Progressive Catholic Priest willing to baptize 7-year-old even though parents aren't Catholic?

[Anonymous]

Can anyone recommend an open-minded Catholic priest (or parish) that will baptize my 7-year-old child even though neither my husband nor myself is Catholic? We're Christian, and our child goes to Catholic school. Now that she is in 2nd grade, her classmates are preparing for Holy Communion but she is unable to participate because sheh has not been baptized. She would like to become Catholic and we are supportive, but our parish priest will not baptize her b/c her parents aren't Catholic. If we can find a priest who is willing to baptize her, then she can participate fully in the preparation for and celebration of Holy Communion. Can anyone recommend a progressive priest who can help us? We're located in Montgomery County, but we're willing to travel. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

You might want to look into Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Georgetown (www.holytrinitydc.org, I think). I've found them to be more open and liberal than other area parishes. We just baptized my son there and although they didn't specifically say that the child's parents have to be Catholic, they did say that at least one godparent should be. Father Leo Murray is the person to contact.

[Anonymous]

Hmmm. Im not even sure this can happen but at the very least you guys are going to have to catechism classes. Even the godparents at a baptism have to be catholic because they have to promise to teach and raise the baby in the catholic faith if the parents are unable to. I would be super dubious that you can find any priest who will do this for you. Sorry its just not like going through the motions. Its a big deal for Catholics.

[Anonymous]

We belong to Good Shepherd Catholic Church down by Mt. Vernon in Fairfax County. I consider it to be a fairly liberal parish. When my kids were baptized only one godparent had to be Catholic. As a PP said, the whole point of godparents (in theory) is that they promise to teach the child / help raise the child Catholic. Assuming you could find Catholic godparents, and since she attends Catholic school, I don't see why she shouldn't be able to be baptized...

[Anonymous]

I consider myself a progressive Catholic (some would say "cafeteria") but I am uncomfortable with this. It sounds to me like your child just wants to do it to fit in with her/his friends. I would suggest s/he continue to study the faith and, as an adult, if s/he still feels that the Catholic faith is the one for her then she can go thru RCIA. I believe it will be much more meaningful doing this.

[Anonymous]

OP here: we have Catholic godparents who are blood relatives waiting in the wings, but our parish priest says that one parent must convert in order for him to baptize the child. This priest is ultraconservative and old school (and that's putting it mildly). I've heard from friends that there are more progressive priests out there (ie: heard about a priest who baptized someone as an adult without any formal cathecism classes -- unfortunately he passed away so I can't have him baptize my child) and I'm trying to find someone who can help us out. Thank you for the suggestions, and please keep them coming.

[Anonymous]

I'm Catholic and have had both of my kids baptized. At no time, did I remember anyone asking if I or my husband (who is not Catholic) were Catholic. We did have to agree to raise our child in the Catholic faith though. The other key requirement is that one of the godparents be Catholic. If you find someone who is Catholic and in good standing in their parish (i.e. belongs to the parish, attends mass) willing to be your child's godparent, then I think you should be able to find a priest willing to baptize your daughter, especially since you already send her to Catholic school (she is getting more of a Catholic upbringing than most baptized Catholics). I attend Nativity parish in Burke, but have also heard good things about Trinity (my friend goes there).

[Anonymous]

OP here again in response to the comment someone made about fitting in: my child has essentially been raised Catholic, albeit in an unofficial way. She has attended Catholic school K-2, attending religion classes daily and mass weekly (which probably makes her a better practicing Catholic than most . Neither my husband or I were baptized in a Catholic church, although my parents were baptized -- they're just quasi-lapsed Catholics (didn't baptize me or my siblings, but now that they are getting older they attend mass regularly). I guess in some respects it is a matter of fitting in -- which seems normal given that all of her peers are Catholic and she attends Catholic school and mass. We're committed to raising her as Catholic now and we're anxious to take the appropriate steps, but I can't convert immediately -- it will take time -- so I'm trying to find a priest to baptize my daughter now so that she can fully participate in all religious activities with her classmates.

