Want to baptise by son

[mh4j]

I have always considered myself Catholic, and have never disagreed with the Church’s teaching on any issue(I’ve been confused by some, but always found good answers for the doctrines I may have questioned). When I married my wife 9 years ago, we obtained permission from the Church for a priest to participate with her Methodist minister in our marriage ceremony.

Since being married, I have been a member of a local Catholic parrish, but have been going to the Methodist church for all of these years (except for trips home, where I would attend the Catholic church of my youth).

All of my children have been baptised in the Catholic church, and we are now planning my 4th child’ baptism currently. I never had questioned whether I might be doing something wrong by having them baptised in a church that I’m not regularly attending, but now I’ve started to listen to Catholic Answers regularly, and I’ve started to wonder.

Is it ok to baptise my son in the Church, even though I’m not regularly attending mass? I’ve been thinking of participating in both the Methodist and Catholic services every week and ensuring that my kids get more teaching in the Catholic faith, so my intent is that they be Catholic, but I must say that I have not done much (other than basic Catholic moral teachings) to ensure their continued Catholic education.

What do I need to do or am I ok with what I’ve done as I long as I continue to make attempts to raise them in the faith?

 

[Lorik]

I’m suprised that your parish let you go ahead with the baptisms. It’s not ok. The remedy would be to start taking the children to Mass every Sunday and Holy day of obligation. If you try to take them to Methodist services and Mass, chances are that when your children are adults they will reject both. Is there any reason in particular that you been away? It’s good that you want to make things right, you don’t get any second chances raising your kids. Please come back regularly and bring those beautiful children!

 

[rfk]

For a priest to participate in your marriage, I am assuming you pledged to raise your children Catholic. You certainly would have renewed that commitment when you baptized your first three.

but I must say that I have not done much (other than basic Catholic moral teachings) to ensure their continued Catholic education.

Whether you want to look in the Catechism or in Canon Law, you have a solemn duty to your chldren to do much more than that. It is clearly spelled out in both of those places. For example, go to an online Cathechism and read what parents have a duty to provide their children.

At minimum, you should be taking them to Mass every week, have them enrolled in Catholic school or religious education, and ensure they are receiving the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Holy Communion, and Confirmation.

Additionally, although you may want to open this part as a separate topic, I’ve seen many on this forum people express – and I agree – that we do young children a disservice when we try to “educate them in both faiths and let them make their own choice”.

Although that approach sounds nice and egalitarian, in practice it makes for children with no faith whatsoever.

When several choices are presented as morally equivalent, as compared to one faith being presented as The Truth, all it does is confuse kids. There is an age where faith is formed prior to the ability to reason like an adult. Even though children from age 7-12 are above the age of reason, they still think magically in many ways. It is around age 12-13 when kids really start to reason more like an adult. My kids belief in God and the Church were completely formed before they had the mental capacity to evaluate and judge differing theologies. There is a reason we have the phrase, “Childlike Faith”. Presenting them a “religion menu” simply serves to kill their faith in any religion. After all, who wants to believe in a religion that might be true?

Finally, let me say how gratifying and wonderful it is as a parent to see your children learn about the faith. It has taught me to appreciate our Lord in a whole new way to be able to see him through the eyes of my children. It is really worth it. Becoming committed to raising your children as active Catholics may very well give an entirely new depth and meaning to your own faith.