choice, I would have been baptized Catholic and catechized Catholic. I love being an Anglican, but there is nothing more heartbreaking than attending Catholic Mass on occasion an knowing I’m not allowed at the rail. Where as a baptized Catholic is always allowed at our table.

At any rate, congratulations.

 

[Ignatius]

My wife is having a baby! We are due in January so we are busy, as always planning these things out.

My wife is Catholic and I’m an Anglican (this is actually what brought me to this website last year to begin with) and I’d like to know what the Catholic standpoint is on Baptism in an Anglican Church. .

A Catholic must have their children baptized in the Catholic Church. Your best bet is to go to the Catholic Parish and speak with the priest.

Congratulations on your impending blessed event. May God richly bless you in all of your ways and bring every blessing to your new child.

Your brother in Christ.

 

[Cheshangle]

My wife is having a baby! We are due in January so we are busy, as always planning these things out.

My wife is Catholic and I’m an Anglican (this is actually what brought me to this website last year to begin with) and I’d like to know what the Catholic standpoint is on Baptism in an Anglican Church. I’d basically like some ideas and stories if anyone has any experience in similar situations.

In all honesty, I don’t, and the Episcopal Church don’t see a difference between a Catholic baptism and an Anglican one both are valid. I am receiving a little push back from my in-laws, which is perfectly fine, saying they would love if the child was baptized in a Catholic Church. In the Roman Catholic understanding of baptism is there truly a difference between a baptism done in an Anglican Church or a Catholic Church?

Also has anyone had any experience involving an Anglican priest in a Roman Catholic baptism or vice versa? I’m not saying the Anglican priest would perform the baptism but merely be involved in some way. I want our child to be the inheritor as much as possible in the spiritual riches of both our traditions.

Thanks in advance.

In my part of Ireland (I still have a house there), joint baptisms are quite common. Sometimes they take place in a CofI church, sometimes RCC. There have also been examples of joint marriage services (CofI/RCC).

May I add my congratulations!

 

[Corki]

My son was baptized Catholic but is an Anglican and is being raised Anglican. It made no difference to his current faith as to what church he was baptized in. I hope that helps. As to my own personal opinion, I would most certainly have the child baptized Anglican. I’m just sayin’.

Just a small clarification. Your son was baptized Catholic. He is a Catholic but is being raised as an Anglican.

As to your second comment, if the child is to be raised Anglican, you are right, he should be baptized Anglican.

 

[kylemccloughan]

Just a small clarification. Your son was baptized Catholic. He is a Catholic but is being raised as an Anglican.

As to your second comment, if the child is to be raised Anglican, you are right, he should be baptized Anglican.

I would respectfully disagree with you on the principle of reason. He is eight years old and extremely sharp for his age. He would profess to you right here and now that he is Anglican by his own choice and desire and would tell you precisely why.

If someone was baptized Baptist and later converted to Catholicism, would they still be considered Baptist no matter what??

 

[kylemccloughan]

Not to add more confusion to the debate, but if someone would have given me a choice, I would have been baptized Catholic and catechized Catholic. I love being an Anglican, but there is nothing more heartbreaking than attending Catholic Mass on occasion an knowing I’m not allowed at the rail. Where as a baptized Catholic is always allowed at our table.

At any rate, congratulations.

And forgive me for saying so, but this is just stubborn pride on the Catholic’s part. Most Anglicans believe in the Real Presence and therefore should be able to receive. How are we ever going to become one as Jesus prayed for us to his father to be if this kind of senselessness is still going on today?

 

[ajcstr]

And forgive me for saying so, but this is just stubborn pride on the Catholic’s part. Most Anglicans believe in the Real Presence and therefore should be able to receive. How are we ever going to become one as Jesus prayed for us to his father to be if this kind of senselessness is still going on today?

I don’t think its pride. Part of being in communion with Catholics woud be accepting the authority of the Pope and the concept that the Church is One, Holy, and apostolic, among other things. I am all for unity but I would not, for instance, feel I should receive communion at an Anglican church even though I would be welcome to do so because my beliefs are not in harmony. Not trying to be mean spirited at all when I say that, I hope you understand. But it goes beyond just the the belief in the Real Presence.