[Anonymous]

I am Catholic and had my son baptized and I really think it is different for every priest at each church. We were in the middle of two priests and the first one told us that only one person had to have be Catholic (of the Godparents)... the priest that did the actual ceremony would have preferred we had two certificates instead of one, but still did the ceremony. We were members of this church and I was pretty sure you had to be a member of a Catholic Church, but I can't remember. Sorry I have nothing to really add... just wanted to wish you luck in your search. I really don't know why the Catholic religion makes things so difficult... especially with all that has recently gone on. You would think they would be asking people to join and not turning them away.

[Anonymous]

Definitely try Holy Trinity. As a Jesuit Church, in general I find them more open minded.

If you do not have any luck there, I would recommend talking to someone at St. Stephen Matyr Parish in Foggy Bottom. My husband and I got married there and they were very loose on some of the typical 'rules'. For example, we did not have to be members of the parish to get married there, they were not strict on the - you need to come talk to us 6 months before you get married etc. The parish priests at St. Stephen Matyr have changed in the last few years, so not sure how progressive the current ones are, but definitely worth giving it a shot.

Best of luck to you and your family!

Peace

[Anonymous]

To the 2215 poster, there is a lot more to the sacraments then "asking people to join and not turning them away"!! Where is the sanctity?


Catholicism is not "difficult" as you say, but the choices to follow the teachings can be. Hence a little thing called free will - CHOOSING to love God and whole heartedly accepting His grace through the sacraments. If you opt to be a cafeteria catholic and just want to pick and choose what you want to believe and follow then...well I will pray for you!

Sorry, original poster - I didn't mean to digress from your original posting.

Also, original poster - are you baptizing your daughter so she "can fully participate in all religious activities with her classmates"? If so, please reconsider. You are doing it for the wrong reason! There is so much more meaning to Baptism. It doesn't seem like either of you appreciate the sanctity.

[Anonymous]

The most progressive priests in DC that I know of are:

Fr. Jim Hugg [phone] This is his office phone at Center of Concern
Fr. Joe Nangle 202-832-1762

If they can't help you, call Catherine Maresca at the Center for Children and Theology 202-250-5905, http://www.cctheo.org/ She teaches progressive Catholic religious ed. to children and has connections with parish priests.

Also, I think St. Aloysuis at North Capitol and K Streets NW is one of the most progressive Catholic Churches in the nation. (though we just got a new pastor and he's still shell-shocked right now so I can't recommend him.)

There are progressive lay-led Catholic communities that invite different priests to come say Mass on Sundays. Check out NOVA in Arlingon http://nova.novacommunity.org/ There's another one that meets at Catholic Univ. I don't have the contact info but Catherine at the Center for Children and Theology is a member so she could give you that info.

I wish you peace on this journey.

[Anonymous]

Hi again, I'm the 2231 poster.

I didn't mean to come across as holier-than-thou in my message and after re-reading it I think some people may interpret it that way. I was just concerned that the DD wanted to be baptized for the wrong reason because it sounded like it wasn't a spiritual decision just a matter of wanting to participate in the sacraments because her friends were.

That is all. My last 2 cents

[Anonymous]

PP: You did a great job in expressing why folks are steering away from the Catholic faith. Good luck OP. I applaud your efforts to expose your child to a faith based upbringing. It's tough. You know you will come up against judgemental (allbeit non intentional) mind sets. That's the way religion rolls. For whatever reason, it cannot be helped. I have made the same effort to raise my kids with a moral compass without judging. It can be done. We have learned to say to our kids, "there it is.....there will always be folks that have a need to have an opinion how others live, but we don't roll that way. It is not the path to happiness to exclude ourselves so deeply from our neighbors. It is best to accept."

[Anonymous]

7 years old is VERY young tomake a life decision about becoming any religion. Would you be as opened minded if he wanted to become Jewish or Muslim? Or join a cult? Seriously.... rethink this. HE IS 7. Does he get to Church every Sunday?