Can someone be baptized unintentionally / by accident?

[Traditional_Ang]

All of the children were/are Catholic except for the one Hindu boy who MIGHT now also be Catholic

Sir Knight:

“Oy Govalt!” I can’t say it in Hindi, and you wouldn’t want to hear the French or German…

Wait till the Hindi parents find out Their son is a newly Baptized Christian! I wonder how long they’ll let their son go through with the charade of attending Mass on Sundays, or if they’ll let him do it at all…

I can only say the kids in that class were awfully dang persuasive. Maybe you should have them work on the parents… If they succeed, you won’t have a problem.

Otherwise, BIG PROBLEM!

Your Brother in Christ, Michael

 

[Traditional_Ang]

Just for clarity. I’m not saying it could not be valid. I’m saying we don’t know until we speak with the children directly. Also remember that only one child could be the person who Baptized. If one said the words while the other poured the water, that would not be valid. If one said the words and then poured the water that would also not be valid.

Br. Rich:

It sounds as if Sir Knight has spoken with the children and possibly with the adults and has ascertained the facts to the best of his ability. He’s, therefore, far more cognizant of the facts than we are, and from what he says, I’d have to say there was a VALID Baptism so long as the boy being Baptized understood what was being done.

The questions regarding the Ordinary Minister of the Sacrament have to do with the questions of whether given acts in given situations are LICIT or ILLICIT - These questions don’t effect VALIDITY.

Your Brother in Christ, Michael

 

[Sir_Knight]

So why are we still discussing this?

Because this is a DISCUSSION board and OTHER members are chiming in with their opinion as others have done before them and I appreciate the (name removed by moderator)ut.

It’s something the pastor needs to know and he’s the only one who can figure it out. Have you reported it Sir Knight?

I’ve informed the parents who were throwing the party of this enter discussion – I feel that it is their place to handle the matter since these events happened while the children were under their supervision.

 

[LilyM]

Because this is a DISCUSSION board and OTHER members are chiming in with their opinion as others have done before them and I appreciate the (name removed by moderator)ut.

I’ve informed the parents who were throwing the party of this enter discussion – I feel that it is their place to handle the matter since these events happened while the children were under their supervision.

Our church, our sacrament of baptism, it’s the responsibility of all of us. If they don’t report it, make sure you do.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Our church, our sacrament of baptism, it’s the responsibility of all of us. If they don’t report it, make sure you do.

Actually Canon Law requires the person who performed the Baptism to inform the Pastor of the local Catholic Church where the Baptism took place. If your daughter was “one of those” doing the Baptizing then being a minor it would fall upon you to help her inform the pastor.

 

[Sir_Knight]

That’s good to know. Since my daughter wasn’t involved in the pouring the water or saying of the words, I can breathe a bit easier now.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

That’s good to know. Since my daughter wasn’t involved in the pouring the water or saying of the words, I can breathe a bit easier now.

Yes, the parents of the Children involved in the Baptism are responsible for helping their child do what needs to be done, not the people who hosted the party, unless of course, they are the same people.

 

[Traditional_Ang]

That’s good to know. Since my daughter wasn’t involved in the pouring the water or saying of the words, I can breathe a bit easier now.

Sir Knight,

It might be a good idea to call the parents of the “Baptizers” and let them know they need to talk to the Pastor of their Catholic Church about their ad hoc Baptism. and, Someone is going to need to talk to the “New Christian’s” Hindi Parents to inform them of this impromptu ceremony.

They didn’t have any say in their boy’s baptism, but he’s a Christian now and should be attending Mass & Catechism Class if he can. And, Attending Mass shouldn’t hurt his parents either - We have a Sikh Temple down the street from us and have helped them on a few occasions…

I hope this helps.

Your Brother in Christ, Michael

 

[LilyM]

Yes, the parents of the Children involved in the Baptism are responsible for helping their child do what needs to be done, not the people who hosted the party, unless of course, they are the same people.

But if the parents don’t know what happened (we can’t assume in this case that they do) and you do know, surely you’ve got an obligation to tell them so that proper steps can be taken.

And if they won’t tell anyone else then you must, surely. Isn’t it every Catholic’s duty to safeguard both the sacrament of Baptism and the souls of all those who have been baptised? At least in cases where no-one else can or will step forward to do so?

 

[ALLGIRLS]

Sir Knight,

It might be a good idea to call the parents of the “Baptizers” and let them know they need to talk to the Pastor of their Catholic Church about their ad hoc Baptism. and, Someone is going to need to talk to the “New Christian’s” Hindi Parents to inform them of this impromptu ceremony.

They didn’t have any say in their boy’s baptism, but he’s a Christian now and should be attending Mass & Catechism Class if he can. And, Attending Mass shouldn’t hurt his parents either - We have a Sikh Temple down the street from us and have helped them on a few occasions…
I hope this helps.

Your Brother in Christ, Michael

Do you honestly think they will agree to do this? Put yourself in their position: Most likely, being Hindu and not believing in any of our Sacraments, they would probably, if they’re good natured people, just laugh it off. If they’re not, they may forbid the boy to socialize w/ Christians anymore, for fear of more “conversions” and undermining of their faith. Either way, they’re not going to acknowledge that anything happened to their son besides getting wet. Say you and your family are not Catholic, but are going through RCIA together, and are not yet Baptized. Your son spends the night w/ his Mormon cousin, who explains the Mormon concept of baptism to him, and then baptizes him. The parents find out, and inform you that your son is now Mormon, and you both need to start attending the local ward, so he can be prepared to do missionary work when he’s a teenage. Would you do anything accept laugh?

I agree to inform the bishop, so some sort of documentation can be made, should this boy in the future indeed wish to join the church or marry a Catholic. I’d inform the parents, only to apologize for what happened (again, put yourself in their shoes, would you want another child “initiating” your son into another faith, even w/ the best of intentio?). In no way can you force this boy to be raised a Catholic, if you tried a restraining order would probably be slapped on you in short order.

In Christ,

Ellen

 

[Sir_Knight]

Yes, the parents of the Children involved in the Baptism are responsible for helping their child do what needs to be done, not the people who hosted the party.

Sir Knight,

It might be a good idea to call the parents of the “Baptizers” and let them know they need to talk to the Pastor of their Catholic Church about their ad hoc Baptism.

I would think that the parents who held the party have some responsibility in this matter since it happened under their watch – or, lack there of.

 

[LilyM]

I would think that the parents who held the party have some responsibility in this matter since it happened under their watch – or, lack there of.

So, do they know what their children did already, or do they need to be told? Has anyone told them?

 

[Sir_Knight]

I’ve made them aware of what happened at their party and they have confirmed it with the birthday boy. Being church going Catholics, I trust that they will take the proper steps.

 

[bpbasilphx]

**
I guess I’d have to ask if the person actually doing the baptizing was an adult, baptized, Christian themselves. **

**Why would being an adult make it more efficacious? The age of the baptizer has nothing in itself to do with it.

However, I really wonder if the chidren doing the baptizing had the proper “intention” (in the theological and sacramental sense).**