[kayb]

Anyone here do foster care and have your fc baptized w/ birthmom's consent?

How bout' baptizism before the adoption was finalized?

anyone...anyone

[lovemy2boys]

Ours wasn't foster care, but adoption. Our children were able to be baptized BEFORE finalization, but AFTER the placement hearing.

Honestly, our church never really questioned us too far on it - we just brought the placement paperwork from the courts.

I think if you have the child's parent's consent, it shouldn't be an issue...

Good luck!

[jackiesbooks]

I am a foster Mom - I can't even get them into religious class!

[One_Happy_Momma]

If you have the parents' consent, it should be fine. Make sure that is in writting, and thru the SW.

My church would've allowed me to baptize my girls before finalization, but with the adoption placement paperwork. Since we believe in only one baptism, the church wants to make sure that this child will remain with you and that he/she will get only one, and be raised in the Catholic faith.

I did enroll a previous fc in religious ed. Has to be walked into court, and have the judge decide if the parents object. Sometimes the parents are Catholic, but they still object, because it gives them power.

[CatholicMom42]

I guess in some ways we were more fortunate than some. No one prevented us from taking the kids to church or religious ed. But we had to wait three years (until parental rights were terminated) before we could have them baptized. It was a LONG three years ... every week I'd take them up for a blessing from the priest, but it wasn't the same!

[WorkerMommy]

I've adopted an older child, age 8 when placed through my foster care license with the intent of adoption. I had her join the church through RCIA and her First Communion. She was baptized in the Episcopal church as an infant. I'm glad I did, don't get me wrong, however, her church records which she'll have to access for all future sacraments, are originally under her birth name. The Church does not maintain confidentiality of birth names like the legal system.

With baptism, you have to list the parents as the birth parent or if rights are terminated but adoption not yet done, as the agency or state and the child's legal name must be registered as again their birth name.

All the literature I have found indicates waiting until after the adoption is done. Rest in the knowledge that the Lord knows you intend to baptize the child if you adopt. The Lord uses that as a veil of protection until you are able to move forward.

My youngest was placed with me at 10 months of age. She is now 4 years and 8 months of age. We are desperately praying that the subsidy paperwork will be completed in time to finish the adoption hearing so that we can baptize her on 5-11 (mother's day, pentecost and my 30th anniversary of my confirmation) when family will be in town from 3 different states. If the adoption is not done on time (insert my prayers) the baptism will have to wait. I've scheduled the baptism with the priest/parish understanding that we might have to reschedule. In the meantime I am asking the masses to storm the gates and approach the throne with my request to get the adoption done in time so I can have my daughter baptized with her godparents in attendance and not have to wait another couple months to get them all back in state.

After going through the journey twice, I believe it is a journey of trust development. Through all the ups and downs and crazy system issues (and by the way I work for the system), God calls on us to totally depend and trust Him with ourselves, our families and the children.

WorkerMommy
CPS worker 07 to present
licensing worker for about 10 yrs
foster care worker for about 6-7 years
foster parent for 7 years
adoptive parent for almost 4 years
soon to be adoptive parent again!

[kayb]

thank you for all the great words or encouragement!

I think we could've done the baptism, but b/m would've insisted on choosing the Godparents.

But, of course, everything worked out by waiting!

We actually take our class this sunday after mass and will finalize in September. Then we'll christen our son

workermommy - Did you get to christen you daughter on mothers day?

Thanks again!