Rcia for a child???

FurBabyMomma

Apologies if this has been posted before but the threads I've found on this topic don't answer my questions.

I'm trying to decide whether to baptise my child now or wait for her to make up her own mind at school.

My question is how long would she have to attend religious formation classes for? Could she decide a month before first penenance or would it take years? Is there a specific course/cost involved? Is 7 considered the age of reason or 8, as this might impact in terms of first communion?

Thanks.

newmug

Just do it now. She can make up her own mind to leave later in life if she wants. Do you actually believe in God or is it just a box ticking exercise? Because if you DO believe in God, then I dont see why you wouldnt be chomping at the bit to get her Baptised!

Roselm

newmug wrote: »

Just do it now. She can make up her own mind to leave later in life if she wants. Do you actually believe in God or is it just a box ticking exercise? Because if you DO believe in God, then I dont see why you wouldnt be chomping at the bit to get her Baptised!

You can't actually "leave" the church anymore. You can say you don't recognise yourself as a member but they still count you as one. You used to be able to get an annulment I suppose it was.

newmug

Roselm wrote: »

You can't actually "leave" the church anymore. You can say you don't recognise yourself as a member but they still count you as one. You used to be able to get an annulment I suppose it was.

What difference does it make? If you decide that you dont believe, then no piece of paper is going to change that. You "leave" by just not participating.

tommy2bad

newmug wrote: »

What difference does it make? If you decide that you dont believe, then no piece of paper is going to change that. You "leave" by just not participating.

Except the denomination has you on the books and uses these numbers to justify their influence and representation.

lulu1

Op If you have any belief you should have your child baptised. I don't know if your'e catholic.
I would think when your'e child starts school she will be taught the catholic religion in class, up until and after her first communion.

I am not altogether sure but I would imagine that she would have to be baptised before communion

Mrs OBumble

OP, what do you believe? How do you intend to bring your kid up?

tommy2bad

lulu1 wrote: »

Op If you have any belief you should have your child baptised. I don't know if your'e catholic.
I would think when your'e child starts school she will be taught the catholic religion in class, up until and after her first communion.

I am not altogether sure but I would imagine that she would have to be baptised before communion

Yes she will need a baptism cert to avail of any other sacraments, communion, marriage, last rites whatever.
If she decides she wants these things it will require some commitment on her part, right now the parents can give that commitment on her behalf, the celebrant will take your word for it. Later the applicant will have to demonstrate that commitment their selves.
Here's a link to an article on adult baptism which explains the thinking involved. I would suggest discussing your concerns with the parish priest, specifically about baptism at such a young age.
http://www.catholicireland.net/adult-initiation/

FurBabyMomma

Thanks for your replies. I've decided to let her choose her own path and if baptism is something she wants herself then we'll do it, but I'm not making that decision for her. Thanks again.

eviltwin

FurBabyMomma wrote: »

Thanks for your replies. I've decided to let her choose her own path and if baptism is something she wants herself then we'll do it, but I'm not making that decision for her. Thanks again.

Seriously, fair play. If only more parents were like you.

FurBabyMomma

eviltwin wrote: »

Seriously, fair play. If only more parents were like you.

Thanks eviltwin. I've agonised long and hard over the last 9 months over this decision, especially as she's the only one of our family and friends not to be baptised. But being a hypocrite just to put some nice photos on Facebook is just not me.However if my daughter wants to become a Catholic then I'll bring her to the classes or whatever she needs. Unless my parents secretly baptise her in the meantime upon hearing this!!!

homer911

tommy2bad wrote: »

Except the denomination has you on the books and uses these numbers to justify their influence and representation.

sorry, but that's rubbish - to state this is to effectively state that all Christian denominations track births, deaths, marriages, immigration, emigration, conversions etc. It doesnt happen. The only stats used are annual church censuses and the national census

katydid

FurBabyMomma wrote: »

Apologies if this has been posted before but the threads I've found on this topic don't answer my questions.

I'm trying to decide whether to baptise my child now or wait for her to make up her own mind at school.

My question is how long would she have to attend religious formation classes for? Could she decide a month before first penenance or would it take years? Is there a specific course/cost involved? Is 7 considered the age of reason or 8, as this might impact in terms of first communion?

Thanks.

No cost involved. The state pays primary teachers to do the job.

katydid

homer911 wrote: »

sorry, but that's rubbish - to state this is to effectively state that all Christian denominations track births, deaths, marriages, immigration, emigration, conversions etc. It doesnt happen. The only stats used are annual church censuses and the national census

Nobody is suggesting that it keeps such records as you suggest. But baptismal records can be used to say how many baptised members they have.