[stonecali]

I have a religious dilemma. I was raised Catholic and married a man who was baptized Methodist. He never went to church with his parents and they never taught him about religion, so he pretty much developed his own relationship with God, and does not agree with organized religion. He does not, however, mind me belonging to the Catholic church and if I choose to teach my children Catholicism, that is fine. We were married in the Catholic Church. We baptized our daughter Catholic and just had a son a few months ago. We planned to baptise him Catholic as well until we learned that my husband's parents would basically disown us if the child (the only male carrying on the family name) is not baptized Protestant. Apparently, all "xxxx" males since time began have been Protestant. So, my question is not regarding that fact that we would be disowned for not baptizing him Protestant, as I think this is kind of weird since they never followed the Protestant faith or taught their son to follow it, so please do not comment on this - I only added this part because I wanted to demonstrate just how much of a problem this has become.

My question is: can we baptize our child as a Catholic (our original plan) AND in the Protestant church? I plan to teach our children about the Catholic faith, and my husband also plans to teach them about what he believes, and ultimately, we are fine with whatever they choose. We tried the "no baptism" route (a compromise since I really want him baptized Catholic) and apparently, that is not an option for my in-laws.

Ironically, my husband, who is opposed to organized religion because it separate's God's believers, is now sandwiched between two religions with the upcoming baptism of his first born son and is just trying to come up with a solution to keep the family together - thus solidifying his dislike of religion in the first place... I doubt this is what God intended.

[Wondergirl]

There is no such thing as a Catholic or Protestant baptism. The baptism is trinitarian at any Catholic or Protestant church. They aren't "two religions". They are both Christian, and that is what a baby is baptized as, as a Christian (NOT a Catholic or a Protestant).

Catholic churches accept Protestant baptisms; Protestant churches accept Catholic baptisms -- all are in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The problem is probably WHO is doing the baptizing and in WHAT environment.

Do people stay up all night to think of how to complicate their lives like this??

[speechlesstx]

Just my opinion, but if it were me I'd politely tell everyone else to butt out. It really is none of their business, and if you allow them to have this kind of "power" over you as a family now it's not going to stop. You cannot please everyone and you're only obligation is to your immediate family.

With that said, this is the type of meaningless hangup that causes division in the church. A person cannot be baptized in the church as anything other than a Christian. The church is about Jesus Christ, not Catholics, not Protestants, not Methodists, not Baptists, etc. It is my personal observation that the scriptures say nothing of anyone making the choice to baptize on someone's behalf anyway, it is a choice for each individual to make - or not.

However, it sounds as if you two are comfortable with your plan for a Catholic baptism and to teach your children and let them decide. That sounds like a plan to me, and as I said before it really is none of the in-laws' business. Otherwise, you'd just have to discuss it with whatever protestant church you intend to hold the baptism in. But I still say tell 'em to butt out :)

Steve

[Choux]

I was baptized as a Catholic as a child, and as a "Protestant" after 40.

I've known born against who got baptized more than once.

At the same relative time in a person's life, one baptism will suffice. :)

[alkalineangel]

I agree. There is really one baptism in the Christian church. With all due respect, though, your in-laws need to learn their boundaries. They baptised their child how they wanted and you can do the same.

[Fr_Chuck]

The Catholic Church reconises all baptisms of all Christian churches that do it in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

So the Catholic church would not rebaptise them after they have already been in another church

[ebaines]

I find it very interesting, and disconcerting, that your in-laws don't seem to give a hoot about your older daughter, and are raising this stink just over your son! I think that speaks volumes about your in laws.

Do you have God Parents figured out for the child? One of their responsibilities is to ensure the appropriate religious education of the child. Do your in-laws care whether the God Parents are RC or protestant? Perhaps that's a detail that's lost on them.

I sincerely hope you get this straightened out with your in-laws before your son reaches the age where his confirmation becomes an issue!