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Original poster

certificate of religious practice - diocesan policy not to sign

29 replies

Denferdoodle · 23/10/2011 10:01

Stumped.

We'd love DS to go to wonderful Jewish school nearby, which wholly embraces kids from other faiths....provided they can get a certificate of religious practice from place of worship.

No probs I thought, DS is regularly practising roman catholic, known to priest etc. BUT apparently, intro'd last year is a brand spanking new diocesan policy that prevents any clergy from signing any such certificate or giving any sort of reference. They can only give copy baptism certificates, but since I managed to keep ours in safe place all these years doesn't help a bit.

I told the admissions lady this at the school - who tells me, in a nice way admittedly, that they can't consider application without this specific signed CRP. She tells me that loads of parents have sent in signed forms - so they'll be either non-catholics or not entirely truthful.

I'd say they are automatically excluding local catholics by this - surely they can't do this. As I say...stumped.

Help please dear MN?? I've only got a week to get this sorted now.

OP posts:
Original poster
Denferdoodle · 23/10/2011 10:16

No its completely true and no stirring at all. We know catholics who have attended there previously and wholeheartedly support it. The wider school suits DS perfectly too, academically, sport, music. Its the best all round school.

The policy is just a blanket no signing anything. Even if you attended every mass going and gave your life to the church, no signing. Even if this was for a catholic school or any other faith school, no signing.

And no, they issue duplicates for those that need evidence of baptism for other reasons. Our certificate oif baptism is valid, and we've obviously moved through the sacrements since, but not needed in this case anyhow.

Completely genuine here, and so worried.

OP posts:
rainbowinthesky · 23/10/2011 10:16

Fascinating that your ds is a regular practising roman catholic yet you want him to go a Jewish school. Do you know much about the Jewish religion?

Fayrazzled · 23/10/2011 10:14

Well, the clergy are entitled to not sign anything they want to, and if it is diocesan policy I don't think you'll get round it. Is the diocesan policy only to not sign for non-Catholic schools or is it across the board?

I don't really understand why as a practising Catholic you want your son to go to a Jewish school. is it just about the results? Are there no alternative schools locally- either Catholic or non-denominational?

Quintessential- I am a practising Catholic and have NEVER heard of a baptism certificate only lasting 6 months. Nonsense. Once you are baptised, that is it. My daughter was baptised 3.5 years ago and a copy of her baptismal certificate suffices as 'proof' of her Catholicism for our local Catholic school- no need to prove regular Mass attendance etc.

QuintessentialShadyHallows · 23/10/2011 10:09
Hmm

Why do you as Catholics want to send your dc to a school that rejects central Catholic doctrine?

As a practicing Catholic surely you know that the certificate of Baptism is only valid for 6 months?

Maybe their policy is to not sign the reference form for people who are not regular enough? (3 times out of 4 per month at mass)

I wonder if you are stirring? Your op is quite unbelievable (to me ) on so many levels.