Babies answering baptismal questions

[MeInMississippi]

The CCC says that when being baptized recipients are asked a three part question where they should respond, “I do.” If you’re a baby, how do you do this? How is it right to have a Godparent respond for you? In 99.9% of situations of course they’ll say, “I do.” I have nothing against our church baptizing infants, but I think it’s odd to ask an infant these questions when they can’t really respond for themselves.

 

[1ke]

If you’re a baby, how do you do this?

The parents are making the baptismal promises for children under the age of reason.

I think it’s odd to ask an infant these questions when they can’t really respond for themselves.

The infant is not asked any questions. The parents are asked questions. You are probably looking at the rite for adult baptism, not the rite for infant baptism.

 

[Gorgias]

The CCC says that when being baptized recipients are asked a three part question where they should respond, “I do.”

Wow. It took a while to find what you were referring to! Your reference comes from #232, in the section that discusses belief in God.

However, in the section on baptism, we read:

CCC:

"The catechumen or the godparent is asked: “What do you ask of God’s Church?” The response is: “Faith!”

Note that the question is asked of the catechumen or godparent.

The Catechism also asserts that, “y its very nature infant Baptism requires a post-baptismal catechumenate”.

 

[MeInMississippi]

Yes, I should’ve notated I got that from 232, sorry. However, what are your thoughts about the baby having questions answered for him (or her)? What if when they get older they don’t really feel this way? I mean maybe it wouldn’t matter at that point, I suppose. I guess that’s what confirmation is for.

 

[Gorgias]

Yes, I should’ve notated I got that from 232, sorry. However, what are your thoughts about the baby having questions answered for him (or her)?

The thought isn’t “we’re doing this against the child’s will”, but rather, answering the question, “if this baby – in all her innocence and absence of personal sin – were asked ‘do you want to accept Jesus?’, what would she say?” Then, as parents, we simply do what parents naturally do: we provide the good things that lead to flourishing in our children.

 

[MeInMississippi]

Love this answer! Thank you!!

 

[SMHW]

This is why many parishes require parents and godparents to go through pre-baptismal instruction classes.

Can. 868: “…there must be a founded hope that the infant will be brought up in the Catholic religion; if such hope is altogether lacking, the baptism is to be delayed according to the prescripts of particular law after the parents have been advised about the reason.”

Baptizing a child as a Catholic places some serious obligations on that child.

 

[FrDavid96]

Yes, I should’ve notated I got that from 232, sorry. However, what are your thoughts about the baby having questions answered for him (or her)? What if when they get older they don’t really feel this way? I mean maybe it wouldn’t matter at that point, I suppose. I guess that’s what confirmation is for.

We do that sort of thing all the time—parents give their consent on behalf of the child.

Parents don’t wait for the child to decide whether or not to be vaccinated, whether or not to enroll in school, whether or not to learn how to use a toothbrush, whether to play on the lawn or in the street, etc. etc.

Parents make important decisions on behalf of their children. There’s no reason why baptism should be any different. In fact, being the most important decision of all (since it affects the child’s soul for all eternity) it makes perfect sense for the parents to decide on the child’s behalf.

 

[1ke]

I guess that’s what confirmation is for.

What do you think confirmation is for?

 

[TheOldColonel]

Since the questions are asked in baby talk, there’s no real communication problem as long as the baby was properly burped before the rite begins.

 

[FrDavid96]

MeInMississippi:

I guess that’s what confirmation is for.

What do you think confirmation is for?

Now, now. We all know. The purpose of Confirmation is to keep the young ones attending religious education classes until they’re in high school.

 

[QwertyGirl]

Parents don’t wait for the child to decide whether or not to be vaccinated, whether or not to enroll in school, whether or not to learn how to use a toothbrush, whether to play on the lawn or in the street, etc. etc.

Baptism burdens the child with a life long obligation. It is nothing like a vaccination or what school a child attends or what toothbrush to use. These other decisions pale in comparison to baptism. I don’t agree with baptism because I don’t believe one person has the right to obligate another person in such a manner. I think it is immoral to over reach in that manner. But that is just me. I am agnostic.

 

[Gorgias]

Baptism burdens the child with a life long obligation.

No. It formalizes the acceptance of a relationship which we are all, as human persons, obligated to have with God.

Your way of looking at it is kinda like saying, “when a doctor stimulates a baby to take his first breath (by slapping it, or whatever), then that doctor has burdened the child with a life long obligation (to breathe).”

We would answer, “no, the person already has the obligation to breathe… the doctor just starts him on the path of fulfilling that obligation.”

 

[MeInMississippi]

To confirm that you are indeed a child of God, that you believe in your baptismal promises and can answer for yourself now as an adult member of the church.

 

[JimG]

One could, I suppose, delay Baptism until the child is old enough to decide which religion he will follow. One could also delay teaching the child to speak until he is old enough to decide which languag he prefers, or any number of other things. But to take the early step of inducting the child into a life of God’s grace and releiving him from the burden of original sin seems to me a great blessing.