Baptism and Dedication?

[mrsfernie]

Hi, I’m new to this thread. Just joined today

My husband and I have been asked to be godparents for my brother in law’s baby. My brother-in law’s wife is not Catholic and has been openly questioning of the Catholic faith. We were surprised that their baby would be baptized in the Church and honored that they asked us!! We are active in our parish and we spoke with our Priest, who told us about how to get our marriage convalidated. We have done all of the paperwork and our ceremony is scheduled to take place in a couple of weeks.

However, today, we received an invitation to attend our nephew’s “dedication” which is scheduled to occur next weekend. I’m not sure what to think of this invitation. I believe that when you have a baptism in the Catholic Church, you are making a promise to God to raise your child in that faith. However, the dedication is scheduled to take place at a Calvary Temple Worship Center and the invitation says, “Please come join us as we celebrate the entrance of our son into God’s family”. I’m so confused… Is it acceptable to have a dedication and a baptism?

 

[andrewstx]

I can see one or two things happening. Perhaps they won’t have the child baptised, or maybe the child will be baptised for the Catholic parent, and dedicated for the evangelical parent.

I converted from an evangelical church that taught infant baptism but did not practice it. Many evangelicals don’t believe in baptising babies and prefer adult baptism by submerrsion.

 

[SonCatcher]

Hi, I’m new to this thread. Just joined today

My husband and I have been asked to be godparents for my brother in law’s baby. My brother-in law’s wife is not Catholic and has been openly questioning of the Catholic faith. We were surprised that their baby would be baptized in the Church and honored that they asked us!! We are active in our parish and we spoke with our Priest, who told us about how to get our marriage convalidated. We have done all of the paperwork and our ceremony is scheduled to take place in a couple of weeks.

However, today, we received an invitation to attend our nephew’s “dedication” which is scheduled to occur next weekend. I’m not sure what to think of this invitation. I believe that when you have a baptism in the Catholic Church, you are making a promise to God to raise your child in that faith. However, the dedication is scheduled to take place at a Calvary Temple Worship Center and the invitation says, “Please come join us as we celebrate the entrance of our son into God’s family”. I’m so confused… Is it acceptable to have a dedication and a baptism?

It’s probably a stock quote for the invitation. The boy’s baptism is his entrance into God’s family, naturally. The “dedication” they plan is their expression to his mother’s community that they intend to raise their child in God’s ways.

 

[R_C]

I do not think we should participate into such activities, for many excellent reasons. We are talking of an event by a Pentecostal denomination. You may want to read this article: Catholic and Pentecostal Relations, by Fr. Juan Usma Gómez, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

With regard to Catholics, this Movement has retained its negative attitude: the identification of Rome with Babylon, inherited from the Reformation, has not entirely disappeared.

Please do ask your priest, he’ll be able to explain

P.s.: please do make sure about what’s going on here…if the baptism is not in the Catholic Church, you may not be allowed to participate actively.

 

[mrsfernie]

Thank you for your responses. My husband and I actually have an appointment scheduled to meet with our priest tomorrow for a last minute discussion before our convalidation ceremony. I’m looking forward to talking to him about the pre-baptism dedication.

 

[R_C]

And congratulations for your convalidation!!!

 

[crimsonglory]

Coming from a protestant church, to clearify terms: a dedication is simply a prayer of Thanksgiving & blessing, no water involved.

I guess your dilemma is: Do you go and support your in-laws commitment to bring the child up in the ways of God? (Recognizing/acknowledging that the ceremony is less than ideal)
or
do you refuse to go to ‘set the example’ (as a means of protesting the fact that it isn’t a “baptism.”)?

Well first of all, you must of course - go with your own personal convictions. Irregardless of what you choose, God will give you an opportunity to witness here.

Either by your presence, where no doubt you’ll have opportunity to bring up YOUR beliefs on baptism (subtly) and of course the stepping stone to being a part of this child’s faith formation.
or
by the confrontation from your lack of presence. (whereby your witness will first have to gain credibility over their hurt.) Keeping in mind, if there’s a particular sensitivity pre-existing your lack of presence will be only another dividing chasm to overcome.

Personally, I would go… and make a point to encourage the parents (and suggest to them about water baptism).

But that’s just me.

I think part of the problem right now in bringing others home, is the sense of animosity between the two groups (Protestant and Catholic), and as the old saying goes: “People don’t care how much you know - until they know how much you care.”

I speak from experience, because I myself am considering on changing to Catholic. In discerning that, and trying to understand things of Spiritual nature, I find it very difficult to give any credit to someone who comes across as a biggot.

A lot to think about.
I will be praying for you as you try to decide.

Blessings!

 

[Vico]

Coming from a protestant church, to clearify terms: a dedication is simply a prayer of Thanksgiving & blessing, no water involved.

I guess your dilemma is: Do you go and support your in-laws commitment to bring the child up in the ways of God? (Recognizing/acknowledging that the ceremony is less than ideal)
or
do you refuse to go to ‘set the example’ (as a means of protesting the fact that it isn’t a “baptism.”)?

