Question about religion

We have a long way to go til we speak to people at an orphange, we've only just had our homestudy completed. So having a zillion questions with no answers yet in my head, just thought I'd throw one of them out here. Thanks.

My son had been baptized not once but twice. First in his very first orphanage in Warsaw, and then when he went to another orphanage in Chelmno, they weren't sure so they did it again. When they gathred his paperwork for us, they realized that they had two baptismal certificates. (with two middle names, we didn't know about either one before and had already chosen a new one for him) We were given both certificates. I would say that most children will have been baptised, it's a very Catholic country.

While we were vaguely told (in an unconfident voice) that the boys had been baptized, there were never any records of it. So - once we were home, we had them baptized at our church (CREC). I agree - it's a very Catholic country, but we figured if the children's parents weren't worried about feeding them or caring for them, they probably also weren't too concerned about marking them as belonging to God either!

I guess that is one point, my son was abandoned at birth, and in Catholic orphanages, so he was baptized by them. If a child had spent time with thier birth parents first, there may not be a record, especially if the children were removed for neglect or abuse.

We met our son right before he was 2. We were told he had not been baptized.

I wonder if it also would be different depending on the type of orphange? My son was in a Catholic orphanage.

My children were in a catholic orphanage. My daughter was baptised at 9, so I guess it is possible that some won't be baptised. Good luck with your adoption!

Our daughters were adopted from the same orphange as mama08 and we too were told they were not baptized. The orphanage was a state run orphanage not a Catholic orphanage. We had our girls baptised once we returned home. As a side note, friends of ours did have baptismal certificates from the orphanage for their children and chose to have a family blessing at their Catholic upon returning to the US. Feel free to "throw out" as many questions as you like :)

I'm answering with a different experience from others who've responded, because everyone has adopted from an orphanage, while we've adopted from a foster family. Poland is trying to do away with orphanages and is trying to move into the foster care system instead. I'm not sure when you'll get the referral and whether it will be from foster care, but if it does end up from the foster care system - you should ask the foster parents that question. You will have plenty opportunities to ask that. For example in our case, we know the youngest was baptized, and we were given all the memoribilia from the event. But we suspect the two others were not baptized.

We have 3 separate circumstances. Our son, in a state run orphanage, was baptized by his birth parents. Our daughters, one from foster care and one in a Catholic orphanage, were both baptized while in care (ages 5 & 6). As a side note, our daughter who was in foster care in Poland also had her first communion in Poland. The foster family felt it was important for her to have this in her native language and recieved special permission from the Church to have the ceremony completed 6 months earlier than it would have normally taken place.

Our son also did his first communion in Poland. Though that was more cause we were not Polish.

From what I've seen Poland is anywhere from 90% to 95% Roman Catholic. Our three children were in an orphanage and I can't say for sure but it seemed to be state/region run. There were religious imagery in the orphanage. We received baptismal transcripts from the baptisms of each child during our last week in Warsaw. Our oldest E (10, girl) says that though birth mom was neglectful and suffered from substance abuse, one of the grandmothers would take the children to church to be baptized if birth mom didn't/couldn't. I was baptised, communed and confirmed ELCA Lutheran but became Unitarian Universalist after being married. UU is a free and responsible search for truth and meaning, within a community. It is creedless and but not without rituals. Families usually bring their children to fellowship/church to be dedicated. I was satisfied with the Polish baptism transcripts. To honor our new family, we invited our Pastor to our home to perform a dedication ceremony, dedicating our children and our new family. We had about 85 friends and family attend. We had the event at our home so that out of town guests would not need to navigate to a second location for the picnic reception. When we were traveling in Poland, our daughter, 10 asked if we were Catholic. I said no. She asked if we were Prawosławny. Our children are from near Belarus border so it wasn't surprising that she asked if we were Orthodox! Their home town has a two beautiful Orthodox cathedrals (though we didn't get a chance to go into them.) Then last fall we attended a Mass in Polish commemorating Polish Constitution Day in November. One of our children's Godmothers who is a practicing Roman Catholic joined my daughter, and I to Mass. We proceeded for Communion, expecting to ask for and receive a blessing, but we were handed the host before we could ask for a blessing. My daughter had not had first communion before and I would have struggled about doctrine and meaning if she had chosen to take first communion classes. But I would have agreed to it if she was willing to attend classes. But I guess God intervened and made the decision easy for us - no doctrinal struggle for me and no required classes for her. I sobbed when we got back to our pew. I was proud that she had taken her first communion at the Polish Mass and though I wasn't there for many of her 'firsts' I was there for this. We attend our UU church. We have always offered any of the three to go to the Roman Catholic church in our community. Our region of Wisconsin is about 75% Catholic. The kids have only shown VERY brief interest and will take them as time and their interest allows. Though probably not acceptable without some type of dispensation from your clergy, you could bless water yourself and repeat the text for baptism. That way if you are concerned for their spirit's safety, you have blessed and marked your child until you can bring them to your home church. an aside - we were asked if we would take them to Catholic Chuch/bring them up Catholic in our only court appearance. Thankfully it was asked when my husband was being interviewed. I would have been able to say it but it would be hard for me to not tell the truth. But When we were there and now raising the kids, it is easier to bend or avoid the truth. I don't know if you'll get what I mean - its late, and know I have the deepest respect, just have a conflict of conscience.

Actually, as far as the Catholic Church is concerned, it wouldn't matter if the baptism was done by the Chruch or not. All baptisms are valid if they are done in the prper manner. (with water and in the name of the Father , Son, and Holy Spirit). That is why anyone can baptize if necessay, and poeple joining the church are not re-baptized. According to my priest, if the child was baptized then the church here would like to see the certificate or have a written statement from witnesses. If the child is believed to be baptized, but documentation can't be found, a ceremony called a conditional baptism can be done. Hope that helps. Elaine

That makes sense to me, Elaine, but then sometimes I get bumped by some of the rules in the Catholic Church, even when I try to be respectful and cautious. Mostly I think children are marked by God because they are a new creation.:love:

I didn't think you were disrespectful at all. I just trying to clarify the differerent circumstances that could occur. We had recently had this discussion with our parish priest. Elaine