Sunday Off-Topic: Going Public

Every Introduction course always has its off-topic tangents, and Catholicism 101 is no different. On Sundays, we'll delve into some aspects of Catholicism that we might not otherwise get to. These areas are kind of up to my whim, but they will usually focus on unusual parts of Catholicism.

At the Baptism of an infant, the parents are asked, "Do you renounce Satan, and all his works and empty promises?" If the answer is "yes," then the priest proceeds with "Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth?" This continues for several more questions. If the person being baptized is older than seven, they answer the questions themselves.

After Baptism, Christians are expected to publicly profess their faith by reciting the Nicene Creed at Mass with the entire congregation. Once a year, the congregation will also renew their baptismal vows in full view of everyone else.