Well first of all, you must of course - go with your own personal convictions. Irregardless of what you choose, God will give you an opportunity to witness here.

Either by your presence, where no doubt you’ll have opportunity to bring up YOUR beliefs on baptism (subtly) and of course the stepping stone to being a part of this child’s faith formation.
or
by the confrontation from your lack of presence. (whereby your witness will first have to gain credibility over their hurt.) Keeping in mind, if there’s a particular sensitivity pre-existing your lack of presence will be only another dividing chasm to overcome.

Personally, I would go… and make a point to encourage the parents (and suggest to them about water baptism).

But that’s just me.

I think part of the problem right now in bringing others home, is the sense of animosity between the two groups (Protestant and Catholic), and as the old saying goes: “People don’t care how much you know - until they know how much you care.”

I speak from experience, because I myself am considering on changing to Catholic. In discerning that, and trying to understand things of Spiritual nature, I find it very difficult to give any credit to someone who comes across as a biggot.

A lot to think about.
I will be praying for you as you try to decide.

Blessings!

Animosity is ill will whereas the reverse is charity. It is charity that is practiced when avoiding to lead others into sin (avoiding the giving of scandal). So if a person motivated by love (of God and neighbor) avoids giving scandal, it is good. That could be misinterpreted as an uncharitable rejection, but that interpretation may be judgmental (an overly critical point of view).

 

[R_C]

I mean, personally, as a member of the Church of Christ, I’d rather avoid supporting a community which is called, unless I’m wrong, “a megachurch affiliated with the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, a group of about 140 autonomous but loosely associated national groupings of churches which together form the world’s largest Pentecostal denomination”. Sure, all Christians are our brothers, no argument against that. But after all we must seek that they return in full community with the Church, and assisting to their events and going is not going to help.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Yes, you are correct that an infant baptism is a promise to raise the child as a Catholic. The Protestant ‘dedication’ may be harmless or it may be indicative of indecision. This is something to discuss your pastor.

 

[crimsonglory]

Yes, you are correct that an infant baptism is a promise to raise the child as a Catholic. The Protestant ‘dedication’ may be harmless or it may be indicative of indecision. This is something to discuss your pastor.

In my experience, I don’t believe it’s indicative of indecision.
In fact, I “know” it’s not.
Again, I speak from “experience.” I’ve been part of a church/ecumenical community which doesn’t endorse child water baptism.

Dedication ceremonies are again for two purposes:
1.) a ceremony of ‘thanksgiving’ that God has entrusted the gift of a child into the care of the parents.

and/or (NOTICE - it can be either one or the other, or both; depending upon parent’s intentions)

2.) a ceremony whereby the parents & congregation (ie-church family) commit to raise that child in the Christian church.

I’m NOT actually “defending” this belief. I’m merely explaining it. I actually agree with child baptism. I think it’s a beautiful & meaningful thing.

Ironically, I myself was baptized as a baby - in the protestant church, using the trinitarian formula. I guess in essence that makes me part of the Catholic church (“unofficially” of course.) Would it be recognized in the Catholic church? Hmmmm… I’m not sure. Maybe I need to ask that question.

If I decide to convert to Catholicism, I “think” I’d like to be re-baptized. If for no other reason, so that I would have assurance.
sorry to get off topic

 

[SonCatcher]

Ironically, I myself was baptized as a baby - in the protestant church, using the trinitarian formula. I guess in essence that makes me part of the Catholic church (“unofficially” of course.) Would it be recognized in the Catholic church? Hmmmm… I’m not sure. Maybe I need to ask that question.

If I decide to convert to Catholicism, I “think” I’d like to be re-baptized. If for no other reason, so that I would have assurance.
sorry to get off topic

If your description of your baptism is accurate, then it would be accepted. The only way the Catholic Church might have you conditionally baptized is if** (a)** there is no physical record of your baptism *and *(b) testimony regarding the conditions of your baptism gives the priest and/or bishop sufficient reason to doubt its validity. You cannot request a conditional baptism.

 

[R_C]

Ironically, I myself was baptized as a baby - in the protestant church, using the trinitarian formula. I guess in essence that makes me part of the Catholic church (“unofficially” of course.) Would it be recognized in the Catholic church? Hmmmm… I’m not sure. Maybe I need to ask that question. If I decide to convert to Catholicism, I “think” I’d like to be re-baptized. If for no other reason, so that I would have assurance.

Hey, that’s wonderful news!! It may be a perfectly valid sacramental baptism, recognized as such by the Catholic Church!

Make sure to explain it with details when in RCIA, because they need to determine if the Baptism was valid, given that the Church is not allowed to re-baptize!

Ever since the early days, we believe in one baptism, and specifically the Concilium Tridentinum specified as an infallible (de fide) teaching that it is forbidden to baptize a person who is already baptized, because Baptism imprints “a character, that is, an indelible spiritual mark, and for this reason cannot be repeated”.

Now, when there is uncertainty, the Church allows a “conditional” baptism with words such as “If you are not yet baptized…”. You can find out more, for instance here