Education directors warn parents not to baptise children for sake of place at Catholic school Catholic education directors say being baptised is not a prerequisite for enrolment at a Catholic school. CHILDREN should not be baptised simply to increase their chances of enrolment at a Catholic school, a Catholic education director says. But baptism remains one of the key factors Catholic schools look for when enrolling students. The Sunday Mail has spoken to a number of parents who have baptised their children in the Catholic faith in a bid to boost enrolment chances. Toowoomba Catholic Education Office director John Borserio said its enrolment policy stated all community members were welcome within its schools "with the understanding that both parents and students appreciate and support Catholic school philosophy and ethos." "Every attempt will be made to cater for the neediest members of our society," the policy states. Mr Borserio said while each school had its own enrolment policy, schools in his Diocese typically enrolled students first who had a sibling there, followed by a baptised child who was, or their family were, a practising Catholic in the local or nearby parish. Next are baptised non-practising Catholics; those who are not baptised but identify as Catholic; practising Christians from other denominations; non-practising Christians and then children of no denomination whose family identify with the Catholic ethos. Asked if parents who weren't Catholic but wanted to send their child to a Catholic school should baptise their child, Mr Borserio said no. "Baptism is a sacrament and demonstrates a commitment by parents on behalf of their child to raise their child in the Catholic faith," Mr Borserio said. Therefore, it should not be seen as a means of gaining enrolment, nor as a prerequisite to enrolment in a Catholic school. Brisbane Catholic Education provided a similar trend for choosing enrolments, but like Toowoomba, noted schools had individual enrolment policies. A Cairns Catholic Education enrolment document says priority in its area should be given to those who participate regularly in the celebration of the Eucharist and Catholics who commit to the values of the church, above siblings of existing students. CCE executive director Brother Paul Hough said "if a quota of non-Catholics ever did exist, it is certainly a thing of the distant past," with almost one in every four students in far north Queensland educated in a Catholic school. Just over half of those are Catholic and three quarters are of a Christian religion. Some don't identify with any religion," Brother Paul said. Queensland Catholic Education Commission executive director Mike Byrne said Catholic schools strived "to be open and accessible to all who seek their values." "Baptised Catholics are given priority if there are insufficient places in a school to meet total demand," he said.