In RCIA--Written Proof of Baptism?

[sariejack]

I am in RCIA–halfway through, converting from Methodism–and I have been asked to submit written proof that I was baptized.

My parents had me baptized as a Methodist in 1977, when I was still a baby. The church still exists but they have no records from that early on (the church was still under construction at that time).

I didn’t think it would be this difficult to find written proof of my baptism but it is proving to be so–I am going to look through storage for my baby book and if that doesn’t pan out, I have to have my parents write a letter stating that I was baptized. The deacon may or may not accept my parents’ word as proof. He has said that if I can’t prove it to his satisfaction, I may need to be baptized again.

Has anyone else had to submit written proof of baptism during RCIA? The converts I spoke to said their RCIA leaders just took their word for it.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

We need some kind of proof. If there isn’t an actual baptismal certificate we can accept a letter from a parent, godparent, clergy of the church where the baptism took place, even a picture. If you were old enough to remember the baptism you can attest to it but that doesn’t help if you were baptized as a baby. If there’s no evidence for your baptism, then a conditional baptism may be done. That’s not a re-baptism or second baptism, but covers things if you were not previously baptized.

I have to admit this is one of those areas where I’m happy to have the pastor make the decision. I get together whatever evidence the candidates have and he decides if anything else is needed.

 

[casslean]

Our church requires a baptismal certificate or written proof of baptism for RCIA. It was covered the very first night of class.

 

[KendraDZ1902]

I had to have a written letter. I was at Christian camp and the only witness I kept in touch with was my brother, who was baptized right after me. He wrote a letter and that was that.

 

[sariejack]

My sponsor converted in the 1990s and they just went on her word. My mom went through RCIA about ten years ago and they just took her word on it too. We didn’t cover it in class until a week ago. Hmmm. I wonder if written proof is a recent thing.

 

[achmafooma]

Exactly what SuscipeMeDomine said. If you cannot obtain a certificate from the church where you were Baptized, and if your parents don’t have or can’t find a copy, then a letter from a witness (your parents, the pastor, or somebody else who was there) should be sufficient.

The letter doesn’t need to be in any particular form, but I usually advise something like this: “I witnessed So-And-So being Baptized on [date] at Such and Such United Methodist Church. The Baptism was with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

If the exact date is not known, something like “in the summer of 1977” or “around the middle of September 1977” or as close as they can get from their memory is perfectly fine. The point is to illustrate that there is a reasonably clear memory that it happened and that it was in the proper form [with water, and in the name of each person of the Trinity].

We pretty much always require written evidence for the purposes of record-keeping. Those who were Baptized as adults (or even as preteens/teens, as I was) can often write their own letter from their own memory, but we want to be reasonably certain that somebody has been previously Baptized, and that it was a proper sacramental Baptism, because, if they weren’t, we don’t want them to miss out of the graces of the sacrament!

When no evidence can be provided, we will usually do a conditional Baptism to make sure that person is covered, even if they are pretty sure they were as an infant (or whenever). But like SuscipeMeDomine, I’m just the RCIA leader…if there is any question, I advise my pastor and he works with the person to determine what needs to be done, and he makes the decision on whether there is sufficient evidence or whether a conditional Baptism is needed.

I hope this helps. God bless you in your journey home to the Catholic Church (and greetings from a fellow Baptized Methodist!).

 

[twopekinguys]

Exactly what SuscipeMeDomine said. If you cannot obtain a certificate from the church where you were Baptized, and if your parents don’t have or can’t find a copy, then a letter from a witness (your parents, the pastor, or somebody else who was there) should be sufficient.

The letter doesn’t need to be in any particular form, but I usually advise something like this: “I witnessed So-And-So being Baptized on [date] at Such and Such United Methodist Church. The Baptism was with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

If the exact date is not known, something like “in the summer of 1977” or “around the middle of September 1977” or as close as they can get from their memory is perfectly fine. The point is to illustrate that there is a reasonably clear memory that it happened and that it was in the proper form [with water, and in the name of each person of the Trinity].

We pretty much always require written evidence for the purposes of record-keeping. Those who were Baptized as adults (or even as preteens/teens, as I was) can often write their own letter from their own memory, but we want to be reasonably certain that somebody has been previously Baptized, and that it was a proper sacramental Baptism, because, if they weren’t, we don’t want them to miss out of the graces of the sacrament!

