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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To Pretend to be Catholic

201 replies

Aeschylus · 14/04/2010 20:43

For our DS to get a School place.

Basically the best primary school in our area is Catholic, and quite frankly I think religion is all a load of old mumbo jumbo.

However we are at a dilemma as to if we should lie and cheat so he gets a place.

ofsted report is fantastic, spoke to the head and he wants to meet us, we wont have a chance if we dont say we are Catholic. I know of some parents who lie about their address to get the school they want, but is this a step to far.

What do you think?

OP posts:
GrimmaTheNome · 14/04/2010 21:05

Funny how essentially the same question worded differently gets different tone of response...or is it a demonstration of what posting under AIBU does?

Anyway, YABU because whatever SATs/Ofsted says, it won't be the best school for your child because (A) getting your child in will make you a liar and cheat and (b) they will be indoctrinating him in mumbo jumbo.

Original poster
Aeschylus · 14/04/2010 21:07

Not rtying to be provocative, so apologies if it comes across that way, it was a honest question..

reading through it seems like you say DS would need to be baptised, can I just rock up to a catholic church and asked to be baptised all 3 of us.

would that work?

OP posts:
BrandyAlexander · 14/04/2010 21:08

I hope when they are grown up that my DD never meets your DS if those are the morals that you're bringing him up with, i.e. that is okay to lie. where do you draw the line?

kitkatsforbreakfast · 14/04/2010 21:08

no.

pigletmania · 14/04/2010 21:08

YABVVVVVVVU, by doing that you are denying a place for a practising Catholic who does take their faith seriously. Its that type of thing that makes my blood boil, and you dont even believe in any religion what a hypocrite you are.

FrozenFlowers · 14/04/2010 21:09

Well they would expect you to mean it. There would be quite a lot of classes to go to. And you would taking part in a sacrament: standing in a church and lying about your belief in God. Which is quite offensive.

pigletmania · 14/04/2010 21:12

By taking your dcs to a Catholic church to be baptised just so that he can get a place is , it does not work like that at our Catholic Church, you have to be a regular mass attender to get your baby baptised, they are wisening up to the likes of you. So you are prepared to lie and cheat to get your ds a school place nice morals you are bringing your ds up with.

Devendra · 14/04/2010 21:12

Schools should not be affiliated with religion full stop. Its outdated and unfair. Tbh I would HATE my child to go to a RC school... can't think of anythng worse.. but if you want to and have to lie then go for it!

malovitt · 14/04/2010 21:13

Children must be baptised within 6 months of their birth to get into Catholic schools round here.

This rule was introduced to deter people like you.

LetThereBeRock · 14/04/2010 21:13

YABVU.

Original poster
Aeschylus · 14/04/2010 21:13

ok, I can see I come across as Morally Bankrupt, I will take that on the chin, but I am really not that bad, it is clearly the best school according to ofsted. Would it really be so awful to just say "praise the lord" or whatever it is they do once in a blue moon?

OP posts:
wilkos · 14/04/2010 21:14

the thing is, its not just you that will have to lie is it?

are you are expecting your child to lie as well?? will you have to coavch them so they don't let slip? what a delightful example to set

so, in conclusion YABVVU

amidaiwish · 14/04/2010 21:14

i don't think you'll get very far with the local priest unless you and dh are both very good actors.

so, you go to him and say "i have seen the light, i wish to be baptised" and dh says "me too".

he says "why?"

you say.... "uh, uh uh"

he says "come along to x number of classes, run every tuesday night for 12 months, get involved in the church, see if it is right for you"

and you're willing to do all this just for a school place? i doubt you'd last a couple of weeks unless you are very committed, your dh too.

my dcs go to a Catholic school - there is quite a lot of assemblies/mass/church stuff, it has surprised me, far more than I recall from my childhood in Catholic schools.

i am not sure you would want all that for your son if you are not part of the Church.

think again.

FrozenFlowers · 14/04/2010 21:16

"Would it really be so awful to just say "praise the lord" or whatever it is they do once in a blue moon?"

It's really a bit more involved than that.

wilkos · 14/04/2010 21:16

sorry x-posts. don't lie and see what happens, at least then your conscience is clear

but...you might not get a place. good luck with it

LetThereBeRock · 14/04/2010 21:17

I think you are trying to be offensive now. There's much more to it than just saying 'Praise the Lord'.

matumble · 14/04/2010 21:17

be careful what you wish for. I was baptized as a 3 year old to get into the local RC school andfound faith whilst i was there, my mum to this day barely disguises her surprise that i believe in all that mumbo jumbo, but i do.

StealthPolarBear · 14/04/2010 21:18

yabu and I think you are making this up
We have looked round lots of schools for DS, we are CofE and don't go to church much at all. The best schools are CofE and Catholic. We're putting his name down but we're not going to lie, and as it happens we probably won;t apply to a catholic school as we don;t want him educated in such a strict religious environment when we're not. The CofE school we like is based around Christian values which is perfect for us.

pigletmania · 14/04/2010 21:19

OP are you serious or are you having a laugh, ok you dont believe in any religion fair enough, but insulting it and lying and getting your ds to lie is just . As its a religious school your son will be exposed to the mumbo jumbo that you dont like on a daily basis. Ok its got great OFSTEAD report but its not the right school for your ds as you are athiest and its a religious school!!!

StealthPolarBear · 14/04/2010 21:19

oh yes and the less religious Catholic school had assembly every day, Mass once a fortnight...

Original poster
Aeschylus · 14/04/2010 21:19

I would never in a million years expect DS to lie Wilkos, if he grew up to be a believer b/c of the school then so be it, would be his choice.

However if as you all say I am going to have to do all sort of church stuff then this probably needs a rethink.

OP posts:
TheFallenMadonna · 14/04/2010 21:20

With everything that's going on at the moment I'm rather tempted to pretend I'm not one

But I don't agree with faith schools and don't send my children to one, so I can get away with it...

Pluto · 14/04/2010 21:20

OP, read yesterday's thread. Or do you think you are being funny?

kitkatsforbreakfast · 14/04/2010 21:21

How old is your dc?

You will, as previous posters have said, have to demonstrate your commitment to the Church.

How far are you willing to go?

And do you have time?

And do you completely lack morals?

And is that the kind of example you want to set to your dc?

All these questions do not even touch on the total lack of respect that you clearly have for anyone else's beliefs. I won't bother listing them because as you are amoral yourself I can hardly expect you to consider other people's convictions and religion when making your decisions.

I feel for your children if this is the example you set.

pigletmania · 14/04/2010 21:23

Yes entry to the Catholic school is very stringent so that only genuine Catholics get a place, there is a % of places i think allocated to non Catholics.

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