baptism

[H_Opey]

What are the laws/rules regading a couple who is in an invalid marriage (married in Catholic Church, divorced and married outside without annulment) and the sacraments of their children? Are they free to baptize any children from this marriage although they can not participate in the sacraments?

 

[Michael_Welter]

H Opey:

Are they free to baptize any children from this marriage although they can not participate in the sacraments?

Absolutely! It’s not the children’s fault that the parents are in an invalid marriage. The children may be raised, fully participating in the life of the Church.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

H Opey:

What are the laws/rules regading a couple who is in an invalid marriage (married in Catholic Church, divorced and married outside without annulment) and the sacraments of their children? Are they free to baptize any children from this marriage although they can not participate in the sacraments?

Generally the parents must be active Catholics at least attending Mass even though they cannot receive the Sacraments. This forms the basis of meeting the requirement of intending to raise the child in the Catholic Faith. Unless there is some basis to believe that the child will be brought to Mass and be raised in the Faith, the Baptism should be delayed.

 

[Pug]

It would be good to baptize the child and raise the child Catholic. This is part of a Catholic parent’s duty. It is a good idea for them to approach their local priest and talk to him about getting the child baptized (and they may need to discuss other issues). However, it can end up that the priest would delay doing it if he saw no current, decent hope of the child growing up being raised Catholic.

 

[BlestOne]

I unfortunately was one of these parents…I was married outside of the church and we attended mass regularly so I was allowed to have my son baptized. My pastor gave me alot of grief and insisted on signing my maiden name only to the baptismal certificate. I have since come to understand and agree with what he said and did.