When no evidence can be provided, we will usually do a conditional Baptism to make sure that person is covered, even if they are pretty sure they were as an infant (or whenever). But like SuscipeMeDomine, I’m just the RCIA leader…if there is any question, I advise my pastor and he works with the person to determine what needs to be done, and he makes the decision on whether there is sufficient evidence or whether a conditional Baptism is needed.

I hope this helps. God bless you in your journey home to the Catholic Church (and greetings from a fellow Baptized Methodist!).

I too was an RCIA director for almost 20 years.

What you and SuscipeMeDomine said is absolutely correct.

I remember a case we had a couple of years ago. The woman was baptized Catholic in Guatamala, but, it couldn’t be verified for a variety of reasons. When she moved to the United States, she was baptized into another faith, and they didn’t keep baptismal records.

Long story short, we had to have a conditional baptism done, along with a mandate from the Bishop for the confirmation since there was the possibility of a valid Catholic baptism.

Sometimes you need a flow chart for these things

 

[revert_jen]

My sponsor converted in the 1990s and they just went on her word. My mom went through RCIA about ten years ago and they just took her word on it too. We didn’t cover it in class until a week ago. Hmmm. I wonder if written proof is a recent thing.

I sponsored someone, and they needed written proof. It was a pain, because the parents didn’t want her to convert and didn’t want to tell her where she was baptised, but she figured it out.

Were your sponsor and your mom adults (or at least not infants) when they were baptised? If they were infants, I don’t think I’d want to take their word for it, because how could they know for sure? I was baptised at three weeks, and I wouldn’t take my word for it.

–Jen

 

[Neofight]

In our parish, Written proof need only be an a letter written by two people who were present.

 

[Kal2012]

Yep - I had to get written proof.

They wanted something with a date on it, not just my word.

 

[ArchAngeles]

Yes, I came from the UMC as well and had no proof of baptism plus there was no one left who could attest to it either, so I’m having a conditional baptism done this Easter Vigil. I would go ahead and try to get them to accept an affidavit or something but if it doesn’t fly don’t worry about it. You’ll be OK without that.

 

[Magdalen2013]

I am in RCIA–halfway through, converting from Methodism–and I have been asked to submit written proof that I was baptized.

Has anyone else had to submit written proof of baptism during RCIA? The converts I spoke to said their RCIA leaders just took their word for it.

Yes, I had to submit proof of baptism, and I was baptized in the Methodist church. I called that church and the secretary sent me a letter, signed by the pastor, stating the date of my baptism and that it was performed at that church. Since I was baptized in 1967, I find it strange that your church doesn’t have a record – the building of the current church at that time is not an excuse for their being no record.

 

[Magdalen2013]

Yes, I had to submit written proof of baptism. All I did was call the Methodist church I was baptized in, and the secretary prepared a letter, which the pastor signed, stating the date and place of my baptism (1967).

 

[thequeen]

When I converted I did not go through rcia but had private instruction from a priest who was very orthodox in his thinking since I came from a pentecostal background where records were not very well kept and the preacher from my former church was totally against my becoming Catholic would not give any information about my baptism in the pentecostal church I had to have a conditional baptism.

 

[ExMethodist]

I am in RCIA–halfway through, converting from Methodism–and I have been asked to submit written proof that I was baptized.

My parents had me baptized as a Methodist in 1977, when I was still a baby. The church still exists but they have no records from that early on (the church was still under construction at that time).

I didn’t think it would be this difficult to find written proof of my baptism but it is proving to be so–I am going to look through storage for my baby book and if that doesn’t pan out, I have to have my parents write a letter stating that I was baptized. The deacon may or may not accept my parents’ word as proof. He has said that if I can’t prove it to his satisfaction, I may need to be baptized again.

Has anyone else had to submit written proof of baptism during RCIA? The converts I spoke to said their RCIA leaders just took their word for it.

I started RCIA in the fall of 2012 and I was asked for proof of my baptism as a Methodist.

 

[PJM]

=sariejack;12700960]I am in RCIA–halfway through, converting from Methodism–and I have been asked to submit written proof that I was baptized.

My parents had me baptized as a Methodist in 1977, when I was still a baby. The church still exists but they have no records from that early on (the church was still under construction at that time).

I didn’t think it would be this difficult to find written proof of my baptism but it is proving to be so–I am going to look through storage for my baby book and if that doesn’t pan out, I have to have my parents write a letter stating that I was baptized. The deacon may or may not accept my parents’ word as proof. He has said that if I can’t prove it to his satisfaction, I may need to be baptized again.

