Daughter getting baptized at church camp

[ellzeena]

The Church views rebaptism as a sacrilege, it’s an entirely different matter from renewing baptismal promises. Obviously, she wouldn’t be canonically penalized at her age, but it’s still objectively a grave sin.

I don’t believe that. Why would my confessor not know that? You misunderstand the act of baptism in some non-Catholic churches. It is not the “saving act” it is an act that acknowledges full obedience and great love for Jesus (WHO GOT BAPTIZED BY THE WAY). If the OP really wants an answer to this, he should contact the archdiocese immediately.

 

[Marie5890]

My daughter is 12 years old. She is being raised catholic and was baptized as an infant. She has Cerebral palsey and has emotional issues. My wife is protestant and every summer my Daughter goes to a Baptist summer camp. She just called and told us she wanted to get baptized. I told her there is no reason to since she already is and it wouldn’t do anything but I 'm not going to say no. She said she is going to do it. Does this cause any problem as far as the Catholic church goes?

Steve, first hugs and prayers to you, your daughter and the rest of your family…

I have had a serious mobility disability since I was a child so in many ways I have lived the life your daughter is experiencing. It’s hard,esp., as a teenager. I so understand her own personal need and desire to draw close to the Lord. And to make her own commitment and demonstration of that. Remember, her own baptism isnt something she remembers.

I say you have before you a great opportunity to talk with her about her own personal relationship with Our Lord.

Dont turn this into a crisis or a dispute or a contestious issue.

See it as an opportunity, an open door, to talk with her, to get to know her better. She has some tough years ahead. She will need to feel she can turn to you, and the Lord.

And please, to the others who have tossed around the “severely compromised” words, stereotypes and lables. I know you all mean well, but it’s not helpful, those stereotypes. She, nor others like her and myself dont need to be marginalized even more with such talk.

We need, however, people to listen and to try and understand.

Thanks.

Prayers Steve. You really do have an opportubity. You just have to find the way to use it.

 

[AgainstHeretics]

I don’t believe that.

Well that’s your problem.

 

[Honour]

Maybe you can use their terminology against them. For most baptists baptism is symbolic outward expression of obedience and profession of faith when someone accepts Jesus into their heart (“gets saved”). There is also a very common “re-dedicating your life” to God that doesn’t come with baptism. If you convince her that she has a relationship with Christ, and has for many years, as evidenced by receiving the Eucharist…then getting Baptized would mean denying that relationship. Rededicating her life however, still gives her that sense of participating without being rebaptized.

 

[Honour]

Also I find it very odd that are doing baptisms at the camp. Usually they do them at a service after the kids come home so the parents and church members can see.

 

[Steveabrous]

Also I find it very odd that are doing baptisms at the camp. Usually they do them at a service after the kids come home so the parents and church members can see.

This is what my wife said she remembers. however my wife is not baptist. Apperantly baptists baptize anywhere, anytime.

No I am not going to turn this into a crisis I have no idea what she is going through. Whats done is done. If anyone has a blame in this it’s me. And I will accept that

 

[Steveabrous]

From what my RCIA director told me, it’s not uncommon for some Catholics to lament that they don’t remember their baptism. They wish they had made the choice to be baptized as teens/adults. Mainly so they have a memory of the experience.

I can understand wanting to send your kid some place Christian; however, I don’t understand putting your kid in this position in the first place. It’s inevitable that she’d want to be like her friends and “get dunked” (baptized), regardless if she “believed” or not. That’s why I would never send my son to a Baptist camp in the first place. :banghead:

I can also understand if the camp was geared for kids w/CP or other special needs, but even then, I’d watch out because the kids have other challenges and they could be easily manipulated.

I really don’t get why you don’t bring her home, explain that she isn’t a Baptist and get a refund. She’s 12. She’ll get over it.

First of all I would like to point out that I am not so much getting an answer to my question rather a lot of jugementalism and finger pointing. But I shouldn’t be surprised on this forum.

I live in a very heavy protestant area of the country. The Catholic church here often partners with protestant churches for Vacation bible school and what not. Catholic camps are expensive in my area and this camp was free. I feel it important for my children to be in a christian environment. Since I am not rich I do the best I can.

 

[Marie5890]

First of all I would like to point out that I am not so much getting an answer to my question rather a lot of jugementalism and finger pointing. But I shouldn’t be surprised on this forum.

