Anyone who was raised Catholic....

have you switched faiths or are you considering it? do you worry what your family would say? my DH and i have spoken about it....there are many reasons but the main one being more about believing in sprituality and sense of community vs regulations and donations it makes me sad but i think about it a lot. since i have moved into our house , there is a methodist church on our corner and a presbyterian church a block away...and they are always having bake sales, craft fairs, community activities. It always seems more involved. Does any other faith baptise children?

a lot of other churches besides catholic baptize children. We aren't 100% but I doubt we will raise our children Catholic. My husband really isn't anything- never baptized.. we went to a methodist Xmas eve mass this year and it was VERY nice- we both liked it a lot- maybe you can go to sunday mass at each church and see which you like?

good luck!

We are. we really don't agree with the catholic church as an institution.
My husband started reading the bible and therefore we are more christians now. We will baptized our daughter in a christian church.

I was raised Catholic...my mom is a Catholic school principal and my dad is a lector.

We are having a Catholic wedding (no mass though), but they don't know that FH and I have already agreed to raise our children Episcopalian.

I have just started my conversion to Judaism...my FH and I are taking an Intro to Judaism class together---he was raised Jewish, but isn't a 'practicing Jew'---he's Reform...but 'light Reform.'

So, he's been VERY supportive.....comes with me to meet with the Rabbi (who's THE GREATEST Rabbi on earth!!) ---it was extremely important to his Grumps (Grandfather) that he marry a 'Jewish' girl, so here I am. After the Intro class, I meet with the Rabbi a few more times, then answers these questions in front of three other Rabbi's......go to the Mik-vah.....say some prayers, and become Jewish. It's actually a much easier process than what I thought it would be.

I had SOOO many issues with the Catholic Church---I believe in evolution......therefore, whenever the topic of Creation and God 'making' Adam and Eve came up--I'd get kicked out of church or religion class after a long heated debate that was going absolutely nowhere. So, after my Confirmation....I never stepped foot in church (with the exception of weddings and funerals).

I also didn't like the idea of idolizing a human being (Jesus) or a book which reads more like a novel (to me) --the Bible. It just didn't sit right in my stomach......

I mean ABSOLUTELY no offense to anyone here...these are just MY opinons and beliefs.

So, there it is.....I was raised Catholic, but we are having a Jewish ceremony, with a Rabbi, Chupah, a glass, the Hora, and we will raise our children Jewish---with one exception--we'll still have a Christmas tree every year (can't give up XMas--even if it is Jesus' birthday!!)

I thought seriously for a long while about converting to another religion and looked into a number of them. In the end, I decided that, although I find the Catholic Church to be an absolute tyranny, most institutional religions aren't that much better, more exclusive than inclusive with all this conditional acceptance. It's not something I want to be a part of and it's definitely not something I want to raise my children a part of.

It will raise hell with my family when I do not baptize my children but I learned a long time ago that other people don't live your life, you do. And because of that you have to do what is best and makes the most sense both to and for you.

We haven't decided whether or not we'll raise them Jewish (FH is Jewish but not really practicing) or another religion or nothing at all but just teach them about spirituality but I will absolutely not raise my children Catholic.

DH & I were both raised Catholic. His mom is a catholic school tecaher. NEither family goes to church on a regular basis. I did in college & tehn tried again when my cousin asked me to me her confirmation sponsor, but the church in my neighborhood annoyed me after a whiel & I neber went back.

My dad was raised EPiscopalian, & I wanted to get married in an Episcopal church, but we thought our familes would have issues. We ended up in Catholic church & I wasn't really confortable there, so we switched to my dad's old Episcopal church.
Once in passing MIL commented on how 'it's all the same Jesus' so then I realized DH wouldn't be disowned if we switched.

We both really liked the reverand. We'd go back but we are never on LI at 10 am. We haven't explored the Episcopal church in our area, but I think if we had kids, we would raise them in the Episcopal church.

