Baptising a Healthy Fetus

  • Thread starter Thread starter PointBreak
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
P

PointBreak

Guest
Curious…

If, as Catholics, we truly believe that life begins at conception, why do we not baptise a fetus upon knowledge of the pregnancy?

Seems odd that we go way out of our way to insist on protecting a life from inception, and preach it to anyone who will listen, but then wait untill a child is born to baptise it. What makes it more worthy or in need of delivery from original sin outside the womb than in? I have heard of people baptising a miscarried child…why not a new life that’s healthy? What does a baby on this side of the womb have that one on the inside doesn’t, in terms of a soul?

Maybe it’s the dumbest question ever, but I don’t know the answer to it, so I thought I’d ask.
 
I think for baptism by water to work the water actually has to touch the recipient.
 
PointBreak said:
Curious…

If, as Catholics, we truly believe that life begins at conception, why do we not baptise a fetus upon knowledge of the pregnancy?

Seems odd that we go way out of our way to insist on protecting a life from inception, and preach it to anyone who will listen, but then wait untill a child is born to baptise it. What makes it more worthy or in need of delivery from original sin outside the womb than in? I have heard of people baptising a miscarried child…why not a new life that’s healthy? What does a baby on this side of the womb have that one on the inside doesn’t, in terms of a soul?

Maybe it’s the dumbest question ever, but I don’t know the answer to it, so I thought I’d ask.
Click to expand...
Since Baptism involves pouring water on the head, just how do you propose to do that??

I must say though that I read the ethics book from the Catholic hospital where I once worked and there was provision for baptism while baby was still in the birth canal if there was a possibility that it wouldn’t survive the birth.
 
PointBreak said:
Curious…

If, as Catholics, we truly believe that life begins at conception, why do we not baptise a fetus upon knowledge of the pregnancy?

Maybe it’s the dumbest question ever, but I don’t know the answer to it, so I thought I’d ask.
Click to expand...
The water of baptism must be poured over the person to be baptized. That is not possible while they reside in the womb.

Remember, Christ instituted the Sacraments-- and he specified the pouring of water in the Trinitarian formula.
 
PointBreak said:
Curious…

If, as Catholics, we truly believe that life begins at conception, why do we not baptise a fetus upon knowledge of the pregnancy?

Seems odd that we go way out of our way to insist on protecting a life from inception, and preach it to anyone who will listen, but then wait untill a child is born to baptise it. What makes it more worthy or in need of delivery from original sin outside the womb than in? I have heard of people baptising a miscarried child…why not a new life that’s healthy? What does a baby on this side of the womb have that one on the inside doesn’t, in terms of a soul?

Maybe it’s the dumbest question ever, but I don’t know the answer to it, so I thought I’d ask.
Click to expand...
You could as long as you can physically pour water over the child, coming in contact with the childs skin, while saying the words of Baptism.
 
Phemie said:
Since Baptism involves pouring water on the head, just how do you propose to do that??

I must say though that I read the ethics book from the Catholic hospital where I once worked and there was provision for baptism while baby was still in the birth canal if there was a possibility that it wouldn’t survive the birth.
Click to expand...
Yes, as long as you can physically reach some part of the child. Generally a conditional Baptism would be celebrated later by pouring water over the head or immersion. Attempting Baptism on a habd or foot is considered questionable.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
Yes, as long as you can physically reach some part of the child. Generally a conditional Baptism would be celebrated later by pouring water over the head or immersion. Attempting Baptism on a habd or foot is considered questionable.
Click to expand...
And to get really legalistic, considering the fact that the child at that point is still liberally covered with vernix, a fatty subtance, the chances that water will even reach the skin are, well, maybe 50/50.
 
PointBreak said:
Curious…

If, as Catholics, we truly believe that life begins at conception, why do we not baptise a fetus upon knowledge of the pregnancy?

