Baptism of a child with atheist parents?

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DavidHume

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Has anyone participated or witnessed in a baptism with nonparticipating parents? The situation: both parents of the child are atheist, one set of grandparents is atheist, and the other set is Catholic.

It’s important to the one set of grandparents and the great-grandparents that the child be baptized. It doesn’t matter to the parents or the other grandparents one way or the other, for obvious reasons.

It seems to me that it would make life quite difficult for godparents that took their role seriously, since their teachings about Catholicism would likely be undercut at every turn by the child’s parents.

Does anyone have thoughts on the matter?
 
Did the parents agree to this baptism? If so they would have agreed to raise the child Catholic.

Without parental permission the baptism cannot take place under normal circmstances.
 
A child cannot be baptized unless at least one of the parents are Catholic and consent. Baptism means that the parents are prepared to bring the child up in the faith.
 
DavidHume said:
Has anyone participated or witnessed in a baptism with nonparticipating parents? The situation: both parents of the child are atheist, one set of grandparents is atheist, and the other set is Catholic.

It’s important to the one set of grandparents and the great-grandparents that the child be baptized. It doesn’t matter to the parents or the other grandparents one way or the other, for obvious reasons.

It seems to me that it would make life quite difficult for godparents that took their role seriously, since their teachings about Catholicism would likely be undercut at every turn by the child’s parents.

Does anyone have thoughts on the matter?
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You are probably correct. In this case the likelyhood that the child would be raised Catholic would be slim.
 
Jenny_Z said:
A child cannot be baptized unless at least one of the parents are Catholic and consent. Baptism means that the parents are prepared to bring the child up in the faith.
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A bit of clarification; you mean that a child cannot be baptized in the Catholic Church unless at least of the parents are Catholic and consent, right? 🙂

The OP begs the question, what if the sponsors are Catholic and the parents are atheist? Methinks the same criteria would apply. I guess the Almighty would impart his grace in any case, regardless of the lack of faith of the parents, no?

That’d be a tough call for the deacon or priest, knowing that the parents were atheist…but on the other hand, if they give their consent…
 
Newbie2 said:
A bit of clarification; you mean that a child cannot be baptized in the Catholic Church unless at least of the parents are Catholic and consent, right? 🙂

The OP begs the question, what if the sponsors are Catholic and the parents are atheist? Methinks the same criteria would apply. I guess the Almighty would impart his grace in any case, regardless of the lack of faith of the parents, no?

That’d be a tough call for the deacon or priest, knowing that the parents were atheist…but on the other hand, if they give their consent…
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Of course the Baptism would be valid and the child would receive the Grace.

But even though they consent, what is to prevent them from changing their mind since they are unbelievers themselves. At least a Catholic/Catholic or Catholic/Baptized non-Catholic have received the Grace of the Sacrament of Marriage which should assist them towards their childrens spiritual wellbeing.
 
Newbie2 said:
A bit of clarification; you mean that a child cannot be baptized in the Catholic Church unless at least of the parents are Catholic and consent, right? 🙂
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Of course, I figured that was a given. :rolleyes:
 
Even in my denomiantion, I could not dedicate my child before I accepted the Lord as my savior, so it should be with baptism the child.
 
DavidHume said:
Has anyone participated or witnessed in a baptism with nonparticipating parents? The situation: both parents of the child are atheist, one set of grandparents is atheist, and the other set is Catholic.

It’s important to the one set of grandparents and the great-grandparents that the child be baptized. It doesn’t matter to the parents or the other grandparents one way or the other, for obvious reasons.

It seems to me that it would make life quite difficult for godparents that took their role seriously, since their teachings about Catholicism would likely be undercut at every turn by the child’s parents.

Does anyone have thoughts on the matter?
Click to expand...
Only through the grace of God goes the child.
 
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