I am going to be baptized, but there is one problem

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My Dad and I have talked about theological differences, and we understand each other I think.
 
The words have to be said while the water is poured over the head. Or submersion. I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit or Ghost!
 
This is between a minor and the primary educators of the minors faith. The parents. It is not for us to weigh in on. The OP can rest assured that if the trinitarian formula is followed then it is valid. We should encourage the OP to follow the 4th commandment. I would want (though perhaps not expect) a protestant website to respect my authority as a parent enough to keep their nose out of how I am helping my child’s soul. And this is yet another reason this should be an adults only website.
 
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The link below explains a little bit about how adults are becoming Catholics. As you can see there are some more things that are important in a Catholic baptism than what is normal in a non-denomination baptism.

http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/who-we-teach/rite-of-christian-initiation-of-adults/

Ask for permission from your parents to attend a Catholic baptism (a child´s baptism is almost the same as adult) in your local parish so that you can see with your own eyes the differences and similarities. Learning more about your faith is never wrong.

You should be able to talk to your non-denominational pastor without him saying anything about what you talked about to anybody. In most countries this is “a religious right law”.

When you decide to be baptised make sure it is your decision and not somebody else´s wants for you or someone who forces you.
 
Thank you for the advice, but I think I’ll go ahead and accept this baptism. If I find that it is not valid, I try as an adult to be baptized the correct way in the Catholic Church.
 
PetraG said:
Some denominations keep no records of who was Baptized in their church.

To the OP, If you can’t get a certificate just make sure there is pictures and or a video recording to show a priest or RCIA director in the future. That works at my parish when people have no record of their Baptism in non denominational churches.
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TheBomb.Com said:
Can you answer my second question below that I posted earlier?

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.) TheBomb.Com:
Will this baptism be in anyway less than a Catholic baptism? Will baptismal gifts be lacking or deficient? Or will it be just like being baptized by a Catholic priest if it is valid?
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I can tell you that I was baptised in an Anglican church and that that baptism was considered 100% valid when I was received into the Catholic Church. If you are immersed in water or the minister pours water over you and says, “X, I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”, that is valid.
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TheBomb.Com said:
My father already knows, but I’m not being allowed to do so. Since I am a minor and not yet able to drive on my own, I can’t do anything about that.
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Ordinarily there are questions posed to an adult candidate for Baptism, one who has attained the age of consent; be honest in the answers you give to the pastor who intends to Baptize you - for example, if he were to ask if you agree with the teachings of his denomination answer whether you do or not. It is the Church, the Pastor, who decides whether to baptize. It is not the person desiring to be baptized, nor his parent, who decides whether the baptism happens. You, your father, both can only “ask” or “not ask” and it is up to the Baptizer whether or not you be baptized.
 
TheBomb.Com said:
I have one more question. Will this baptism be in anyway less than a Catholic baptism? Will baptismal gifts be lacking or deficient? Or will it be just like being baptized by a Catholic priest if it is valid?
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I was baptized in the Lutheran Church (as a baby). In reality, though no one told me, I was a Catholic but did not know it. It was not until 58 years later that I finally received insight into the Catholic Faith, teaching, and asked to enter the full communion of the Church, to be Confirmed. I attended RCIA, and was taught, which fulfilled the “second instruction” to the disciples on “how to make disciples” (in Matthew 28). “Baptize the people who want to be disciples, AND TEACH THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THAT I COMMANDED YOU.”
You will be a Catholic, but missing the second part, and can’t be Confirmed in the Faith until you know it, until you are Taught by One Who Was Sent To Teach You All Things Commanded By Jesus.
Don’t worry, when it is time, a teacher will teach you if you wish to know, and a Bishop will Confirm you as a fellow disciple in proclaiming the Official News of the Kingdom Established by God. While anyone may give you baptism, only a Bishop or his designated appointee can Confirm you with the Fullness of the Holy Spirit.
 
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LaughingBoy1503 said:
Some denominations keep no records of who was Baptized in their church.

To the OP, If you can’t get a certificate just make sure there is pictures and or a video recording to show a priest or RCIA director in the future. That works at my parish when people have no record of their Baptism in non denominational churches.
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Exactly. Usually, you can get a letter if you ask right away. Later, and especially when the current pastor is gone, maybe not so much. Still, if you say you need some evidence because it isn’t unusual for pastors to ask married couples to show that they’ve both been baptized and when, I don’t think most churches would have any problem with that. They can’t expect every 16 year old will be in their congregation for life.

It would be nice to have a video, but not every church and pastor thinks that is respectful. Ask for permission.
 
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I converted to Catholicism the year I turned 15. My dad didn´t like it 100% but he approved as he understood that this was really what I wanted for myself. I went to my Catholic parish for Mass, would your dad let you do that? If so, maybe you could get an appointment with the priest and discuss these things with him?
 
I’ve actually never asked. I don’t like to be an inconvenience to other people, so I figured I would just wait until I was old enough to go on my own and not put my Dad in an uncomfortable position.
 
TheBomb.Com said:
I’ve actually never asked. I don’t like to be an inconvenience to other people, so I figured I would just wait until I was old enough to go on my own and not put my Dad in an uncomfortable position.
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@TheBomb.Com

You sound as though you’ve chosen to obey God’s Commandment and honor your earthly father, which is certainly a mark of maturity, as is your choice not to inconvenience others.

Your thoughtfulness and patience will be rewarded. Best wishes for a smooth conversion when the time is right for you. 😇
 
I don’t see where the OP was asking if it was ok to disobey/disrespect their parent. It was a question of whether the baptism would be valid in a Catholic Church. My guess/assumption would be that once the OP is an adult they may want to be in full communion with the church and their question is valid.
 
This is quite a list. I think that, and this is my humble opinion, there are times we as lay people, get so hung up on so many details we lose sight of one thing: this is a person wanting to join our church. Do we need to check the validity of a baptism? Of course. There are many times that I have seen people in a church obsess over baptismal validity to the point that it turns people away. (Been guilty of it myself)

I guess my point is, the OP is being baptized in a church of their parents choosing at this point. Valid or not, the Catholic Church will welcome the OP with open arms and should the baptism not be valid(hard to say since we do not know the demonination) the Church will make it right.

I hope I am reading responses in the wrong tone of voice in my head (I do believe I am)
 
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Shorter_name said:
This is quite a list. I think that, and this is my humble opinion, there are times we as lay people, get so hung up on so many details we lose sight of one thing: this is a person wanting to join our church. Do we need to check the validity of a baptism? Of course. There are many times that I have seen people in a church obsess over baptismal validity to the point that it turns people away. (Been guilty of it myself)

I guess my point is, the OP is being baptized in a church of their parents choosing at this point. Valid or not, the Catholic Church will welcome the OP with open arms and should the baptism not be valid(hard to say since we do not know the demonination) the Church will make it right.

I hope I am reading responses in the wrong tone of voice in my head (I do believe I am)
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My only reason for posting the list is that I would hate for the OP to be baptized, believe his baptism is valid, and then find out the difference when he wants to be received into full communion when he becomes an adult. Better to give him the facts now and then there are no unpleasant surprises later.

We have no way of knowing if his baptism will be valid, so telling him “Yes, your baptism will absolutely be valid” as some posters have done is not doing him any favors.
 
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