Has anyone else had to submit written proof of baptism during RCIA? The converts I spoke to said their RCIA leaders just took their word for it.

Your parents testimony ought to be sufficient. If not, no big deal. Discuss it with the priest who cab grant a “Conditional Baptism” that takes effect ONLY f you have not previously received a VALID Christian Baptism:thumbsup:

 

[otjm]

I am in RCIA–halfway through, converting from Methodism–and I have been asked to submit written proof that I was baptized.

My parents had me baptized as a Methodist in 1977, when I was still a baby. The church still exists but they have no records from that early on (the church was still under construction at that time).

I didn’t think it would be this difficult to find written proof of my baptism but it is proving to be so–I am going to look through storage for my baby book and if that doesn’t pan out, I have to have my parents write a letter stating that I was baptized. The deacon may or may not accept my parents’ word as proof. He has said that if I can’t prove it to his satisfaction, I may need to be baptized again.

Has anyone else had to submit written proof of baptism during RCIA? The converts I spoke to said their RCIA leaders just took their word for it.

I started teaching RCIA something like 20 years ago, and we required proof in writing. I left it to the pastor as to what proof (and later, to our deacon).

I would suspect that if asked, the LDS church, which seems to be the leading proponent of genealogy, would state that the Catholic Church has the best records, bar none, in the world.

The fact that someone, in the RCIA process somewhere, did not pursue the records as diligently as they should have is not to be commended; but the Church does not see religion and faith as in individual matter, but as a universal matter of great importance. And records are part of that.

I have occasionally come across people who seem offended by that 9and it is usually over baptismal records, or the lac thereof), and in fact there was one thread in the forums by someone who went of a first class hissy fit rant over it.

Welcome to the Church; may God bless you abundantly on your journey.

 

[achmafooma]

I have occasionally come across people who seem offended by that 9and it is usually over baptismal records, or the lac thereof), and in fact there was one thread in the forums by someone who went of a first class hissy fit rant over it.

I’ve only been leading an RCIA program for 4 years now, and I’ve definitely had some people concerned or offended by the request for Baptismal records. I think part of it is that the records can be hard to find, so it is asking our candidates to do some difficult footwork that they probably did not expect to have to do.

When it comes up, my ‘short and sweet’ explanation is: “The Church takes Baptism very seriously. If you are already Baptized, we want to make reasonably sure that it happened and it was valid. And if you were not Baptized, or if there is a question of validity, we want to make sure you get Baptized and don’t miss out of the graces of the Sacrament (or the Sacraments that follow)!”

In other words, it’s not pointless record-keeping, but rather a way that the Church looks out for God’s people and tries to ensure that nobody misses out. I have found that presenting it that way usually overcomes the concerns and any feeling that it’s all just ‘busywork.’

And of course I try to pair that explanation with reassurance that, if the records really cannot be found, it will not be an impediment to the Sacraments and we will work to either find an alternative validation (e.g., a letter from a witness) or do a conditional Baptism. Some people get worried that a lost or unavailable certificate will keep them from the Sacraments, which is not the case!

God bless

 

[PJM]

=achmafooma;12720653]I’ve only been leading an RCIA program for 4 years now, and I’ve definitely had some people concerned or offended by the request for Baptismal records. I think part of it is that the records can be hard to find, so it is asking our candidates to do some difficult footwork that they probably did not expect to have to do.

When it comes up, my ‘short and sweet’ explanation is: “The Church takes Baptism very seriously. If you are already Baptized, we want to make reasonably sure that it happened and it was valid. And if you were not Baptized, or if there is a question of validity, we want to make sure you get Baptized and don’t miss out of the graces of the Sacrament (or the Sacraments that follow)!”

In other words, it’s not pointless record-keeping, but rather a way that the Church looks out for God’s people and tries to ensure that nobody misses out. I have found that presenting it that way usually overcomes the concerns and any feeling that it’s all just ‘busywork.’

GREAT post

And of course I try to pair that explanation with reassurance that, if the records really cannot be found, it will not be an impediment to the Sacraments and we will work to either find an alternative validation (e.g., a letter from a witness) or do a conditional Baptism. Some people get worried that a lost or unavailable certificate will keep them from the Sacraments, which is not the case!

God bless