I live in a very heavy protestant area of the country. The Catholic church here often partners with protestant churches for Vacation bible school and what not. Catholic camps are expensive in my area and this camp was free. I feel it important for my children to be in a christian environment. Since I am not rich I do the best I can.

I dont know if it causes problems with the institutional Church or not. I suppose there are some canon laws somewhere that say something on the matter.

But I do believe you fully that you are doing the very best you can…And, even more importantly, so does Our Lord.

Hope her camp experience is/was all she needed and wanted it to be.

 

[bcuster]

I would call the camp and let them know that you expect them to respect her catholic baptism and also I would not let her go back to that camp I would do something fun with her next summer perhaps you could have lunch once a week and study the scripture and read the catechism together.

This is my recommendation, too. She may be getting social pressure from peers and staff at camp well. This will mitigate her decision as a 12-year-old considerably. However, it will be confusing to her overall. When she comes home, be sure to talk to her about the sacrament of Baptism backing it up with Scripture to counter act the teachings she is getting at the camp. Check your diocese to see if there is a Catholic camp for disabled children.

 

[Marie5890]

Steve, my deepest and sincerest apologizes.

I realize that you were NOT seeking advice in any way shape or form from anyone, including me. You were just asking a question about the Church’s view…

I am sorry that so many of us, myself included, ignored what you were asking and started in with judgments and advice.

God Bless.

I hope your daughter had a great time.

 

[Steveabrous]

Steve, my deepest and sincerest apologizes.

I realize that you were NOT seeking advice in any way shape or form from anyone, including me. You were just asking a question about the Church’s view…

I am sorry that so many of us, myself included, ignored what you were asking and started in with judgments and advice.

God Bless.

I hope your daughter had a great time.

I thank you for your comments you seem to be more understanding like my parish priest. I went to confession today and told him the situation. He said not to worry about it doesn’t do anything, basically no harm done. I feel much better.

I explained to him that since she is disabled she goes to camp Barnabas Which is a Protestant christian camp geered for disabled children, this is not the camp it happened at. But since she already goes to one Protestant camp, and her grandmother wanted to take her to this camp as well, I saw no problem. I told her that she was allready baptized if they tells her to get baptized. She has gone for 3 years and it never happened. This year she has been dealing with alot of emotional issues with her disability and she felt this was a good way to “Give it to Jesus”

 

[Marie5890]

This year she has been dealing with alot of emotional issues with her disability and she felt this was a good way to “Give it to Jesus”

For what it’s worth, I understand where your daughter is at. I was like that at her age. Trying to find something, someone, to help me with the frustration and pain. All of it…

Glad she is finding the Lord, no matter how she gets there…

Prayers for you and your family. So glad your were able to talk with your priest about it.

 

[harry12u]

My daughter is 12 years old. She is being raised catholic and was baptized as an infant. She has Cerebral palsey and has emotional issues. My wife is protestant and every summer my Daughter goes to a Baptist summer camp. She just called and told us she wanted to get baptized. I told her there is no reason to since she already is and it wouldn’t do anything but I 'm not going to say no. She said she is going to do it. Does this cause any problem as far as the Catholic church goes?

[edited]

Should a Catholic attend a “re-baptism”?

I recently received an invitation to the baptism of a friend. She currently attends a Bible church, but she was baptized Catholic as an infant and was then raised and confirmed in the United Methodist church.

Since I know that she was already validly baptized, I understand that this new “baptism” would be redundant and would have no real meaning sacramentally.

Michelle Arnold

Baptism is a one-time sacrament that cannot be repeated.

To attempt to do so constitutes objective sacrilege, although moral culpability for sacrilege may be mitigated if there is lack of knowledge about the nature of baptism on the part of the person attempting “re-baptism.”

I cannot recommend attending a “re-baptism” for anyone you know has already been validly baptized.

 

[Marie5890]

Hi Harry and welcome to CAF.

Steve has already talked with his pastor and gotten his answer.

l Membership

Join Date: June 19, 2013
Posts: 1
Religion: Catholic

Default

Should a Catholic attend a “re-baptism”?

I recently received an invitation to the baptism of a friend. She currently attends a Bible church, but she was baptized Catholic as an infant and was then raised and confirmed in the United Methodist church.

Since I know that she was already validly baptized, I understand that this new “baptism” would be redundant and would have no real meaning sacramentally.

