Adoption and Baptism

[teachccd]

I was in a conversation whereby an elderly person stated that in times past the Church would not baptize an adopted child because there was a chance that his/her natural parents could return for the child. I teach the pre-Baptism classes at my parish and this is the first that I’ve heard of this. If it was indeed a teaching or a practice of the Church to deny baptism to an adopted child, could anyone follow up with the documentation that stated such a practice? Thank you and God Bless…teachccd

 

[Phemie]

I was in a conversation whereby an elderly person stated that in times past the Church would not baptize an adopted child because there was a chance that his/her natural parents could return for the child. I teach the pre-Baptism classes at my parish and this is the first that I’ve heard of this. If it was indeed a teaching or a practice of the Church to deny baptism to an adopted child, could anyone follow up with the documentation that stated such a practice? Thank you and God Bless…teachccd

I’ve never heard of this and I had friends who were adopted and baptized. Nothing I see in the old records supports this either. It’s possible that that lady misunderstood the policy and that baptism was postponed until the adoption was final – that’s the policy in my parish unless the child is in danger of death.

 

[agapewolf]

I was given up for adoption through Catholic charities…(in 1974), they baptized me while I was in the system, before I had parents.

My adoptive parents then “re-baptized” me. (I know its not a rebaptism, but the priest did the oils and the naming, and I got God parents at this time).

 

[Phemie]

I was given up for adoption through Catholic charities…(in 1974), they baptized me while I was in the system, before I had parents.

My adoptive parents then “re-baptized” me. (I know its not a rebaptism, but the priest did the oils and the naming, and I got God parents at this time).

Things would have been different for you since you were in the Catholic adoption system. I recall that the ‘rule’ I heard while growing up (50s & 60s) was that the baby could be baptized if the mother desired and that she could insist that the child only be adopted by Catholics and that that would be respected.

That would work today only if the adoption was done through a Catholic agency. Around here there is no such thing. I’ve had a case worker call and request baptism for a baby that had been removed from his family and was up for adoption. Unfortunately, her reason for wanting him baptized was so she could get a birth certificate for him. You see, in our province, if the parents haven’t sent the ‘Return of Birth’ to Vital Statistics, it is the legal duty of the various Churches to do so when the child is baptized – part of the form asks for the date of baptism and the name of the person who administered the Baptism. I asked her what she’d do if he was a Jew – profound silence. I had to tell her that since the system had legal custody of this child it was her responsibility to send the info to Vital Statistics.

 

[puzzleannie]

OP has a kernel of truth but is in general a misstatement. In past years the Church would not baptize a child particularly of Jewish parents but also a pagan, if there was not an assurance that the child would be raised Catholic, and without consent of at least one parent. That is and always has been canon law. The issue comes with how adoptions were handled before the legal protections that exist today. Those procedures varied from country to country, and where today the system goes overboard to protect rights of the natural parents, it was not always the case, so the Church had to do it. Before adoptions became formalized through law, often the Church record was the only formal record, so the Church had to be particularly careful to honor the policy.

more recent experience with Catholic adoptions as related by other posters reflects the changes that have come with formal civil adoption laws.

 

[bpbasilphx]

**
My adoptive parents then “re-baptized” me. (I know its not a rebaptism, but the priest did the oils and the naming, and I got God parents at this time).**

It’s called "supplying the missing ceremonies."

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I was in a conversation whereby an elderly person stated that in times past the Church would not baptize an adopted child because there was a chance that his/her natural parents could return for the child. I teach the pre-Baptism classes at my parish and this is the first that I’ve heard of this. If it was indeed a teaching or a practice of the Church to deny baptism to an adopted child, could anyone follow up with the documentation that stated such a practice? Thank you and God Bless…teachccd

There is no prohibition to Baptizing an adopted child.
The child should be presented for Baptism by the Catholic couple who adopted the child.

 

[DAWNCUROLE]

My husband and I have two adopted children. We were unable to baptise the children until the adoptions were finalized. Both adoptions took almost a year, perhaps finalizing the adoptions was the issue.

 

[Phemie]

My husband and I have two adopted children. We were unable to baptise the children until the adoptions were finalized. Both adoptions took almost a year, perhaps finalizing the adoptions was the issue.

Yes, finalization of the adoption is the issue. Unless the child is in danger of death we don’t baptize before those final papers are signed.

If for some reason the adoption falls through and the child is returned to his parent(s) or is adopted by someone else they would be the ones responsible for his religious upbringing and they may have no wish bring him/her up in the Catholic faith.

 

[puzzleannie]

we brought a child into the Church through RCIA a few years ago after a minimal preparation, and it was an adoption case. She had been participating in religions instruction for several years, but the natural father had not yet signed away his rights (although he had never played any part in her life since her birth and the death of the mother) and until the adoption by relatives was finalized, we were not allowed to baptize. This happened at the beginning of Lent, the preliminary rites were supplied in good order, and the child was fully initiated at Easter.

but that situation is what OP’s anecdote misstates.

 

[teachccd]

I thank all of you who responded to my question. If there are others who have additional (name removed by moderator)ut I will truly appreciate it. As usual, you have all been so gracious with your replies…God Bless…teachccd