Hi Emma,

Thank-you for your question.

You said:
I, on the other hand, do not mind going to church. I actually enjoyed going to church. When I was younger, I got to sing along and play along with other people in the church. I find that a church is a heavenly place where you tend not to worry about things that heighten your stress level.

First, I think it is great that you have received such graces from going to Church.

You said:

• What are Protestants?
• What are Catholics?
• What are Baptists?
• What is an Anglican, and
• What is a Lutheran?
  
  
• Who do they pray to?

Different religions have different "bodies of beliefs". One thing all the above Christian denominations believe is that "Jesus Christ is Lord, God and Savior of mankind who rose from the Dead on Easter Sunday". All the above Christian (C|c)hurches go to church services for four reasons:

1. To keep the Third Commandment: — the main reason
   The seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD — Exodus 31:15
2. To give thanks to (God/Jesus)
3. To offer petitions, requests, and to ask for help; and
4. To make amends for our sins.

We go to church to worship and pray to Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Lord; Catholic Christians emphasize giving thanks for the blessings we have received; Eucharist means to give thanksgiving.

The faith communities you mentioned are all Christian faiths to a certain extent. Most also believe that Baptism is necessary for salvation. In other areas, the teachings differ a lot.

The one Christian Faith that stands alone from the rest is the Catholic Christian Faith. The reason why is because it was the only Church Jesus founded on St. Peter. All the other non-Catholic Christian faiths, which are generally described as Protesting faiths, were founded by men who disagreed with Jesus' Church and so they broke away from His Divine Church. They kept some of His Teachings and threw away other important ones.

Baptist, Anglican, and Lutheran are Christian faiths and believe in some of the Truths of the One Faith. Only the Catholic Christian Church has held on to all the beliefs Our Lord wants all Christians to hold on to.

Jesus, who we believe is True God and True Man, said that "the gates of Hell will not prevail against His Church". (Matthew 16:13-19)

• What does this mean to us?

This means that although there may be bad and immoral behavior in the Church at times, due to our weakness to sin, on issues of faith and morals, Our Lord has promised that errors will never permeate the teachings of the Church He founded on St. Peter and His successors.

In order to resolve any issue of whether you were baptized or not, I would ask mom or dad if you were baptized, and if so, ask them at which church. If they tell you which church, go to that church and ask them for your Baptismal certificate.

From what you have said, I can't tell if you attended:

1. a regular Protestant church service who practice a valid Baptism
2. a regular Protestant church service who practice an invalid Baptism, or
3. attended services at a Catholic parish.

• When you were raised, did your family ever refer to "going to Sunday Mass"?

If mom and dad don't know and you don't think you ever attended Mass on Sunday, I would go to the churches that you did attend and ask the head minister of each congregation if there is a baptismal certificate on record for you with that Protestant congregation.

• Why am I suggesting this?

Because, in certain cases, the Catholic Church does recognize the baptisms of non-Catholic Christian churches (if they are valid). If you were baptized in a Protestant church you can bring your baptismal certificate to a priest at a local Catholic parish and he will be able to tell you whether it was valid or not. If you can't find a Baptismal certificate, I would go to a Catholic priest anyway who is known for his faithfulness to the Church's teachings and share with him that you wish to be baptized.

You said:
The reason why I am asking, is I wish to be baptized but I am not sure what church to join.

The True Christian Church is the Catholic Christian Church, really and historically. Here is a web page on our site that explains the origin of most other non-Catholic and non-Christian faiths.

I used to run a free program that sent Catechisms to seeking Protestants and non-Christians but no longer have the financial or operational means to do this anymore. Nevertheless, if you wish to go deeper, consider buying a cheap copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to learn everything we believe as Catholics.

It would be unfair and unjust for me to tell you specifically what any Protestant faith believes: Baptists, Anglican, Lutheran or any other faith because I don't claim to hold their faith. I strive to be a faithful Catholic; not a Joe Biden or Nancy Pelosi Catholic.

You said:
I heard from my boyfriend that I cannot be married in a church if I am not baptized.
He is a Protestant and I have no idea what to do.

I am not aware of the various marital regulations that are allowed or disallowed among the various Protestant denominations, so I can't address this statement.

I would recommend that you seek out a good, holy, Catholic priest for spiritual guidance and suggest you be baptized in the Catholic Church. You can then talk to your boyfriend about being married in the Catholic Church. Here is what the Catechism states on mixed marriages (a marriage between a Catholic and non-Catholic Christian):

If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to reply.

Your Catholic Christian brother in Christ Jesus,

Mike Humphrey