No institution is perfect, but what I like about the Episcopal church is that since they don't follow the Pope, the individual congregations vary a little more in their policies. The one we were married in was very inclusive & freindly.

before we were married, I was very concerned abotu what the families thought, but now that we are married I feel that we are our own family & can raise our children however we want.

I do think our families might be upset if we didn't have a Christening , but we woudl still do that.

I was baptized and raised Catholic .. DH was baptized in both the Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches (his Mom is Catholic, Dad is GO) but was generally raised Greek Orthodox faith

We were married in the Greek Orthodox church - for a variety of reasons, far too many to get into here.. and I haven't been to mass in the Catholic church in probably over 3 years, (not counting funerals and weddings). I find the Greek Orthodox church a lot more welcoming that the Catholic church, to be honest. Just one example, but they were wonderful to me with some of the issues I had getting married in that church - and didn't give us ANY problems getting married there, even though technically we werent parishoners of that parish, etc. etc. The Catholic church was a different story entirely

I never thought I would raise my children anything else BUT Catholic - I went to Catholic school for 6 years, I went to church every Sunday, my parents (Mom especially) instilled the faith in me. It was pretty much understood.

But even before I met DH, and again for a variety of reasons, I pretty much shun the church now and doubt I will baptize and/or raise my children in the Catholic faith. Most likely, they will be baptized in and raised Greek Orthodox - yet before making this huge step, I plan to educate myself further in the GO faith before I make that decision for sure.

The bottom line is that whatever DH and I decide, we both agree that we want our children to be raised with some form of religion in their lives - some basis for them to discover their own spirituality and for them to eventually determine what it is that brings joy and faith into their lives as individuals.

My fear , of course, is that I don't want to inflict MY beliefs on them - and I worry somewhat that introducing them into following a 'structurized religion' is doing just that ...

Its a very complex issue , one that I fully admit I haven't quite come to a solid conclusion about...

I am and sort of still practice. I find a lot of problems in what the Church as an institution does, but I still feel that is a big part of my tradition and culture, so I haven't left yet. Maybe it is a rationalization, but I think of it at times like I think of the US Government. I disagree with a lot of the policies and don't always support the leadership, but can't imagine leaving the country because I will probably always consider myself American. Likewise, I think I will always consider myself Catholic.

I also think that if all the people like me choose to leave the church, would there be any hope for it to change in the future? I certainly understand why people do, but I have not decided to leave - it is just as much my church as it is those who I disagree with. I plan on raising my kids Catholic, because I made that commitment when I got married. My DH is Episcopalian, though, so we will probably expose them to both traditions.

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Posted by FeliciaDA



My fear , of course, is that I don't want to inflict MY beliefs on them - and I worry somewhat that introducing them into following a 'structurized religion' is doing just that ...

Its a very complex issue , one that I fully admit I haven't quite come to a solid conclusion about...

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I think young children need beliefs & structure from somewhere. If you don't share yours with them, they will have nothing untill they are older & can figure it out themselves. It hikn it is fidn to pick a religion to raid eyour children in, but don't be surprised if they rebel later. It is prefectly natural & part of the learning process.

They have to hate you for something in the teen years anyway. . .

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Posted by MrsTC

have you switched faiths or are you considering it? do you worry what your family would say? my DH and i have spoken about it....there are many reasons but the main one being more about believing in sprituality and sense of community vs regulations and donations it makes me sad but i think about it a lot. since i have moved into our house , there is a methodist church on our corner and a presbyterian church a block away...and they are always having bake sales, craft fairs, community activities. It always seems more involved. Does any other faith baptise children?

