A question for Catholics

[hansolosmum]

My FIL is getting baptised at the grand old age of 82. My MIL is a staunch Catholic, by which I mean she goes to church at least twice a week, goes on pilgrimages and is a 'prayer warrior'.

There will be a ceremony and a reception type event afterwards. My husband and I and our two children will be going.

I know that MIL will have told everyone that my kids haven't been Christened yet and fully expect to get asked by a lot of people when it's going to happen. I don't want to be rude but I don't want to lie even though it would obviously be the easiest option.

(If I said it was happening I wouldn't want MIL to get her hopes up. She has been very good about not pushing the issue thus far even though I know she is itching to!)

So my question is, if I simply say that I'm going to let them make the decision for themselves when they're older, will it offend them and/or embarrass my MIL? It clearly marks me out as an atheist at worst and a very lax Catholic at best 😊

say you are going to let them make up their own mind when they are older, like fil.

I'd go with "Oh, today is all about FIL, let's not take any attention away from him". You can quite easily imply that you'd discuss it at another time without actually ever doing so.

I agree. Just be straight about it and don't be embarrassed. It's a really good choice to make.

Thanks. I like the idea of reflecting the attention back to FIL. I will probably flounder for an answer if put on the spot in front of MIL!

I'm a Catholic and would find that a very reasonable answer.

I agree with singa that it's a reasonable answer.

Mind you, I'd never ask the question.

I'm a Catholic, and that answer wouldn't offend anyone at all.

I'm a Catholic and would be surprised if anyone would ask about you children

I wouldn't actually expect many people to ask. Most Catholics are accepting of other people's views and as your files is begin baptised so late in life, it is unlikely to be a surprise that other members of the family are not religious. If anyone does ask, then yes I would expect them to accept your answer.

I agree, I am a big God-bothering Catholic but would never question someone about their decisions regarding baptism unless they brought the subject up.

I'm also a catholic and wouldn't ask either.