Possible conditional baptism?!?

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DarkLight

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So I talked to the religious studies director, and she said I might have to have a conditional baptism done, since I don’t have a baptismal certificate. My old church didn’t issue those, and I don’t have contact with anyone that would be willing to talk to the Catholic church.

Now I grew up in a Baptist church. This means I was 11 when I was baptized. I both remember it and know the form that they used. I really don’t want to go through a conditional baptism - my memory is quite clear on this point, and I would feel like I was insulting God’s grace in my life for the past years.
 
It wouldn’t be insulting anything; it’s a “just in case” scenario. I wouldn’t worry, especially since (a) she said “might,”; and (b) you haven’t spoken to the priest about it yet.
 
Speak with the priest. Since you were old enough to clearly remember being baptized as a child, all that is needed might be just a statement from you. Your priest will know if that is enough. A conditional baptism will not insult God, if you are joining His Church, you will want your house to be in order; this is a new begining! 🙂
 
Catholic1954 said:
Speak with the priest. Since you were old enough to clearly remember being baptized as a child, all that is needed might be just a statement from you. Your priest will know if that is enough. A conditional baptism will not insult God, if you are joining His Church, you will want your house to be in order; this is a new begining! 🙂
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I think the memory is the issue. I was not terribly young as far as such goes. It’s sort of…if my memory isn’t trusted on things like this, I don’t feel like I’m really being trusted enough to remember my journey here and make a coherent decision now. Especially since it sounds like the issue isn’t age but that I’m not a sufficient witness to my own baptism without documentation.
 
DarkLight said:
I think the memory is the issue. I was not terribly young as far as such goes. It’s sort of…if my memory isn’t trusted on things like this, I don’t feel like I’m really being trusted enough to remember my journey here and make a coherent decision now. Especially since it sounds like the issue isn’t age but that I’m not a sufficient witness to my own baptism without documentation.
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Is anyone around who was at your baptism and could also give an affidavit to its taking place and its form? Usually all that is required is an affidavit from a witness, and Baptist Baptism are considered valid, as far as I can remember.

OTOH, I remember when I was confirmed but I couldn’t for the life of me tell you exactly what the bishop did or said.
 
Phemie said:
Is anyone around who was at your baptism and could also give an affidavit to its taking place and its form? Usually all that is required is an affidavit from a witness, and Baptist Baptism are considered valid, as far as I can remember.

OTOH, I remember when I was confirmed but I couldn’t for the life of me tell you exactly what the bishop did or said.
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That would require getting Baptists to talk to Catholics…basically impossible with the group I grew up with.
 
You should be able to sign an affidavit of baptism.

Conditional is really a last resort.
 
Growing up in the pentecostal church of god they did not keep very good records of baptisms so when I was baptised in that church I did not hav e a certificate So the priest who took me through my instructions conditionally baptised me because the pentecostal preacher of that church refused to even talk to him.
 
1ke said:
You should be able to sign an affidavit of baptism.

Conditional is really a last resort.
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I hope so. The person I talked to seemed to assume I was objecting because I didn’t understand the nature or import of baptism. I understand it perfectly well, I just don’t see the need for a conditional baptism when I remember mine perfectly well.
 
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