Hi, Amy —

Congratulations on your newborn child. I am happy to hear that you are carefully discerning marriage. I'm not sure what you mean by Will I be the only representing parent?" Although there may be some responses he can't in conscience profess there is nothing, as far as I know, that excludes non-Catholic parents from the Baptismal ceremony.  I presume you have a priest you can talk to about this. The best thing is to ask him, but I seriously doubt the father would be excluded unless it's at the pastor's discretion (perhaps due to scandal).

About your son's faith in light of his father's faith: What you have to do is learn your own faith and practice it faithfully, as you have started to do. Surrender your life and your son to Christ; pledge to Christ that you will follow Him in whatever He asks you to do, then listen to the Church (your Mother) to learn what that is.

Study your faith and the Scriptures, and teach them to your son, both in word and in deed. Participate in the Sacraments. Once you have a solid grasp of your own faith, know his father's faith — perhaps ask him to share it. Then learn how to refute it and why, from Scripture, our faith is true on points where they oppose us. Teach these Scriptures to your son well before his father starts to teach him to the contrary.

A good book to start is Karl Keating's Catholicism and Fundamentalism: The Attack on 'Romanism' by 'Bible Christians'. That will explain what Fundamentalists believe (which likely will overlap some with your son's Messianic father's faith). For learning the faith Alan Schreck has a good catechism,
The Essential Catholic Catechism: A Readable, Comprehensive Catechism of the Catholic Faith.

I recommend reading a few conversion stories; Patrick Madrid has three books, Surprised by Truth and Surprised by Truth II and III which have some excellent stories. If you have access to EWTN Radio (available from your local Catholic radio station, online at EWTN.com, or on Sirius) and can listen from 3-5pm Pacific Time, there is a show, Catholic Answers Live, which is a question-and-answer format and is a great way to learn about the faith.

You can also get tapes from:

• St. Joseph's Communications or
• Catholic Answers.

Anything from Catholic Answers is excellent. They also have some great online resources.

Hope this helps!

Eric

Hi, Amy —

I would like to add that, as a Messianic Jewish Christian, he will find his faith truly fulfilled in the Catholic Church. He could get a copy of Scott Hahn's book on the Lamb's Supper, or a book by one of the many rabbis who have converted.

Mary Ann

Hi, Amy —

You said:
I guess I should clarify my question.

• If the father cannot profess some answers due to the differences between our faiths, can he choose not to take part in the ceremony?

I don't think anyone will be forced to participate in the ceremony, but again, consult the one doing the Baptism.

You said:

• Could you by any chance give me any names of rabbis who have converted?

Actually I was just going to suggest the book Honey from the Rock: Sixteen Jews Find the Sweetness of Christ by Roy Schoeman instead of Pat Madrid's books.

I know it discusses the conversion of Rabbi Israel Zolli.

Eric

Hi Amy,

Yes, it would be.

• Why?

Because the celebration of Mass and Holy Communion is a celebration of the unity in faith we have as Catholics. Communion being a Common Union.

Going to any other church, is saying, you believe in other person's faith or body of beliefs,
rather then the Church's. I don't think that's the signal you want to send.

When we received Holy Communion we are publicly stating we are in a Common Union with all the Teachings of the Church:

• Those we believe and understand as well as
• those we believe, but don't fully understand but try to.

Hope this helps,

Mike