Baptism??

[Monicathree]

Can a couple married civily, yet one of them was nominally Catholic have their child baptised in the church. I ask cause I was that child. Here’s where it gets sticky…another question…
My mom and biological father, of whom I am speaking divorced.
My mom married my Dad (step- I just don’t consider him that, he is the man who raised and cared for me) were indeed married in the Catholic church. So they have a valid marriage, which would deem the previous marriage invalid…so where does that leave me and my baptism???

peace

 

[puzzleannie]

it is not required that the parents be married in the Church, or married at all to request baptism for their child, but they do have to give assurance and the priest must be reasonably sure that the child will be raised Catholic. He is justified in delaying (not denying) baptism until such assurance can be made. The godparents must be fully initiated adult Catholics in good standing, and if married, must be married in the Church. If you were baptized and all other conditions were in place your baptism is valid, your mother’s marital status is not a factor.

 

[Al_Masetti]

Where in the Catechism of the Catholic Church are the restrictions on infant baptism stated?

 

[Tonks40]

My husband and I were not married in the Church - our son is baptised.

(hoping to rectify the situation soon…please pray for us!)

 

[Seatuck]

Al Masetti:

Where in the Catechism of the Catholic Church are the restrictions on infant baptism stated?

It’s in Canon Law

Can. 868 §1 For an infant to be baptised lawfully it is required:

1° that the parents, or at least one of them, or the person who lawfully holds their place, give their consent;

2° that there be a well-founded hope that the child will be brought up in the catholic religion. If such hope is truly lacking, the baptism is, in accordance with the provisions of particular law, to be deferred and the parents advised of the reason for this.

Read the rest here:

deacons.net/Canon_Law/book_4.htm

 

[1ke]

Monicathree:

Can a couple married civily, yet one of them was nominally Catholic have their child baptised in the church.

Yes.

Monicathree:

My mom and biological father, of whom I am speaking divorced. My mom married my Dad (step- I just don’t consider him that, he is the man who raised and cared for me) were indeed married in the Catholic church.

By virtue of her current marriage being recognized and performed in the church, you can conclude that her marriage to your biological father was determined to be non-Sacramental, and therefore not binding until death. That in no way means it did not exist civilly.

Monicathree:

So they have a valid marriage, which would deem the previous marriage invalid…so where does that leave me and my baptism???

It has absolutely no bearing on you or your baptism. You are baptized and 100% Catholic. It is a common misconception that a decree of nullity has some impact on the children of the union (such as making them “illegitimate”). This is not true.

 

[1ke]

Al Masetti:

Where in the Catechism of the Catholic Church are the restrictions on infant baptism stated?

The Catechism does not govern Baptism, the Code of Canon Law does.

The regulations surrounding baptism can be found here:

Canon Law on Baptism

 

[gardenswithkids]

Monicathree:

…so where does that leave me and my baptism???

As I read some your other posts, you seem to be an adult who is practicing your Catholic faith. Wonderful! Even if your parents don’t practice their faith well, your infant baptism is still valid (assuming your baptism was done in the name of the Father, Son and Spirit.) Is that what concerned you?

We believe baptism is a first step in raising Christians. Without parents who practice the faith, a child may have greater difficulty reaching Christian maturity. While that child is given the graces of baptism, that grace entails certain responsibilities. To whom much is given, much will be required.

You don’t have to answer this here, but did you have the rest of the Sacraments of Initiation? Often baptised children who are raised by non-practicing Catholics don’t complete their catechesis and don’t recieve their First Holy Communion and/or Confirmation. If you never recieved either of those, I’d suggest you speak to someone at your parish about that.

 

[Monicathree]

Thank you all for your replies.

I actually became “fully Catholic” in 2002 after a very long and arduous journey that was heavily influenced by other faiths, esp. Mormon and Baptist. Talk about confused!!??! I was only baptized as a child and then totally unchurched. But, now like I said, Thanks Be to God, since 2002 Advent I received confirmation, Holy Eucharist and will make sure that my children are catechized properly.

I do have hope for my parents and it does comfort me that they have a sacramental marriage, so I know someday God willing they will be able to receive Holy Eucharist. They are just stubborn. They tell me oh we have you to pray and go to church for us.

peace