Catholic school Admission:Religion-confusion-urgently need help

[florencesmith]

Hi all, I urgently need your feedback. We are a catholic family, moved to the UK few years ago.

Before I had my first child, I was more of an atheist, did not attend church every Sunday etc etc but after having my first child, my view towards going to church changed and I became a strong believer, I?m grateful to god for my lill angel. After all those complications I went through, it was only a miracle that I had my baby successfully. Anyways, long story cut short, I am a regular goer to church and take my 2 years old to the church too.

My husband filled our (his, mine and our child?s) membership form to the local UK catholic church. Recently, I was applying to local catholic schools, as DH and I want LO to follow catholic value and all, and there was a section where I had written my religion, but when DH was reviewing the form, he said ,?Oh no?I had put your religion as blank ?cause I didn?t know if you wanted me to put Catholic??I was soo livid, how dare he ? yes before having our baby I may have laughed but that doesn?t mean he should have done that?.

Now I don?t know, what am I supposed to do, he filled our membership form 3 years ago, since then we had our baby, we?ve been going to the church, my child was baptised here, and now that I have to fill the admission form, I don?t know what to write. Ofcourse the local priest knows me, as I am an active member of the church community, and I feel so let down by my husband, that don?t know what am I suppose to write in the school admission form?

In my mind the options and its consequence are:

1. Truthfully, I mention my religion as ?Catholic? in the admission sheet. But I am worried, when the priest goes through our membership form sent 3 years ago and my child?s Baptism record, he would think only my husband and child are catholic, and that I am lying, and he may cancel my childs admission?? Even though our local priest knows me, sees that we attend church every Sunday and I am member of local church group??

1. I leave my religion blank, to be consistent with what my husband had written for my religion in the church membership form 3 years ago. But this would mean my child would not be considered for the school as we don?t meet the entry requirement which is both parents should be catholic.??

1. Talk to priest and tell him my husband?s mistake of leaving my religion as blank, if he asks me why are you informing so late, I will tell him the whole story that I need to mention my religion for my child?s admission and my husband informed me that he hadn?t mentioned my religion. But I am worried, I don?t want priest to think I am lying because I want to get my child?s admission done. It will not be right. I left my country of birth where I was baptised 25 years ago. And I don?t know where my parents have kept my baptism Certificate.

1. I don?t know of any other options, please suggest.

I really really need your help, please let me know. This school is the best in the area and I cannot afford Private school. Any help would be great.

Can you contact your original church and ask them for a letter, copy of certificate or in this day and age an e-mail confirmation? I did this with my original church when I needed proof of baptism. Just go and explain that you didn't have it when you first filled in the form and you wanted to update it. It will probably just be the person in the office anyway.

Read the school admission criteria. It is usually the child that has to be baptised catholic, not the parents. Many families have only one RC parent anyway.

I am atheist, DH and DD are both RC. DD is currently at a catholic primary school and going to secondary in September.
My only problem is understand what's what. Don't panic Mrs, all will be well.

You need to look at the school admission criteria but normally as a catholic school they will be looking for a baptised child and regular attendance at church for one or more parent.

thanks all