Another Interfaith couple question

DH thought he wanted our baby to be baptized (he's Catholic and I'm Jewish). I never had a problem with it b/c I'm more Agnostic than anything and it seemed important to him. However, recently he attended a baptism and they made the Godparents show proof of their own baptism. Not only am I not baptized (nor will I ever be) we decided that if we had to chose Godparents for our kids, they would be other interfaith couples we know. Makes sense to us. Overall I think DH threw out the baptism idea. We are the most not religious people in the world. However, we believe in God and are very spiritual.

What are other people doing for their babies? I know there are religious sentiments in baptisms and Jewish baby namings, but I think - I have to say it, DH moreso wants a party to celebrate our new addition and wants to start a trust fund for the baby. I agree that it would be nice and our child shouldn't have to miss out on such gifts from it's friends and family b/c it isn't going to have a "religion" per se nor should it miss out on being "formally introduced" and celebrated. Please - I'm not saying people have these things for gifts and what they can get (I can just see the flame posts now), I'm just asking others what they may have done and I think it's a legit question since it's ultimately what is on DH's mind. Any insight would be helpful. I know on of my interfaith couple friends just waited until the child's 1st birthday and threw a huge bash, but it's not the same.

Re: Another Interfaith couple question

We are interfaith yet worship at a Unitarian Fellowship.

We did not baptize, "name" or go through any other service. It would have been hypocritical for us to do so as we do not practice either of the religions we were born into. You could have a party introducing them to your friends and family.

You just might get montary gifts anyway. A few of my relatives sent DC's checks for what they would have given if we had a religious service. I guess they felt, they give for the baptisms (everyone else in the family) so it's only fair.

A few of DH's family gave checks, in addition to gifts, shortly after the birth.

Those gifts, combined with very generous gifts from grandparents, were used to start DC's investment portfolios.

Re: Another Interfaith couple question

We are the reverse. I am catholic and DH is Jewish.

Although I do believe in God, I do not go to church so I am not a member. DH does not worship or believe at all.

DH told me that he was OK having DS being christened.

Then started the "problems". I was baptized in a different country. We have no Christian family in the USA. Our friends are also interfaith. My family is Christian but overseas and there is no membership to a church. You need to show you are a church member. It does not work the same way as here. There, you just go to church.

We don't have a godmother or godfather.

I don't know how to make it work.

Re: Another Interfaith couple question

Sorry i cant help you I am jewish and DH is catholic and we are raising our son Jewish (he had a bris). However, i do know that some interfaith couples will just have a "welcome" party, where its neutral and not a religious kind of thing
Good luck!

Re: Another Interfaith couple question

I used to work in catering and quite often non-religious and interfaith couples would have a non-demoninational ceremony & party at the hall- they would get a non descript religious person to a blessing over the baby at the hall- b/c it is out of the church/temple setting, you have control over what the religious person will say and how religious it will be.
sort of how Dh and I got married at the hall- you can do the same with a 'welcoming' party for your DC

just a quick note re: the catholic thing- you need to have christians as during the ritual of baptism the god parents are reaffirming their faith in the church and jesus christ- that is why the godparents need to be christian, with at least one being catholic- as they are stewards of that child's religious upbringing in the faith, and therefore need to agree with it...

My DD's god father is a non practicing christian who had never been officially "baptized" into the religion properly, so he couldn't be written down in the official church documents as DD's godfather- in the church's eyes- she only has a godmother, who is Catholic.

Re: Another Interfaith couple question

A friend of mine and her DH held a backyard party for their DD - they are interfaith and are not choosing a religion for her. They wanted to celebrate her birth - I think it was really nice.