Can future children go to CCD even with believers baptism in the Protestant Church

[twf]

No she did not make a vow.

1. Under current canon law, as opposed to previous disciplines that were in place in decades past, only the Catholic spouse makes a promise. The non-Catholic spouse is simply informed. I clarified this point with the priest when I went through a similar process (my wife is Protestant). My wife did not promise anything - the onus is on me, not her. The Church no longer binds non-Catholics.
2. I also know from personal experience that priests will not baptize a child if one parent opposes it. Posters who say “just doing your best isn’t enough” aren’t being realistic. What should he do? Divorce his wife, kidnap the kids and have them baptized in another state where she can’t intervene?

It’s a tough situation. I was in the same situation. I was told my priests that I fulfil my obligation by continuing to pray for my wife’s heart to change on the matter and being a good Catholic witness to my family.

 

[Gingersnaps4]

have you thought of asking your wife to attend RCIA with you, as an inquirer? You do not have to be meaning to convert to participate and learn about Catholicism. My husband and I are converts and I have to say, we learned so much, even after having researxhed and learned on our own for several years before deciding to go through with converting. I know you say your wife is trying but it sounds worrisome that she doesn’t want to raise the children catholic. In that case when you tell them that the Catholic Church has the full truth, she will be contradicting you most likely, and minimizing the importance of being Catholic in order to push her own beliefs. And it will be a tussle between CCD and the Protestant version since they are both usually on Wednesday evenings. It’s just much easier presenting a united front as parents on such important matters. At the very least, attending RCIA will help her to gain a deeper understanding of where you are coming from. And if you are lucky she will see the truth of the Church for herself.

 

[whichwaytogo47]

It’s a tough situation. I was in the same situation. I was told my priests that I fulfil my obligation by continuing to pray for my wife’s heart to change on the matter and being a good Catholic witness to my family.

I do pray for her to convert her heart, but I also respect her wishes as an adult believer in Christ.

I heard this same thing in confession from a priest about being a good Catholic witness.

 

[whichwaytogo47]

I really like your post about having her attend RCIA. It’s very kind and thoughtful. And in my sponsoring someone and this year attempting to sponsor, I definitely learn a lot in RCIA and it helps me be less ignorant and helps me not articulate the church in an incorrect manner.

 

[Gingersnaps4]

Since you happen to already be attending, it’s the perfect opportunity to ask her to tag along so that she can gain a better understanding of your church

 

[Katie777]

I would think you have to show a baptism certificate to enroll a child in ccd.

 

[Gorgias]

I’m a catechist and I disagree, to a degree. CCD is also to help the children learn about their catholic faith. Yes it prepares them for the sacraments but is not solely for sacraments.

Don’t waver, @Gingersnaps4! You’re absolutely correct! One of the most damaging memes out there is that CCD is only a ‘sacrament factory’ – that’s why we have children who show up for 1st and 2nd grade, and then they drop out until it’s time to be Confirmed! CCD is not a sacrament factory – it’s the means for children to learn the Catholic faith and how to live it out in their daily lilves!!!

At my parish you only need be a registered parishioner to enroll your child in CCD and also the children’s liturgy on sundays.

However, the child must be baptized…

as long as your child is baptized by age 7/8 when first communion happens, they can still participate with kids their own age.

… here’s the rub, though: if a child has been baptized in a non-Catholic rite, then the child doesn’t need to be “re-baptized”; however, he needs to be received into the Church. Much like Protestants who enter into the Church (typically on Easter vigil), the children experience a ceremony that “completes the rite” of baptism, and therefore, enter the parish baptismal register, and be ready to receive the sacraments.

A question for the OP: @whichwaytogo47: if your wife doesn’t believe in baptism of children, then she wouldn’t believe in the efficacy of a child’s baptism in the Catholic Church, right? She would think it has no effect, right? Or, does she believe in the efficacy of Catholic baptism, but only once the child reaches a certain age? (Such that she would believe in the efficacy of getting your child baptized in the Church once s/he’s 6 or 7?)

 

[Gorgias]

I would think you have to show a baptism certificate to enroll a child in ccd.

Typically, you request an extract from the baptismal register of the Catholic parish where the child was baptized, or you “complete the rite” of baptism for a child baptized in a non-Catholic community. This latter option, then, means that the child is entered into the baptismal register of the parish where s/he attends CCD.

 

[Gingersnaps4]

However, the child must be baptized…

Maybe he could talk to the religious Ed director or the pastor and see if the child could go to first grade religious Ed unbaptised. As long as they were baptized before 2nd/1st communion I’m not sure why it would be an issue.

Honestly though, I think it’s not fair that the wife would be automatically getting her way with his one, with what’s at stake. Baptism is super important and is a matter of life and death in the catholic faith, while it’s just a public show of faith to most “believer’s baptism” people. The spouse who it’s more important to should be yielded to in matters like this, in my opinion.

 

[Gorgias]

Maybe he could talk to the religious Ed director or the pastor and see if the child could go to first grade religious Ed unbaptised. As long as they were baptized before 2nd/1st communion I’m not sure why it would be an issue.

The ‘intake’ requirement is typically “a member of the Catholic Church.”

 

[Gingersnaps4]

At my parish last year I noticed that unbaptized kids were allowed in to CCD and they got baptized at the Easter vigil and then could choose to get first communion that night or wait a week or two to receive with the first communion class they had been in all year. To me at least, it doesn’t seem like it would hurt to ask about it. I know that you needn’t be baptized to join children’s liturgy, at any rate. With all of the mixed marriages out there I’m sure that the church would be familiar with the circumstance and they do want children to be able to learn about their faith, which would give me hope that it’s worth it to at least ask about CCD. But, as I said before, hopefully the op’s wife would compromise on this issue.
I agree with (name removed by moderator) that it would be best to work these issues out in advance so that everyone was at peace with the situation rather than struggle once a child is in the picture.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Every Bishop sets guidelines for his Diocese.

In our Diocese, any child is welcome in Faith Formation Classes (the old CCD term is a dinosaur here). At our parish we do require that the parents have put their names in the parish database, so, instead of members-at-large they are registered members.

Thing is, they do teach that Catholicism is truth in Faith Formation. This will be a problem because the kids will be taught the opposite at the non-denom congregation.

 

[Gorgias]

At my parish last year I noticed that unbaptized kids were allowed in to CCD and they got baptized at the Easter vigil

Weird. I can’t fathom why priests don’t inform their staff and volunteers that Easter vigil isn’t the only night for baptisms…!

and then could choose to get first communion that night or wait a week or two to receive with the first communion class they had been in all year.

Again: weird. They could’ve gotten baptized much earlier, and then joined their class for confession and 1HC later.

 

[Katie777]

the kids in all my children’s Catholic schools did not need to be baptized or Catholic.

 

[Gingersnaps4]

They could have been given choices, but chose to go that route, I’m not sure. When we converted (at the same parish) my dh and I were given the choice to be brought into the church sooner during a mass or at the Easter vigil, and we chose the vigil.