Would it be wrong for me to accept the invitation in light of this knowledge? I’m leaning towards not attending.
Last edited by Michelle Arnold; Jun 19, '13 at 3:16 pm.
#2
Old Jun 19, '13, 3:18 pm
Michelle Arnold’s Avatar
Michelle Arnold Michelle Arnold is offline
Catholic Answers Apologist

Join Date: May 3, 2004
Posts: 4,850
Religion: Catholic

Default Re: Should a Catholic attend a “re-baptism”?

Baptism is a one-time sacrament that cannot be repeated.

To attempt to do so constitutes objective sacrilege, although moral culpability for sacrilege may be mitigated if there is lack of knowledge about the nature of baptism on the part of the person attempting “re-baptism.”

I cannot recommend attending a “re-baptism” for anyone you know has already been validly baptized.

---

“If anyone comes to me, I want to lead them to Him.” --St. Edith Stein

Recent apologetics answers by Michelle Arnold

Visit Michelle Arnold on Facebook

 

[SecretaryMonday]

yep! What was I thinking?

I’m sorry, Steve, I hadn’t intended to direct my response at you, although I don’t always come across the way that I planned; I thought that I was seeing a tendency in the thread to put a greater responsibility for potential sacrilege than seemed fair on the 12-year-old with mental and emotional issues.

 

[Steveabrous]

I’m sorry, Steve, I hadn’t intended to direct my response at you, although I don’t always come across the way that I planned; I thought that I was seeing a tendency in the thread to put a greater responsibility for potential sacrilege than seemed fair on the 12-year-old with mental and emotional issues.

Yes, Perhaps I should have given further details, rather then simply saying my daughter went to a baptist camp and got baptized.

 

[JillianRose]

From what my RCIA director told me, it’s not uncommon for some Catholics to lament that they don’t remember their baptism. They wish they had made the choice to be baptized as teens/adults. Mainly so they have a memory of the experience.

I can understand wanting to send your kid some place Christian; however, I don’t understand putting your kid in this position in the first place. It’s inevitable that she’d want to be like her friends and “get dunked” (baptized), regardless if she “believed” or not. That’s why I would never send my son to a Baptist camp in the first place. :banghead:

I can also understand if the camp was geared for kids w/CP or other special needs, but even then, I’d watch out because the kids have other challenges and they could be easily manipulated.

I really don’t get why you don’t bring her home, explain that she isn’t a Baptist and get a refund. She’s 12. She’ll get over it.

Awesome answer…

 

[JillianRose]

First of all I would like to point out that I am not so much getting an answer to my question rather a lot of jugementalism and finger pointing. But I shouldn’t be surprised on this forum.

I live in a very heavy protestant area of the country. The Catholic church here often partners with protestant churches for Vacation bible school and what not. Catholic camps are expensive in my area and this camp was free. I feel it important for my children to be in a christian environment. Since I am not rich I do the best I can.

And shame on them if they are using this as an opportunity to play on handicap children to “convert” them. I really hope that is not the case. I guess all I can say to you is this:

The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
** I confess one **Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

 

[Honour]

And shame on them if they are using this as an opportunity to play on handicap children to “convert” them. I really hope that is not the case. I guess all I can say to you is this:

If they are anything like the Baptists I grew up with, they use any chance they get to “save” (not convert) kids, and they will praise the Lord and boast about how many kids were “saved” at camp this year, any physical and emotional challenges the kids may face simply make for more rejoicing and boasting (a better story). They honestly believe that she was not a Christian before this event, and that she now has assurance, that no matter what else happens throughout her life she will surely go to heaven when she dies. If they are anything like the Baptists I grew up with.

 

[Honour]

This is what my wife said she remembers. however my wife is not baptist. Apperantly baptists baptize anywhere, anytime.

I grew up Baptist, and I’ve seen them dunked in rivers and lakes and backyard swimming pools as well as the churches baptistery, but the camp I went to every year never baptized the kids, that was always coordinated with their home church afterward, if they even followed through and did them…it’s not required you know.

While they may have some pretty confusing doctrine on salvation, I’m sure that the majority of her experiences and exposure there is good and positive and beneficial. I loved camp as a kid and it was always a time of spiritual renewal and deepening of love for scripture and daily prayer for me. I think the reactions you’ve gotten here are sadly typical. Hope this doesn’t put a damper on what I’m sure was a great experience for her.