Baptism Certificate?

[puzzleannie]

That’s not what the Archdiocese of Seattle says. Just reporting what I heard at the Chanchery (sp).

They said, it is not entered into the baptismal records because it is not a baptism. and when a copy is requested, there MAY be a note, but no certificate is issued.

If canon law covers this, which canon?

the fact of reception into full communion with the Catholic church must be entered, either into the baptismal registry or a similar volume kept for that purpose. correct, a baptismal certificate is not issued, but a certificate of the other sacraments and the fact of reception are documented in writing, and a certificate for each new sacrament is issued at the parish where it is celebrated, and each new sacrament is entered in that record. Sounds like you are quibbling about terminology. For instance, if you want to get married sometime after RCIA, the parish that received you will give you a document attesting the sacraments you have received, and it will note that the date and circumstances of baptism were provided by you, not this parish.

the particular law of each diocese interprets the relevant canons and prescribes how sacramental records are kept and maintained in that diocese (whether computer records are acceptable, archiving, preservation etc.)

 

[puzzleannie]

I can see someone taking a Baptismal certificate modifying it by removing a Marriage so that they can go somewhere else and get Married without needing to go through an Annulment process. I would not have a problem having parishes send the documents directly to another parish. I myself went in person to the parish I was Baptized in and asked for a Baptism certificate last year. After looking at my drivers license and asking for my birth date. The lady found it in the Baptismal book and asked me for the Godparents names. Which matched what was in the book. She told me to come back in about an hour. There was no charge for it and it had all the other information listed on the back.

when you prepare for marriage you will be asked to provide, or your baptismal parish will be asked to provide, an original recent baptismal certificate showing all sacraments received, signed by the pastor and stamped with the official seal of the parish. believe me, any attempt to change it will be noticed and a new certificate requested.

If you entered the Church after baptism, the circumstances of baptism as proven, attested by you at that time are noted, in a letter, and the certificate showing your other sacraments, with seal, provided to the parish where you are being married. You will not get a “baptismal certificate” at your parish of receptions because you weren’t baptised there. You will get a document, sealed, showing all sacraments received (including details of marriage situations that may have been addressed and resolved at the time of your reception, such as convalidation or annulment).

a baptismal certificate is seldom accepted in a passport application only if no other documentation of birthdate and parentage is available, the rules for use are very tight and limited, and only if it is official, original with seal and has not been tampered with. Dioceses in Mexico are very strict about providing them, probably because there has been abuse, so it is usually best to ask the parish where you are getting married to request it. it is no longer acceptable in applying for a Social Security card if it ever was, and by itself is not acceptable in a passport documentation. the rules have been so tightened up that by itself it probably won’t be useful. (a SS card is NOT an ID card in the US, and is not acceptable as an ID card).

sacramental records of the parish are the property of the parish and diocese, are confidential, and may not be shown or given to anyone other than the individual or parents and legal guardians of a minor, or with their permission, requested by another Catholic parish and sent directly to the pastor.

 

[puzzleannie]

Out of curiosity, do churches generally charge for the service of copying and mailing birth certificates?

if they do it is nominal, usually $5, waived for need, and does not begin to cover the actual overhead involved. A search for an older record can sometimes take hours or days if it involves a parish that no longer exists and has merged with a new parish. If you don’t live nearby, it is usually faster, easier, and no fee to have the parish that needs it to request the certificate. and it must be mailed, fax or electronic is not acceptable because the seal is required.

I had someone come in yesterday who said her old parish asked for a “research fee”. I called the diocese, and someone is going to speak to this pastor and find out what is going on.

 

[BlyssfulDreamer]

When a person registers at a new parish…do they contact your church you were baptized at and get verification of your baptism? This thread just made me wonder, I guess I never knew for sure how they did that. Thanks…

:heart:Blyss

 

[Digitonomy]

A Baptism Certificate can not be used as for identification in the United States. It’s not recognized as a legal document hereJim

As Mintaka pointed out, there are a number of cases where a baptismal certificate may be used as one piece of identification in order to obtain another type of identification, most prominently:

Original or Replacement SS card for child.

Passport

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

As Mintaka pointed out, there are a number of cases where a baptismal certificate may be used as one piece of identification in order to obtain another type of identification, most prominently:

Original or Replacement SS card for child.

Passport

I assume that in that case a Library Card would be acceptable also as an alternate too. A Baptismal Certificate is a relogious / Church document. It is not a legal document and any organization the accepts it as such is just asking for problems.

 

[Phemie]

I can’t speak to what the other poster was suggesting, but a baptismal certificate can in some cases be used for government identification purposes, such as obtaining a Social Security card, etc. Although other false documentation would be needed, someone else’s baptismal certificate could be the first step in creating a new, fraudulent identity.Chancery.

Part of the reason that we were instructed not to give out baptismal certificates for anything other than religious reasons.

Unfortunately, the parishes I deal with have a lot of people in the registers who appear nowhere else. We hold the only record of their birth so we are compelled to give out certificates when they require them as adults, often in their 60s, to get a birth certificate or to register for the Canada Pension Plan.

 

[Phemie]

I assume that in that case a Library Card would be acceptable also as an alternate too. A Baptismal Certificate is a relogious / Church document. It is not a legal document and any organization the accepts it as such is just asking for problems.

Canada accepts nothing but a government issued birth certificate for a passport or Social Insurance (regardless of whether it’s an original application or card replacement).

 

[Phemie]

When a person registers at a new parish…do they contact your church you were baptized at and get verification of your baptism? This thread just made me wonder, I guess I never knew for sure how they did that. Thanks…

:heart:Blyss

No, at least not in my experience and I’ve changed parishes about 10 times in the last 30 years. The only time I’ve ever needed my baptismal certificate was when I got married and honestly, that’s about the only time the average adult is ever going to need his/hers.

Oh, wait, I had one requested recently so that they could prove they’d been baptized so they could enroll their kid in a Catholic school. Seemed weird, you’d think it’s the child’s baptism certificate that should be required.

 

[junasmomtoo]

It sounds like there is a lot of confusion on Baptismal Certificates. I can tell you that the Roman Catholic Church’s Baptisimal Certificate can be used in the place of a birth certificate if the date of birth is on your certificate. The reason that I know this to be true is because I had to use it. I had to have my name legally changed because of a stalker (ex-husband). I was not faking anything and went through legal procedures including back ground checks through the FBI. The social security administration accepted my baptismal certificate as a secondary item. I think you need two secondary items or maybe three in order to get your number. I used it and guess what my report card which is also a secondary item and maybe one other thing because my birth certificate was not obtainable without my ex being able to find out about it. I also used my childrens baptismal certificates instead of birth certificates to register them for school. We used them to get our passports to go to China. So yes they are legal documents. The Catholic church can also protect your information from any court proceedings because their records can be protected from supenas. I had to have my baptismal certificate changed to match the new names and my ex can not get access to them. Just thought I would add my piece.