Child baptism question

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LoganBryce

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I am converting to Catholicism. My wife was married before me and her marriage has to be annulled. This could obviously be a lengthy process. Can my children be baptized before I join the church?
 
It’s a pastoral decision, but I couldn’t see any reason why your children would be held back from salvation by the status of their parents…
 
LoganBryce said:
I am converting to Catholicism. My wife was married before me and her marriage has to be annulled. This could obviously be a lengthy process. Can my children be baptized before I join the church?
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  1. Are you currently in RCIA or is that in the plans?
  2. Is your wife Catholic?
  3. Is annulment in process for her, or is this something down the road to do?
Keep in mind, annulments aren’t a slam dunk.

As others have suggested, talk to a parish priest, I would add, search out one who is also a canon lawyer.
 
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1ke said:
That’s a pastoral decision.
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Strictly speaking, no, it isn’t. The situation of the parents has no bearing on the question of the baptism of children.

Their pastor might offer a pastoral suggestion about the proper timing of baptisms, but pastors are instructed to not refuse (or delay) baptism based on the parents’ personal situations.

@1ke’s suggestion is good, however: sit down with your pastor and talk with him!
 
Maximilian75 said:
It’s a pastoral decision, but I couldn’t see any reason why your children would be held back from salvation by the status of their parents…
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For an infant to be baptized, there must be a founded hope that the child will be brought up in the faith. From the OP we know that the father is converting and the mother is … well, he doesn’t say. Perhaps neither parent is Catholic yet. Perhaps one is. That leaves it up to the pastor to determine whether there is reason to believe the child will be brought up as a Catholic.
 
Gorgias said:
Strictly speaking, no, it isn’t . The situation of the parents has no bearing on the question of the baptism of children.
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Uh, yeah it is. Because neither parent is Catholic. It is definitely a pastoral decision whether to baptize the child Catholic.
Gorgias said:
Their pastor might offer a pastoral suggestion about the proper timing of baptisms, but pastors are instructed to not refuse (or delay) baptism based on the parents’ personal situations
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The parents aren’t Catholic. The pastor has no obligation to baptize the child Catholic.
 
1ke said:
Uh, yeah it is. Because neither parent is Catholic. It is definitely a pastoral decision whether to baptize the child Catholic.
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No. Let’s review the canons:
Can. 868 §1. For an infant to be baptized licitly:

1/ the parents or at least one of them or the person who legitimately takes their place must consent;

2/ there must be a founded hope that the infant will be brought up in the Catholic religion; if such hope is altogether lacking, the baptism is to be delayed according to the prescripts of particular law after the parents have been advised about the reason.
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So, the requirements are “does at least one parent consent?” and “will the child be brought up in the Catholic religion?”. The requirements are not “is at least one parent a Catholic?”. 😉
 
I have researched Catholicism and most protestant denominations thoroughly. Me. And my wife grew up Baptists. We converted to the Church of Christs because I had problems with saved only by faith, symbolic baptism, once saved always saved, and other Baptist ideas. I am fully convinced to be Catholic. She was against it at first. Now she’s ok with me doing but doesn’t want to go through the annulment process which would prevent me from being Catholic. So in light of that I’m thinking about the kids because I want them to grow up Catholic and I’m sad that they haven’t been baptized.
 
Logan, it has to be difficult for you. I think the best advice you’ve received is to talk with your pastor and see what he suggests. Prayers as you move forward.
 
If an older child wishes to be baptized – i.e. they are at the age of consent for such things according to the church, the faith of the parents has no bearing. We know of a preteen who pursued Catholic instruction even though his parents were not Catholic. The parents were supportive/didn’t get in his way. They drove him to catechism, etc, and he received baptism and Holy Communion and two years later he was confirmed with other kids in his age group that had been baptized as infants.

But if you want your kids to be baptized not of their volition, then yes, speaking with the pastor is a must.
 
Whether there is a “founded hope that the infant will be brought up in the Catholic religion” is a pastoral matter.
 
PaulfromIowa said:
Whether there is a “founded hope that the infant will be brought up in the Catholic religion” is a pastoral matter.
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More like a “prudential judgment”, I’d say. And, if the OP is converting to Catholicism, then it doesn’t seem like it would take pastoral concern to conclude that he would bring up his child in the faith. 😉
 
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