Can a catholic be godparent to a child baptized in a non-catholic christian church?

[Cassie]

HELP!

Dick (non-practicing catholic) and Jane (practicing Christian non-catholic) get married in the church where Jane is a longtime member. They have baby Sally and Jane plans to have her baptized in her church since she takes Sally to church and Dick doesn’t go to or have a church. Dick is relatively fine with that, but his mother is not.

Jane thinks it would be good if she chooses her sister (practicing Christian non-catholic) to be the godmother and have Dick choose who he wants for the godfather. He chooses his practicing catholic brother and he accepts. Jane would be fine with having Sally baptized in both churches, but Dick won’t research what he needs to do to make that happen and he hasn’t been to mass in a long time nor does he have a church.

1. Is it true that if Dick went to the Catholic Church about baptizing Sally, they probably would not because he is not validly married to Jane?
2. Is it true that a non-practicing catholic can’t just walk into any catholic church at any time and have his child baptized?
3. Is it true that if Dick goes back to church sometime in the future, Sally would be considered validly baptized there anyway?
4. Can a catholic be godparent to a child baptized in a non-catholic Christian church and participate in the ceremony?
5. Is it true that it’s not necessary to have a child baptized in both a catholic church and a non-catholic Christian church?
6. For Dick’s mother’s sake, should Jane do the research and setup with the Catholic Church for a baptism for their side of the family?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[1ke]

1. Is it true that if Dick went to the Catholic Church about baptizing Sally, they probably would not because he is not validly married to Jane?
2. Is it true that a non-practicing catholic can’t just walk into any catholic church at any time and have his child baptized?

Not necessarily, but probably. Canon Law states that the priest must have a “well founded hope” that the child will be raised Catholic. Being non-practicing, without a committment to return to the church or regularize the marriage would not give one much of a “well founded hope” at all.

It is at the discretion of the priest.

1. Is it true that if Dick goes back to church sometime in the future, Sally would be considered validly baptized there anyway?

The Church recognizes all baptisms in the Trinitarian form as valid. If at a future date the child and/or parents convert/revert to Catholicism, the child would not be baptized since she is already baptized. The child, if at an age of reason, would go through an RCIC process to become Catholic.

1. Can a catholic be godparent to a child baptized in a non-catholic Christian church and participate in the ceremony?

No. The can be a Christian witness, but not a Godparent.

1. Is it true that it’s not necessary to have a child baptized in both a catholic church and a non-catholic Christian church?

Not only is it “not necessary” it is “not possible”. Valid baptism can be conferred only once.

1. For Dick’s mother’s sake, should Jane do the research and setup with the Catholic Church for a baptism for their side of the family?

Not if you are meaning having the child baptized in both places, which is not possible per Canon Law.

 

[Crusader777]

Not necessarily, but probably. Canon Law states that the priest must have a “well founded hope” that the child will be raised Catholic. Being non-practicing, without a committment to return to the church or regularize the marriage would not give one much of a “well founded hope” at all.

It is at the discretion of the priest.

The Church recognizes all baptisms in the Trinitarian form as valid. If at a future date the child and/or parents convert/revert to Catholicism, the child would not be baptized since she is already baptized. The child, if at an age of reason, would go through an RCIC process to become Catholic.

No. The can be a Christian witness, but not a Godparent.

Not only is it “not necessary” it is “not possible”. Valid baptism can be conferred only once.

Not if you are meaning having the child baptized in both places, which is not possible per Canon Law.

Ummm…What he said!!!
From my understanding all that he said in his post is correct.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

HELP!

Dick (non-practicing catholic) and Jane (practicing Christian non-catholic) get married in the church where Jane is a longtime member. They have baby Sally and Jane plans to have her baptized in her church since she takes Sally to church and Dick doesn’t go to or have a church. Dick is relatively fine with that, but his mother is not.

Jane thinks it would be good if she chooses her sister (practicing Christian non-catholic) to be the godmother and have Dick choose who he wants for the godfather. He chooses his practicing catholic brother and he accepts. Jane would be fine with having Sally baptized in both churches, but Dick won’t research what he needs to do to make that happen and he hasn’t been to mass in a long time nor does he have a church.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

1. Is it true that if Dick went to the Catholic Church about baptizing Sally, they probably would not because he is not validly married to Jane?

They probably would not because of the fact that the child would most likely not be raised in the Catholic faith and Dick does not attend Mass or practice his Catholic faith. The ivalid Marriage is about 4th or 5th down the list.

1. Is it true that a non-practicing catholic can’t just walk into any catholic church at any time and have his child baptized?

That is correct.

1. Is it true that if Dick goes back to church sometime in the future, Sally would be considered validly baptized there anyway?

That would depend on the Church and the manner she was Baptized.

1. Can a catholic be godparent to a child baptized in a non-catholic Christian church and participate in the ceremony?

NO, a Catholic is prohinited from being a Godparent in a non-Catholic Baptism.

1. Is it true that it’s not necessary to have a child baptized in both a catholic church and a non-catholic Christian church?

It is not possible to have a child Baptized more than once. Baptism is received only once by anybody. The only instance would be a if a Baptism is known to be invalid, the person would be Baptized or the prior Baptism has severe doubts as to validity, the person would be conditionally Baptized.

1. For Dick’s mother’s sake, should Jane do the research and setup with the Catholic Church for a baptism for their side of the family?

It’s is Dick’s responsibility, Jane would not be able to do this for him.