No, a Catholic should not be part of a baptism in which Catholics are rejecting the Catholic faith and pledging to bring their child up in sect such as Presbyterianism.
I think that one of my ‘Examination of Conscience’ asks if you have participated or witnessed a baptism of another faith, so I would take this to mean that it’s a bad idea. Moreover, it could give rise to scandal, as any fallen away Catholics will think that the faithful Catholics think it’s a wise decision. Of course this might be one of those prudential decisions, but I would not take part.
Actually, only Trinitarian baptisms are valid, and even then only those who have the same understanding of the Trinity as we do. For example, Mormons baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, but since their understanding of the Trinity is soooooo wrong, their baptisms are not valid. I know because I had to be baptized when I became Catholic since they didn’t hold the Mormon baptism to be valid
then it is hardly a Prestbyterian party, it is a party evidently given by Catholics to celebrate the fact of rejecting their own religion, which is how it comes off in our description. No an honest practicing Catholic cannot attend such a celebration nor can they attend the baptism of a child of Catholic parents in a Presbyterian Church by a Presbyterian minister. The Catholic could however attend a Presbyterian Baptism and a party to celebrate it, which would be an event where the child of Presbyterian parents is baptized in that church.
not mormon or jehova baptism. a baptism is only valid if it utilizes the trinitarian formula (ie "i baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Gohst)
This was kinda what I was thinking about. The parents of this child were both brought up Catholic as the intention of their parents and received the sacraments within the Catholic Church. They recently got married outside the Catholic Church by a JP and now, one year after having a child announce this event to the family. Most of my family is fallen away and even some that say they are Catholic gave up going to mass on Sundays. My parents tend to be supportive that although they are fallen away, at least they are now getting their kid baptized by some kinda Church that believes in Jesus. They say its a good start. I wasn’t too thrilled though about the after party though. It’s as if we are now celebrating that it’s ok to simply reject your Catholic faith and not turn a blind eye to it.
yes it is but that is not the issue of this thread
Good family relations are important, and we shouldn'r let differences between, say, Presbyterianism and Catholicism cause family ruptures. That was the pre-Vatican view, when it was a big 'sin' to even enter a Protestant church. This sort of policy seemed to be based on bitterness and bigotry, a clear contradiction to the message of Christ. Remember how he chose a Samaritan, a man of a different faith, as the hero in one of his most beloved parables? That should tell us something.