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Emily Hess's avatar

Our local parishes required us to give them our children's government issued birth certificates before they would baptize them. Is that something you've run into? From personal experience I know that dioceses can be VERY legalistic on stuff like this.

I imagine if you can get a church to baptize your baby without one, the baptism cert may also work as an identifying document that you can use.

Keturah Hickman's avatar

Our baby was baptized and this wasn't requested! But maybe it's because the priest knew us?

Alba Arcadia's avatar

I was not asked for my son's birth certificate nor did I need to provide anything when I was baptized years ago (I was in a grey area immigration wise, technically undocumented then). Two different parishes in two different states.

Kay's avatar

My husband was born in French Canada. He doesn’t have a birth certificate, but his baptismal certificate has always served the purpose.

Emily Hess's avatar

Maybe our diocese is just legalistic...

Live Life Not Behind Glass's avatar

That is *crazy*! I have lived in many different states and I have never heard of such a thing at any church of any denomination, much less the RCC

Live Life Not Behind Glass's avatar

Requiring a birth certificate to baptize a baby