Childrens Baptism

[anjoh66]

Hi!
If a man and a woman was living together without marriage and they have a child and both of them are catholics but for example the man is not practicing and almost hostile to the faith.

The woman wants the child to be baptized which the man doesnt agree but also he didnt sign the child when it was born so the mother is juridically the only custodian.

She brings the child to the church with the papers that she is the custodian and have the child baptized.

Is that a valid baptism even though the father was not agreeing because of his hostility to the faith?

Later he renounced his faith and became full member of the Raelians which are very hostile to the church, and at the time of the baptism he also was involved with them.

Is it a valid baptism?

 

[puzzleannie]

valid baptism requires that at least one parent consent and ask for the sacrament on the child’s behalf and give assurance that the child will be raised Catholic. If the custodial parent, or the child’s legal guardian, is willing and able to do that, yes the baptism is valid (assuming it is properly conferred).

 

[Chatter163]

Confusing. How could the father “renounce his faith” if he had none to begin with?

 

[Saintlucy]

Go to your priest and discuss it with him to begin with. I can see no problem unless the father is going to make your life difficult.

Apart from your relationship with this man, which seems fraught with difficulties, you have the intention to give this child the greatest start in life; to be baptised and to become a member of God’s family.

This is a great responsibility. Make sure you choose godparents who will help you to bring this child up in the faith. Baptism is the gateway to a fullness of life in the Church.

Do you know what happens at baptism? Your baby will first be anointed with the oil of catechumens: The oil of catechumens is a sign of strength and healing. People need strength to fight for what is right.

The Promises

The child is brought up to the font with the parent/s and God-parents.

The priest asks the parent/s and God-parents some questions, and they answer together “I do”.

“Do you reject Satan?” “I do.”

“Do you believe in God?” “I do.”

“Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the son of God?” “I do.”

“Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?” “I do.”

The Baptism

After the promises the child is baptised. Water is poured over the child’s head three times. The priest says the child’s name and then:

“I baptise you in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

The Anointing with Chrism

After baptism there is a second anointing. This time an oil called chrism is used. This is the symbol of being chosen for a special task. The special task is to live as a Christian in a loving way to each other. The oil smells nice because it is a symbol of the beauty of a child of God.

Wearing White

When a baby is baptised it wears white. Long ago, new Christians were given a white garment to wear as a sign of their new life. White stands for purity and innocence and the rejection of sin (doing wrong things).

The Baptismal Candle

In each Catholic Church is a great paschal candle, which stands for the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world”, so the candle is a symbol of this. With light we see things clearly. Jesus was talking about showing the difference between right and wrong, good and evil.

In the baptism, a candle is given to one of the parents or God parents who lights it from the great paschal candle. The candle is a sign of how they hope the child will always try to live the way the Jesus would want.

Blessings

At the end, the Lord’s prayer is said. The priest blesses the parent/parents and all the people in the church.

I hope you find this helpful. God bless you.

 

[DixitDominus]

For a baptism to be valid, neither parent has to give consent, however, this is necessary for lawfulness, unless an infant is in grave danger of death, in which case the consent of a parent is not necessary for either validity or lawfulness.

 

[Saintlucy]

For a baptism to be valid, neither parent has to give consent, however, this is necessary for lawfulness, unless an infant is in grave danger of death, in which case the consent of a parent is not necessary for either validity or lawfulness.

But the mother wishes to give her consent to a valid baptism within the Church, I think.

 

[DixitDominus]

But the mother wishes to give her consent to a valid baptism within the Church, I think.

Then without a doubt the baptism would be licit.

Here’s what the Code of Canon Law has to say:

Can. 868 §1 For an infant to be baptised lawfully it is required:

1° that the parents, or at least one of them, or the person who lawfully holds their place, give their consent;

2° that there be a well-founded hope that the child will be brought up in the Catholic religion. If such hope is truly lacking, the baptism is, in accordance with the provisions of particular law, to be deferred and the parents advised of the reason for this.

§2 An infant of Catholic parents, indeed even of non-Catholic parents, may in danger of death be baptised even if the parents are opposed to it.

 

[Saintlucy]

So let this dear child be baptised and be one of us and I hope that he or she knows how much their mother loves them. I think that this mother shows great love for this baby by asking this difficult question.

 

[AHapka]

valid baptism requires that at least one parent consent and ask for the sacrament on the child’s behalf and give assurance that the child will be raised Catholic. If the custodial parent, or the child’s legal guardian, is willing and able to do that, yes the baptism is valid (assuming it is properly conferred).

Wouldn’t any baptism done by using the Trinitarian formula with the intent to baptize be valid?

If no parent gave consent (presuming no danger of death), it might be illicit, but I don’t see how it would be invalid?

 

[anjoh66]

Thanks for all the answers

Well i am a man so its not about me, but yes i know the woman wanted the child baptized but not the father.

 

[Cluny]

valid baptism requires that at least one parent consent and ask for the sacrament on the child’s behalf and give assurance that the child will be raised Catholic. If the custodial parent, or the child’s legal guardian, is willing and able to do that, yes the baptism is valid (assuming it is properly conferred).

---

LICIT baptism requires that at least one parent consent (assuming the child is not in danger of death)–not VALID. The two words are NOT synonyms in this context.

All that is required for VALIDITY is for water to be applied somehow (by pouring or immersion) while saying “I baptize you in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen” (or comparable words from one of the Eastern Churches.)

A valid baptism may be illicit (for example, if done without the parent’s consent). But an INVALID baptism (eg, invoking Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier instead of Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is always illicit as well.

 

[DixitDominus]

Actually the form of baptism does not involve the word “Amen.” It is simply: Ego te baptizo in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Obviously if someone added the word “Amen” to the end the form it wouldn’t invalidate the Baptism, but the word is not present, at least in the Roman rite of Baptism.

 

[puzzleannie]

Wouldn’t any baptism done by using the Trinitarian formula with the intent to baptize be valid?

If no parent gave consent (presuming no danger of death), it might be illicit, but I don’t see how it would be invalid?

someone cited the actual law above. even if I baptized my grandchild, for example, against his parents’ wishes, the baptism would probably be valid if I used the proper form, but it would be illicit. I think OP wants to know what would be both valid and licit.