Baptism and nothing else?

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I’m curious to know what you all think. In my generation (I’m 42), and my culture (Mexican American), there seems to be a very common trend: That of parents insisting on baptizing their babies with no intention of becoming attached to a parish. On many of the mom’s online groups that I’m a part of, I see so many requests by those wanting to find a church that will allow them to have a baptism with one non-Catholic parent, one non-practicing parent, and godparents who haven’t been to church in “yeeeaaarrrs” (quote from one actual post). What gives? What is the point of baptizing a child under such circumstances!?
 
virgo said:
I’m curious to know what you all think. In my generation (I’m 42), and my culture (Mexican American), there seems to be a very common trend: That of parents insisting on baptizing their babies with no intention of becoming attached to a parish. On many of the mom’s online groups that I’m a part of, I see so many requests by those wanting to find a church that will allow them to have a baptism with one non-Catholic parent, one non-practicing parent, and godparents who haven’t been to church in “yeeeaaarrrs” (quote from one actual post). What gives? What is the point of baptizing a child under such circumstances!?
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There is no guarantee of salvation from receiving baptism. If the parents do nothing to raise their children in the faith, how can they expect it to lead to final repentance?
 
They must think that will assure the salvation of their children. And while I don’t think that we should discourage baptism, one the requirements is that the parents raise the children catholic…

I wish that at baptisms, they would tell the parents of the duty to raise there children catholic (and practice the faith themselves).
 
Blessings
We, on the recriving side of the church,
want Baptism to forgive Original sin. Who do you know is living purely, walking w God? Some of us walk w God in our terms. I’m getting drunk this week end! How many are together and not married? How many cheat? You know what I mean. I’m overweight. That is a sin.
It will be the church that tells them in the Baptism class, they have to be part of the church. Why are they staying away? The church makes it tough to live in the world. In your grandparents day, there was modesty. There were manners. How do we let our kids dress like they do. Why do we let our kids date in teen age.?? That is so wrong! What good comes out of it. How many Bibles and Rosaries are in the family? Is anybody praying together?
That’s why, they are desperate for a priest to Baptize.
On your blog, can you challenge them to get back in church and harness teenagers?
We have to make going to church fun. Pot luck suppers. List of babysitters? Practical things the community needs.?
In Christ’s Love
Tweedlealice
 
In my experience non-practicing folk tend to baptise a) To get their child into a Catholic school, b) A right of passage, c) To please granny
 
D. Or to give the baby it´s name! 🤨

My parish priest have said to an unknown Catholic? couple with a baby, who just showed up to have the baby baptised right then and there, that he wanted them to go to Mass every Sunday for the next three months and during that time they would talk about what baptism in the Catholic Church means.
 
That too, maybe it ties in with the right of passage though. Secular/humanist naming ceremonies are becoming more common in the UK so maybe we will start to see fewer non-practicing parents seeking Catholic baptism.
 
They all come back. Eventually, they all come back.
Leave it to the Holy Spirit.
 
At my church parents requesting baptism for a child must be registered, participating members of the parish for at least six months and are required, along with the godparents, to attend a baptism prep class to give them a good understanding of the meaning of the sacrament. Some probably don’t follow through with raising their chid in the faith, but I do believe that most do.
 
Cultural Catholics. Baptism is a culture.

Thinking that Baptism is some kind of magic/charm, which children should recieve.
 
It gets worse, most protestants I know don’t believe in Baptism, they dedicate children and choose baptism when they are adults although they don’t believe it does anything for them because they have already chosen Jesus and are on their way to heaven no matter what!
 
Maybe in a perfect Catholic world this happens, but it is not “standard practice”.

I know a couple of priests and Deacons who have been called out on the carpet for doing exactly this, and have been told to Baptize anyway.
 
This extends to many Hispanic cultures. Baptism for the children is like the predecessor of the Quincenera – these are many times family who may be culturally Catholic, but not practicing. Many Latina American countries who appear Catholic visually are no longer so.
 
Indulge me while I look at the other side of the issue.

The most important thing is that the child is baptized. The Child’s soul needs to be introduced to the Holy Spirit. Do not allow the sins of the parent to punish the innocent child for an eternity.

The baptism plants a tiny seed in the soul of the child. As Pianistclare noted, “They all come back. Eventually, they all come back. Leave it to the Holy Spirit.” If they are baptized, there is a far greater chance of them coming back than there is if they aren’t and the parents develop a major resentment against the church.

Thank you for indulging me.
 
Only because they offer little or no catechesis. The parents are practicing and going to Mass.
 
Well, sort of. You’re definitely right that they offer little to no catechesis. Although regarding the parents, many of them have either strayed or been misinformed and have misunderstood Pentecostalism for Catholicism. I think much of it may have come from Liberation Theology which flooded the Americas.
 
I think it came form Pentecostals going down there and harvesting member when there is a terrible priest shortage in South and Central Aaerica.
 
There are also canon law requirements WRT Baptismal Sponsors “Godparents”.
 
Tulitas—No, what I meant was that the parents of the baby are not practicing, but are culturally Catholic. This is so common within my culture and generation. Also—none of these people are associated with the Pentecostal or Protestant churches. They have only ever identified as Catholic.

Just wanted to clear up those misconceptions.
 
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