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Amy
- Rebecca McMahon
wrote:
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Hi, guys —
My eight-year-old daughter goes to a Roman
Catholic-aided school and for the last eighteen
months has expressed an interested in becoming
Catholic. I have little religious background
and knowledge, and I do not know how to go
about this. Because of my lack of knowledge,
I do not feel that I can approach the local
priest.
- Also, at eight years of age, do you think
that she is able to make this decision?
She even asked her head mistress about
this but she told her that her parents would
need to speak to the local priest. Another
reason I feel that I cannot go to the priest,
is because I am not from any religion and
have never been christened.
My partner was christened in the Church
of England but is not a practicing Christian.
Even though we have been together for eleven
years,
we have never married. My
two children were never christened either.
I am afraid that this will not help my daughter.
Amy - Rebecca
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What should I do since my daughter wants to become Catholic, but I
have no religious background? }
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Mary
Ann replied:
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Amy - Rebecca —
What a wonderful opportunity for
you, your partner, and your daughter
to learn together about God.
It is true that your daughter may
not make this decision on her own,
at this time, but she may certainly
lead you toward making the decision
for her. The first thing to do is
pray. God will begin to guide you.
You should approach the priest about
joining the RCIA class to learn about
the Faith (or you can begin by reading
the Catechism of the Catholic Church.)
- If you decide you wish to be Catholic,
you and your daughter may do it together,
but it would require that you marry
your partner or live without sexual
relations with him. God does ask
us to make some decisions for or
against His Will, and His Will is
that sexuality and children be protected
in marriage.
- If you do not want to
become Catholic, you and her father
may give permission for your daughter
to become Catholic, but you would
need to help her live her faith by
taking her to Mass on Sundays and
helping her to prepare for the other
Sacraments. I think God is calling
to your daughter.
The Bible says, "A
little child shall lead them" (Isaiah 11:6) and
I think the Child Jesus is leading
her to lead you and her father closer
to Him.
Mary Ann
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