Baptizing deceased infants

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I recently became aware of a practice of baptizing infants who have died. The most recent occurrence was at the burial of a 15 day old baby who had died. Is this licit or proper? Is this a form of conditional baptism? How does this work? Thanks for any elicidation.
 
If the infant has just been declared dead there is nothing wrong with baptizing him/her since we cannot know exactly when the soul leaves the body, but several minutes to several days later wouldn’t be illicit and invalid, AFAIK. Are you sure the baby’s body wasn’t just being blessed before burial?
 
The baby’s body had been autopsied, so the ‘baptism’ was not right after death. The blessing had been intended, but apparently the priest made a different decision, decalring that he was going to baptise the baby and proceeded to do so. Beats me.
 
I believe that it is forbidden to Baptize after death is certain. If someone arrives within fifteen and twenty minutes since the person appeared to die conditional Baptism can be administered.
 
Thank you. That is what I expected but appreciate confirmation.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
I believe that it is forbidden to Baptize after death is certain. If someone arrives within fifteen and twenty minutes since the person appeared to die conditional Baptism can be administered.
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I know several prolife Catholic nurses who used to regularly baptize aborted babies in the hospitals they worked at. Long ago, they stopped working at hospitals that perform abortions, but they said it is a common practice among Catholic nurses.
 
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paramedicgirl:
I know several prolife Catholic nurses who used to regularly baptize aborted babies in the hospitals they worked at. Long ago, they stopped working at hospitals that perform abortions, but they said it is a common practice among Catholic nurses.
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I would think that the Baptisms took place within minutes of when the child was killed. The problem would be however that Canon Law requires them to register the Emergency Baptisms with the local parish church. I would bet that they did not do this.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
I would think that the Baptisms took place within minutes of when the child was killed. The problem would be however that Canon Law requires them to register the Emergency Baptisms with the local parish church. I would bet that they did not do this.
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Would that invalidate the baptisms if they didn’t register them?
 
Bro. Rich. My cousin had a child that died in childbirth back in the late 60s. Back then father’s were kept in a waiting room. They called him and notified him. The priest chaplain of the hospital had already gone home. He baptized his child then and there (he, like I went to a Catholic high school and knew what to do). First question: I have been taught since childhood that since we are all part of the priesthood of believers, in an emergency situation, we could baptize. In the aftermath of loosing a child, I can be fairly certain that it would not have occurred to him to report the baptism to his parish. Does this invalidate the baptism?

Second question. My wife miscarried at two months and four months (2 children). Needless to say they kept me out of the picture entirely (and BTW there is a young father suffering tonight on these threads from the loss of a child). What takes precedence here? Canon law or the grief and desire of the parent(s)?

Hrolf
 
Dr. Bombay:
Would that invalidate the baptisms if they didn’t register them?
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No. But it is a violation of Canon Law to not do so when one can.
 
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brotherhrolf:
Bro. Rich. My cousin had a child that died in childbirth back in the late 60s. Back then father’s were kept in a waiting room. They called him and notified him. The priest chaplain of the hospital had already gone home. He baptized his child then and there (he, like I went to a Catholic high school and knew what to do). First question: I have been taught since childhood that since we are all part of the priesthood of believers, in an emergency situation, we could baptize. In the aftermath of loosing a child, I can be fairly certain that it would not have occurred to him to report the baptism to his parish. Does this invalidate the baptism?

Second question. My wife miscarried at two months and four months (2 children). Needless to say they kept me out of the picture entirely (and BTW there is a young father suffering tonight on these threads from the loss of a child). What takes precedence here? Canon law or the grief and desire of the parent(s)?

Hrolf
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Not registering the Baptism does not invalidate the Baptism.

A child lost to miscarriage should be Baptized when possible. We are in a situation when many non-Catholic doctors and nurses couldn’t care less about emergency Baptism. This is why expectant parents must make their religious views and expectations very clear to those caring for the mother. It is a good idea to call your priest when rushing to the hospital when something happens. Or have a good trustworthy Catholic friend who is somewhat detached from the situation take care of these details for them. Sometimes we do get occupied with the physical well-being of our loved ones to the exclusion of their Spiritual well-being.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
No. But it is a violation of Canon Law to not do so when one can.
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If the nurses, who are acting in good faith, are unaware of the requirement to register the emergency baptism of an aborted baby, have they still violated Canon law? What if they are aware? What is the penalty?
 
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