Seems odd that we go way out of our way to insist on protecting a life from inception, and preach it to anyone who will listen, but then wait untill a child is born to baptise it. What makes it more worthy or in need of delivery from original sin outside the womb than in? I have heard of people baptising a miscarried child…why not a new life that’s healthy? What does a baby on this side of the womb have that one on the inside doesn’t, in terms of a soul?

Maybe it’s the dumbest question ever, but I don’t know the answer to it, so I thought I’d ask.
Click to expand...
When I was protestant I heard a preacher say that a child in the womb was covered under the mother’s baptism until they were born, (first breath/cord cut) at which time they were independent souls. They would then need to be baptized. This is taken from an old belief that the soul comes into the body at the first breath.

There may be something to that.

I think you must have life to need baptism. A still born child or miscarried child would not need to be baptized because during their ‘life’ they were covered under their mother’s baptism. There was no life for them outside of the mother, so no need for baptism.
They are good and are with the Lord.
 
Altesse said:
When I was protestant I heard a preacher say that a child in the womb was covered under the mother’s baptism until they were born, (first breath/cord cut) at which time they were independent souls. They would then need to be baptized. This is taken from an old belief that the soul comes into the body at the first breath.

There may be something to that.

I think you must have life to need baptism. A still born child or miscarried child would not need to be baptized because during their ‘life’ they were covered under their mother’s baptism. There was no life for them outside of the mother, so no need for baptism.
They are good and are with the Lord.
Click to expand...
I’m glad that it was a Protestant minister that thought that. Since it is a major theological derailment and incomaptable with Catholic belief.
 
Altesse said:
Why? What is the Catholic belief?
Click to expand...
One that sticks out is that there are two separate individual souls from the moment of conception. The Baptism of the mother has nothing to do with the state of Original sin of the baby. No there is no Baptism of Desire for unborn babies.
 
What sin does baptism of a new born baby wash away?

Is it the sin of conception or birth?

I’m having trouble coming up with the proper terminology.
 
LeahInancsi said:
What sin does baptism of a new born baby wash away?

Is it the sin of conception or birth?

I’m having trouble coming up with the proper terminology.
Click to expand...
Hi

Baptism clears us from original sin which we inherit from Adam and Eve.
 
**
Remember, Christ instituted the Sacraments-- and he specified the pouring of water in the Trinitarian formula.**

Please give Book, Chapter, and Verse where Jesus said to "pour water.

The Greek verb VAPTIZO means “immerse,” and Christian baptism derived from the Jewish rite of Mikveh, which involves to this day total immersion–three times, in fact! 🙂
 
LeahInancsi said:
What sin does baptism of a new born baby wash away?

Is it the sin of conception or birth?

I’m having trouble coming up with the proper terminology.
Click to expand...
For a new born baby, Baptism only washes away Original Sin. They have no personal sin to wash away.
 
bpbasilphx said:
**
Remember, Christ instituted the Sacraments-- and he specified the pouring of water in the Trinitarian formula.**

Please give Book, Chapter, and Verse where Jesus said to "pour water.

The Greek verb VAPTIZO means “immerse,” and Christian baptism derived from the Jewish rite of Mikveh, which involves to this day total immersion–three times, in fact! 🙂
Click to expand...
Try the Didache - The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles chapter 7.
 
An infant can have no baptism of desire.

What about baptism of blood? Regardless of miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion, there is always blood. Isn’t the baptism of blood the explanation for the canonization of the Holy Innocents, those children murdered by Herod’s dictate following the birth of Christ?

And, of course, I rely ultimately on the infinite mercy of God.
 
IrishAm said:
An infant can have no baptism of desire.

What about baptism of blood? Regardless of miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion, there is always blood. Isn’t the baptism of blood the explanation for the canonization of the Holy Innocents, those children murdered by Herod’s dictate following the birth of Christ?

And, of course, I rely ultimately on the infinite mercy of God.
Click to expand...
Baptism of blood is about giving your life for Christ. Can’t think of too many ways that an unborn baby would accomplish that.
 
Baptism is how we are born again by water and spirit. It doesn’'t seem theologically correct to be baptized before birth.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top