Interfaith parents and religion of baby?

For those interfaith couples I was just curious about what everyone was doing about religion for the baby? I am catholic and DH is Jewish. We have not had any type of ceremony yet - if at all for Sidney. The topic has sort of been swept under the rug. Neither one of us is all that religious to begin with but i do believe we need to raise her in some organized faith. How are you all handling this?
TIA

Re: Interfaith parents and religion of baby?

we are in the same boat..but my DH agreed to christening him Catholic..only thing is we won't be inviting his family..which I think is totally crazy but thats up to him..

we will celebrate both holidays..

my personal opinion is that the baby is raised by what the mothers religion is..

Message edited 11/6/2005 9:18:25 AM.

Re: Interfaith parents and religion of baby?

I am Catholic and my DH is Jewish, before we were married we decided that the children would be Catholic. We just had our son Christened a few months ago and to our surprise my husbands 99 year old grandfather showed up and had a great time.

Re: Interfaith parents and religion of baby?

THat is wonderful!!!

Re: Interfaith parents and religion of baby?

I am a born Jew but practice Christianity. DH is a Christian, and we attend a Methodist church. I was not raised in my faith very well (holidays only) and don't feel much attachment to it. Our daughter will know she is of both, but we will practice Christianity in our household and we are Christening her. My sister who is the most Jewish out of any of my family will teach her about Judiasm if she wants to know about it. Then she may make a choice if she decides to when she is old enough

Re: Interfaith parents and religion of baby?

I'm Catholic, DH was raised Jewish but no longer practices. We are raising our children Catholic.

As I understand it, if you want to raise your children Jewish you will need to convert as the Jewish faith believes that the children are the same faith as the mother.

Re: Interfaith parents and religion of baby?

my cousin is catholic and her husband is jewish they have two children the girl they raised catholic and but she knows her other religion the boy they raised in the jewish religion but he also knows the other religion as well its weird I know but hey thats what they wanted

Re: Interfaith parents and religion of baby?

I'm Jewish and my husband is Catholic. This was something we really researched. We Had a "Baby Welcoming Ceremony" for Rebecca. It was a combination Christening and Hebrew Baby namaing ceremony. The Msgr. and Rabbi who married us performed the ceremony at ST. Thomas the Apostle in W. Hempstead. We just did it 2 months ago when she turned one. I first went to see the ceremony with a few other couples to be sure I was comfortable. This worked as an option for us as we are going to expose her to both religions. As an fyi.. both my husband and I came from interfaith Jewish - Catholic interfaith families...and we both felt strongly about ensuring some sort of religion for our children.
I am currently exploring a interfaith group which in forming on LI and will provide exposure to both religions to children of Jewish- Christian families. They have a chapter in NYC but will be coming here soon.

Re: Interfaith parents and religion of baby?

I like the idea of a "Baby Welcoming Ceremony. I don't think DH is all that interested as I brought it up once in the past but I think I will mention it again. We've been together for 10 yrs...you'd think we would have had this figured out by now!