Really stupid question about Catholic schools

[lemondog]

I went to private Catholic school K-12. It was not parochial, but truly a private school with an excellent academic reputation, so we had a good share of non-Catholics. We had even had a Jewish and Hindu family as well. They attended for the quality of education.

At any rate, Catholics do not allow non-Catholics to receive the Eucharist, so there is NO way they will force your son to take communion. At my school they did a very good job of finding alternate lessons/projects for the non-Catholics while we were preparing for the Sacraments. At my high school, they even had separate religion classes -- one for the Catholics, and another more general Christian class for the non-Catholics.

 

[CanBeGrumpy]

I attended Catholic schools for 12 years and DD just started Kindergarten. My experience has been that if a child is not baptized Catholic, he/she cannot receive the sacraments in a Catholic Church. I had many friends attend school that were not Catholic and most say that Confirmation and First Communion were difficult because they felt left out.

As long as at least one parent is Catholic and willing to take the child to Mass on Sundays, a child baptized in another Christian denomination can, indeed, become a Catholic and receive the sacraments. My son had to do a "profession of faith" a few weeks before he made his first communion, but after that, he was considered Catholic. He was baptized in the Methodist church. Religion can be very confusing!!!

 

[Patricia]

I teach in a Catholic grammar school where we have quite a few non-Catholics. It is never an issue for the children to sit at Mass when the others go to communion because there are always people coming and going in the pews. Sacraments are not part of the school day, and most times, when our students receive confirmation in the 8th grade, their non-catholic classmates come to celebrate the day with them. It has always been a warm atmosphere. Also when I am teaching religion, I always look forward to the input of the other students so that we have perspective on our CHristian faith. Our students always offer valued input and are a much valued part of our family.

 

[CJMZ]

It really does depend on the school and the diocese.
My daughter made her communion last year and she attends a Catholic school.
Although they have religion everyday and learned the basis of the sacraments, she was required to attend the Sunday School session with the kids from the public schools to receive her First Holy Communion.
There were 4 classes for Reconciliation, 4 classes for Communion along with 4 madatory meetings for the parents. It was a completely separate program and had nothing to do with school.
When they attend mass as a class/school those children that who have not made their communion do not participate and are not made to feel left out.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Our Catholic HS has about 50% non-Catholic students. They are required to attend mass each week and take Theology classes three times a week.

 

[Hannathy]

My nephew is not Catholic and he went to Catholic school K-8th grade and had no problems or never felt left out. He was a class president, on the sports teams and this is the best when the Bishop came to the school he was one of the 2 kids chosen to make a speech and give him something from the school. I can't see the kids holding it against another child whether they take communion or not and if the school does then that would be good to know because I wouldn't want my child there anyway.

 

[hpygrll]

We are Lutheran and my DS is in Kindergarten at Catholic School. It's great - wouldn't change it for the world. He goes to mass every week. He will learn about the sacraments and although he won't actually receive first communion there, he is still able to fully participate - meaning he walks up with his class but gets a blessing instead...

We are so similiar really - it's a great environment for him....

Jenny

 

[Cindyluwho]

For those of you who are stating that Lutherans and Catholics are similar, please keep in mind that there are two, very different branches of the Lutheran Church. One is very liberal and one is very strict, similar to Catholic. The two branches are not even remotely similar in my eyes. I was raised liberal and have been to services at the strict one.