Baptism Wait 15 Months

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promarx

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I have a serious question. My daughter is 10 years old and we live in a small town. She hasn’t been baptized and is new to the faith. I inquired about getting her baptized. They informed me that she is going to have to wait until Easter 2020 to be baptized. They also told me they have made exceptions to this rule, this year, but won’t make anymore exceptions because Father will be put on the Bishop’s “radar.” Any thoughts and/or comments appreciated.
 
In some places, for older children (say, 7-17), they want them to go through RCIC classes. Then everyone who’s been through RCIA/RCIC gets their sacraments in a large group at Easter.

The first day of Lent is March 6th, and Easter is April 21st. So there’s probably not enough time to get her catechized to join in with this year’s round of candidates. Therefore, it’s likely she’ll have to do her formation classes and undergo her sacraments in 2020.

When you have infant baptism, the parents make the decisions on the child’s behalf, and the child isn’t expected to contribute or agree. However, once you’ve hit the age of reason, I suspect they want people to understand what’s going on. In Orthodoxy, for example, you have three sacraments going on at the same time-- Baptism, Chrismation, and Communion. But for Catholics, they have more separation, and one leads to another— Baptism first, then Confession, then Communion, then Confirmation. But when you go through RCIC/RCIA, several of these all happen for the first time at the same Mass-- because the candidates are usually more mature than if they were cradle Catholics.
 
Children over the age of reason (usually 7 or 8) along non-Baptised adults go through a process called RCIA/C (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults/Children).
They go through a period of catechesis (usually a year or 2) and then are Baptised, Confirmed and receive First Eucharist at the Easter Vigil.
 
This is something where you need to speak to someone other than “they”.

New to the Faith, why was she not received when her parent(s) came into the Church?

Your Diocese has a published policy WRT RCIA. The Bishop determines how long the RCIA process is to be, but, not everyone comes in through RCIA. The Bishop may permit private instruction, this is most often left to the discretion of the pastor.

“They” hinting that your pastor has done something wrong is cause for concern. Talk to the Office of Religious Education at your Diocese.
 
However, it is a pastoral decision. People also come in through private instruction.
 
Right, and apparently the Pastor said no, so the answer is RCIC.
 
I am presuming, as others said, that your daughter is expected to be taking Catholic instruction and preparing during the 15 months. If that’s the case, it seems reasonable to me, especially since you said she is new to the faith.
 
TheLittleLady said:
“They” hinting that your pastor has done something wrong is cause for concern. Talk to the Office of Religious Education at your Diocese.
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I believe this is a bit premature. In my opinion advising people to go the the diocese when they don’t understand something isn’t a good idea. There is a very logical reason “they” told her it would be Easter 2020. Midori gave a great answer.

There are times when it is appropriate to contact the diocese over a concern, but this isn’t one of them.
 
I would say when “they” hint that the pastor is doing something untoward, it is absolutely time to talk to the Diocese.
 
He was. By not following the rules set forth for RCIC.

In the US, it is pretty standard that children over the age of reason are brought into the Church through RCIC.

Instead of calling the diocese, Mom needs to talk to her Pastor and the director of faith formation.
 
Speak to Father personally if you really want but if no more acceptions will truly be made then you just have to wait. It’s as simple as that. I had to wait a similar amount of time when I wanted to become Baptized. It’s not the end of the world. Do you know what “Baptism of desire” is? If not look it up.

10 is a age that catechesis is needed before Baptism can be done, generally speaking.
 
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May I ask why the delay for Baptism…I understand RCIA for confession and confirmation and taking the Eucharist but not for Baptism.

Thanks for any insight.
 
One reason is that baptism in the Catholic Church extends certain obligations to the recipient of the sacrament, such as the necessity to marry in the Church (is, in a Catholoc church, not necessarily to a Catholic).
 
Pattylt said:
May I ask why the delay for Baptism…I understand RCIA for confession and confirmation and taking the Eucharist but not for Baptism.
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Adults are generally baptized at the Easter Vigil after a year or more of preparation. So this is the norm. Adults also receive all the sacraments of initiation at once, not over a period of years as children do.
 
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She’s 10 years old so I don’t think that’s the reason here. May I ask what other rights may apply to her?

I’d be afraid if she suddenly died. Yes, I know the baptism of desire would apply and an emergency Baptism could be given by anyone in that circumstance so I’m trying to understand why the delay.
Thanks again!
 
Pattylt said:
She’s 10 years old so I don’t think that’s the reason here
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Hmmm? Just because she’s only 10 years old now doesn’t mean she’s not going to get older and marry someday 😉
Pattylt said:
the baptism of desire would apply and an emergency Baptism could be given by anyone in that circumstance so I’m trying to understand why the delay.
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Baptism of desire or emergency baptism both reduce the need for hurry.

I myself do not know more specific reasons for insuring that someone over the age of knows what they are getting into before they are baptized, but the Church does not permit forced conversion, which the Church would consider this to be as the child is over the age of reason.
 
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promarx said:
They informed me that she is going to have to wait until Easter 2020 to be baptized.
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Well, who are “they”?

Your daughter is over the age of reason, and therefore is not baptized as an infant but an adult. Which means she asks for it and makes a profession of faith herself, not you her parents.

This requires pre baptismal catechesis, hence the general timeframe and the baptism at Easter (as per RCIA rubrics).
promarx said:
They also told me they have made exceptions to this rule, this year, but won’t make anymore exceptions because Father will be put on the Bishop’s “radar.”
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Well, since this is ultimately a pastoral decision there is no radar to be put on. Frankly, this sounds like someone blowing smoke.
promarx said:
Any thoughts and/or comments appreciated.
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Yes, make an appointment with your pastor (not anyone else), bring your daughter, let father interview her, and discuss your concerns.
 
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Ok, I guess I just am failing to understand. I thought she wanted Baptism? So, no coercion there and she won’t be marrying in the next 15 months. I’m not trying to argue, I’m trying to understand.

If anyone else can enlighten me I’d appreciate it. I’ll add that the desire and emergency scenario does make some sense but that’s a bit risky to me?
 
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