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Hi,

I just wanted to add to all else that was said..that sometimes it just takes finding the right church...when you said 'Regulations and donations' as opposed to 'community and regulations' I thought about my own parish (I'm catholic). The church has such a huge sense of community and helping others and does everything you said..constant bake sales, community activities, craft fairs and more (bingo, dances, charity work to help homeless). Catholicism is not for everyone-that I agree with. But converting to another faith to find a sense of community seems rash...just take the time to read up..check out other churches in your community and see what they're about first. You might be really surprised :) And if catholicism isn't the way to go for you, definitely see where you should be. Just wanted to share my opinion!!

I don't think this is totally a Catholic issue, but I think a lot more people my age seem to question their religious upbringing. I believe that you should make your own choice, that is the theory behind 'confirmation' in the Catholic religion.

I have 3 friends who have converted, even if not officially.
- One of my friends was raised Jewish and married a Catholic. She wasn't very involved in her faith beforehand, but he and his family are very religious. She has since joined the Catholic church, was married in a CC, and baptized her first baby (and #2 is due today!).
- A second friend of mine was officially Catholic, but her nor her family were ever practicing. I don't know what her DH is, but he wasn't Catholic. They did get married in a CC, but have decided not to baptize their daughter. Her parents were very upset, which is hypocritical to me, since they NEVER go to mass or are involved in anyway. She felt it wasn't for them and was hypocritical for her to baptize her daughter. She hopes someday to explore her faith and spirituality, but for her it isn't a priority right now.
- A third friend of mine was raised Catholic and was practicing - her and her family. She married a Methodist and they were married in the CC. After they were married they didn't feel part of the church and stopped being involved. When she found out she was pregnant they decided it was important to baptize the child, but they wanted to search for something that was more for them. They ended up becoming Baptists before the baby was born and when she was born they baptized her in their new religion.

I wanted to share their experiences, as it might help those who have questions and don't know where to go or what to do...

Best of luck

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Posted by Johnny&Maur
I just wanted to add to all else that was said..that sometimes it just takes finding the right church...when you said 'Regulations and donations' as opposed to 'community and regulations' I thought about my own parish (I'm catholic). The church has such a huge sense of community and helping others and does everything you said..constant bake sales, community activities, craft fairs and more (bingo, dances, charity work to help homeless). Catholicism is not for everyone-that I agree with. But converting to another faith to find a sense of community seems rash...just take the time to read up..check out other churches in your community and see what they're about first. You might be really surprised :) And if catholicism isn't the way to go for you, definitely see where you should be. Just wanted to share my opinion!!

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That is so true! Thank you for sharing, I hadn't even thought about that, but I couldn't agree more. When we got engaged we automatically went to DH's family church (I grew up in CT and we decided to get married here so my church was out). His family is quite involved there, but they were still very rude and unwelcoming to us. We still made an appt to meet with the priest, but they still weren't very warm or open. At the same time, we found a church where we lived in Bayside. They were so nice on the phone and immediately set up an appointment with the Monsignor. We ended up getting married there and absolutely loved it. I love that church and felt very much part of a community there. In fact the day after our wedding (we were married on Friday night and left Sunday morning for our honeymoon) was the 100th year celebration of the church and they had a mass and a huge dinner. DH and I showed up for mass and dinner. When we were in line waiting for food, they were giving a presentation from the city. When the Mongsignor saw us, he announced to the entire church we were newlyweds and called us up there. It was just really cool and totally welcoming. Everyone was so sweet to us since the day we joined and especially that day!

i was raised CONFUSED LOL
my dad is catholic & my mom WAS a Jehova's Witness.. and still confused so i can't say i would convert to anything only because i serioulsy do not know what i am ..lol

I was raised Catholic, and fh was until his mom left the church when he was about 9 or so...

We're not getting married in the Catholic church, nor are we going to raise our children Catholic. Over the years I've just found so much that I disagreed with that I no longer want to be a part of that. Right now I'm not anything, because I'm really not liking organized religion... but I feel that when we have kids I'll want to start going to church with them... Right now we're leaning toward the United Church of Christ/Congressional Church (Our Rev. is from this Church). We'll have to see what happens when the time comes...