Can grandson be baptized?

[Harsalter]

And a Rosary a day from us can only help.

If any of you don’t mind, could you say at least one rosary for my grandchild and him becoming Catholic? I have another grandson recently born from another child. That will be a more difficult case, but we will do our best.

 

[SD_Catholic]

because canon law prohibits baptizing infants when there is no assurance they will be raised Catholic, and specifies that parents, no one else, bring the infant to the sacraments. In the case cited by OP, as explained several times, were the priest approached (and he has not been, yet) he would likely DELAY not deny baptism. the question has been answered. if you want an apologetics discussion on baptism in general, reference the past threads.

After reading from the Catholic Ency. it appears the only time a priest shouldn’t baptize a child is if it goes against the wishes of the non-Catholic parents (because of parental rights). If the parents agree to it ( which they have) then it is allowed and I would imagine encouraged. I would think this child has a better chance of growing up Catholic than some children born to non-practicing Catholic parents…

I would definitely ask the priest and if allowed get them baptized sooner than later. It is too special of a sacrament to just wait on… Good Luck!!!

SD

 

[stbruno]

After reading from the Catholic Ency. it appears the only time a priest shouldn’t baptize a child is if it goes against the wishes of the non-Catholic parents (because of parental rights). If the parents agree to it ( which they have) then it is allowed and I would imagine encouraged. I would think this child has a better chance of growing up Catholic than some children born to non-practicing Catholic parents…

I would definitely ask the priest and if allowed get them baptized sooner than later. It is too special of a sacrament to just wait on… Good Luck!!!

A priest reminded us that Baptism bestows many graces however it is not a magic bullet to ensure heaven for anyone. It opens the door…but to walk through it we must live a life that Jesus has taught us. And to do that we must not only have the knowledge or catechesis, but we must follow in word, deed and action. Without having someone to witness that faith to us in the way they live especially in a household that does not espouse those beliefs on a regular basis by the people closest to us, e.g. parents…then a child is at a loss. That’s why baptism is delayed, not denied. A faithful set of grandparents in our parish, also are in your situation, and grandma does novenas, rosaries etc for her grandchild who is now 4 yrs. old. She never gives up, like St.Monica never gave up for her son Augustine. Keep praying! Anything is possible with God!

 

[SD_Catholic]

A priest reminded us that Baptism bestows many graces however it is not a magic bullet to ensure heaven for anyone. It opens the door…but to walk through it we must live a life that Jesus has taught us. And to do that we must not only have the knowledge or catechesis, but we must follow in word, deed and action. Without having someone to witness that faith to us in the way they live especially in a household that does not espouse those beliefs on a regular basis by the people closest to us, e.g. parents…then a child is at a loss. That’s why baptism is delayed, not denied.QUOTE]

Of course I don’t think all a person has to do is be baptized and then are free to do whatever they want (sounds very OSAS)… But what if that child were to die at age 6 before he could be baptized since his age of reasoning were not yet sufficient… Even though the child attends all the “Catholic” things that all the other Catholic kids attend and is just as informed as any of them (probably more by hanging out with these Grandparents). Yet because the child’s baptism was “delayed” we are now left wondering and praying that the sacrament of baptism isn’t really needed for an unbaptized child ( who had many chances to be baptized ) to enter the kingdom of heaven. I do believe that God excepts all children into his kingdom, but I also think it is foolish to test him and his rules. Perhaps God would not punish the child but the persons responsible for them not being baptized (I don’t know, it’s just a random thought, but I do know I wouldn’t want either). If the parents aren’t against this child being baptized by the Church I think it’s crazy not to have the child baptized if the priest would agree to it.

SD