AIBU to attend the wrong church because I like it more?

[LuckyRubberDucky]

Having a bit of an existential crisis here. I used to be a regular church goer, was raised attending mass on Sundays. During covid we moved to a new area and didn’t attend mass at all. When the churches properly started up again, I tried attending my new local mass and it just doesn’t fit. I’ve gone from a church I’ve known all my life, attending with one small child who everyone knew, to a church I don’t like. The church in my new area is very solemn, very quiet. Previously I was attending with one baby, I now have two children, one of whom has ASD and can’t sit still or quietly. The church doesn’t fit us, and they only do one mass a week on a Sunday so can’t even attend without the kids.

Then today I’ve been on a school trip to a new church. It’s not my religion (think CoE versus Catholic) but it felt so lovely! The priest was so warm and welcoming. They were lovely with all the children running around. I spoke to them briefly about not liking my church and was told they’d welcome me with open arms. The problem is, it’s not my religion! I’d be raising my kids a different faith to me, just for convenience? Also, one of my children is baptised, the other isn’t (covid). Can I get them baptised to the ‘wrong’ religion? I’m not sure I believe it matters, but does it?

My son is Catholic with a Church of Ireland Godfather so that's not the case. He was baptised in Scotland

Agree completely. Raising your kids in a faith community that welcomes and nurtures them is such a gift. I don't think matters a jot what denomination it is 😄

I'm catholic and I attend and got married in my village CofE church. It's a wonderful community and I've been welcomed so much.

I know religion isn’t always seen as a good thing on here

It’s interesting that you say that because I largely agree with you. But I have also seen an increase in religiousness recently. Is it just me or are other people seeing that too?

I'd find a different Catholic Church rather than go to C of E. Shop around a bit.

My mother converted to Church of England despite bring raised as a mass twice on Sunday Catholic. My father was Anglican but not very observant and it was entirely her decision to convert. She had very liberal views which didn't sit well with 1950s Irish Catholicism in a rural area and a very unfortunate experience as a child with a priest attempting to molest her.

She simply started attending an Anglican church when she immigrated to a different country. She was told no formal conversion was necessary and she was already baptized. When she got old she went to whatever church provided the best outings for old folks. She volunteered in a Salvation Army op shop. She was one of the most interdenominational people I have known
My children were christianed Anglican and the only requirement is that the godparents has been baptized. My children had Catholic and Presbyterian godparents.

I think you should be free to worship in any way you want. I don't think it matters what Christian faith baptises a child. After all neither the Catholics nor the Anglican had opposing stalls out when Jesus was baptizing the disciples in the Jordan.

Not true. My Catholic children have non-Catholic godparents. Each has one Catholic godparent and two non-Catholics.

All I can think of is the scene in Derry Girls where they are trying to explain the religious issues in Northern Ireland to Katia as being due to different religions and she points out they are different 'flavours' of the same religion - some people like vanilla, some like chocolate but they are both still eating ice cream

This:
When (Mum) got old she went to whatever church provided the best outings for old folks.

And this:
neither the Catholics nor the Anglican had opposing stalls out when Jesus was baptizing the disciples in the Jordan.

I am not religious, but if I were I wouldn't want to attend a church that wasn't welcoming to other denominations.

Godparents must be practicing catholics. There’s be little point otherwise, when you consider their function?

I was bought up CofE, my ex Catholic, I went to Catholic Mass whilst with him (occasionally both to my church if at my parebts).

Always told Catholics can take communion in church of England but CofE can't take communion in Catholic Church without converting. I just crossed my arms for blessings instead

Op go where you feel best, I changed churches dvery 12wks sometimes at uni when rotating from hospital placements miles apart. All welcoming

Re godparents for Catholic children, a non-Catholic Christian is technically not a godparent but a Christian witness. They may be welcomed and included in the ceremony, referred to as godparents out of courtesy, encouraged by the parents to take an active part in the child's faith life and so on, but legally speaking they aren't the actual godparent.

At my local C of E church, the last vicar was married to a catholic woman.. She was actively involved in in the church as any other vicar's spouse would be, and one of their 2 children even attended a catholic secondary school.

It's all Christianity, same bible, same God.

It's not a different religion, it's a different denomination and that's fine. The basic beliefs are the same.

A different religion would be if instead of being a practicing Christian you changed to become a Buddist or Muslim or Hindu etc

Are you saying that I am a liar? The priest who baptised my DC had no issue with it as long as they had one Catholic godparent. We’re a mixed family as I’m not Catholic and my DC’s godparents reflect that. Same with my DH’s niece and nephew. Times have moved on, thank goodness.

I suppose it comes down to just how strong your beliefs are in your particular branch of a religion, personally wouldn’t matter to me if it was CofE, Methodist, baptist, catholic, if it met my religious needs

My SIL is baptised C of E and now attends a non denominational Christian church, but she is my DS's godmother. You only have to have one Catholic godparent.
OP, My brother and his wife ( see above) go to a lovely non denominational church that sounds like the kind of thing you described above. He was Catholic. My mum now goes with them to their church instead of the Catholic church, sometimes out of convenience because they take her, and partly because they are so nice and friendly compared to the Catholic church she went to. I went once but found it a bit weird, probably because Im not so religious anymore. I like going in, singing some songs, repeating some prayers Ive known since childhood and going home. This was more long speeches by the pastor, people standing up and saying what they wanted to about God etc. They were all lovely but it was a bit too free form for me. But as I said, tats maybe because I go to church very occasionally because I like the traditions and not really related to God!

I want to echo DrJonesIpresume
You are being called to a particular church - one that feels right - for a reason. No reason to fight it, go with what you feel God is guiding you to do.
My DH was raised a Catholic but we married in our CofE church and are both happily part of its congregation. He takes communion, and so can you in any Christian church.

My Anglican church has quite a high number of regular members who were originally Catholic. Anyone who would receive communion in their own church is welcome to take communion, we have also been doing first communion for fifteen years! Baptism by Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist and Presbyterian churches is mutually accepted.

Attending doesn't mean you are committed for life and church is church to a certain extent, doesn't matter the denomination