Delay in infant baptism

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I would first speak to the Pastor (if you have not already). Make an appointment, not a grab him in line after Mass sort of talk.

The Church does not suspend baptisms during Lent, while some parishes took up this bad habit decades ago, it needs to be escalated.

You will need your pastor’s permission to baptize at another parish, that should be very easy to obtain (but, you should not have to. Honestly, I’d go to the Diocese before I’d go to another parish).
 
It’s my third, but it’s our first baptized at this particular parish so they are having us do the class anyway.

My husband always says churches should have a test you can take to prove your baptism knowledge so you can opt out of the formation. XD
 
At our parish, if you have done prep in the past 3 years you do not need to take it again. We try to make it easy to approach the sacraments. Baptism Prep is done via the Formed.Org platform.

Both the parents and godparents watch the “Reborn” series then they set up a time to come talk to the DRE and go over any questions. You can watch the videos on your phone at 3 AM if you need to!
 
I just had my third too! Her Baptism is a week from tomorrow, which, ironically, was her original due date. I guess if she couldn’t be born then, at least she can be reborn spiritually! Yesterday I was like. “Hmm. I guess I’d better order a cake and start trying to scrape up some Godparents for her.” I’m a bit behind too.
 
Online baptism class sounds amazing…

I will try to schedule time to talk to the pastor, although I don’t know how I feel about “correcting” the pastor about Lenten baptisms.
 
Yeah, I wouldn’t go that route. That sounds like a job for someone who isn’t trying to get something. I would just explain your concern over waiting so long and ask if its a possibility to have a private Baptism. Sometimes all you really have to do is ask. Does your parish have a deacon? If the priest is really that sacramentally backed up, maybe the deacon could do it?
 
Allegra said:
Sometimes all you really have to do is ask.
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You know I’m learning this as I get older. Sometimes we get all worked up to go to war when it’s amazing what having father over for dinner can do…
 
Working in a school, I’m pretty well-versed in the fact that a lot of things are done the way they are done only because that was the way the original person who did them did them. It’s amazing how many instances there have been when everyone wanted something to change, but no one wanted to be the one who asked. Sometimes the reason that Baptisms are only done at every other 9AM Mass is because the lady who makes the little white bibs always comes to that Mass. OR because there used to be only one priest and that was his confession time. Or because the person who made the Mass time schedule template in the computer set it up that way and no one wants to admit that they don’t know how to change it. Just ask. You never know and the worst they can say is ‘no’.
 
You seem to have a low opinion of those who work/volunteer to serve their parish.
 
Catechesis for parents and godparents regarding the sacrament of baptism. One way some parishes are offering catechesis to inform parishioners of Church teachings.
 
No. I have a realistic opinion of what they often have to work with.
 
“Rules” or standard operating procedures? There’s a difference. There’s no reason to have hard rules on how infant Baptisms are scheduled. If the way things are normally done isn’t working, then the sensible thing to do is to make exceptions, or even change the way things are normally done. No reason to be a control freak over something like this.
 
Horton said:
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1ke:
Theoretically.
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So you are okay with people circumventing rules?
1ke said:
Not all parishes have a class. Ours doesn’t.
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And people complain of lack of or poor catechizes.
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1.What rules? If you want to technically follow rules a parish you are “registered” at would need to get permission from your geographical parish which is your “real” parish. My geographical parish has Changed 4 times in 5 years and I do not attend it at all. They would have no idea who I am. So what rules are you referring to. It would seem I cant think if a single diocese that requires one attend a geographical parish. And “registering” at a parish us nice from an office standpoint it really has nothing to do with a sacrament like baptism.
2. As for poor catechisis, that exists in an equal amount at places that require classes. In fact requiring Classes and jumping through hoops might lead to less baptisms by lukewarm parents. And while we all want informed practicing parishes. What we should want more, is baptized babies.
 
Perhaps this:

Father, I was reading this letter

http://w2.vatican.va/content/benedi...uments/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20101104_lent-2011.html

Where Pope Benedict XVI said ’ A particular connection binds Baptism to Lent as the favorable time to experience this saving Grace. The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council exhorted all of the Church’s Pastors to make greater use “of the baptismal features proper to the Lenten liturgy” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy Sacrosanctum concilium , n. 109).’

Could you explain why baptism is not accessible for our new baby during Lent?"
 
There are very good reason priests/pastors run their parishes the way they do. Every priest has their own way of doing things and parish staff adapt to what the priest wants. You can continue to blame parish staff for everything that isn’t done the way YOU want it to be done or you can support those who work for the parish.
Allegra said:
There’s no reason to have hard rules on how infant Baptisms are scheduled.
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The priest of the parish very well may have “hard rules” on how he wants baptism done. But I’ll be sure to tell our priest that you believe it’s wrong to have them.
Allegra said:
No. I have a realistic opinion of what they often have to work with.
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I don’t think you really know what staff actually does. It’s not as though the priest is cowering in the corner waiting for the staff to tell him what to do. The priest sets the tone, and either staff adapts or they can move on.
 
Horton said:
So you are okay with people circumventing rules
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These aren’t actually rules.

Canon law does not state that a person requires permission from their pastor to have their child baptized in another parish. It is the norm to have children baptized in the parish of the parents, but the law allows for baptizing elsewhere for a just cause- and does not require permission of any kind.

While canon law does state parents are to be instructed, that does not have to take the form of a “class” and it does not have to be done at any specific parish— although one’s home parish makes sense logistically.

And lastly, there is no rule regarding “verification” of godparents. If the godparents are not known to the pastor he may or may not ask for information about them.
Horton said:
And people complain of lack of or poor catechizes.
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Classes are not the only way to prepare parents.
 
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1ke said:
And lastly, there is no rule regarding “verification” of godparents. If the godparents are not known to the pastor he may or may not ask for information about them.
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Can. 874 §1
2/ have completed the sixteenth year of age, unless the diocesan bishop has established another age, or the pastor or minister has granted an exception for a just cause;

3/ be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the most holy sacrament of the [Eucharist]**ttp://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/8B.HTM) and who leads a life of faith in keeping with the function to be taken on;

4/ not be bound by any canonical penalty legitimately imposed or declared;

Since there does seem to be a “rule” for who may or may not act as a sponsor, a parish must have some way of knowing this information. If the godparents are well known, then a formal verification doesn’t have to be done. However there are many times the godparents are not known and some form of verification is needed. This is often accomplished by a letter from their home parish stating they are eligible to act as godparents.
 
Horton said:
Since there does seem to be a “rule” for who may or may not act as a sponsor, a parish must have some way of knowing this information.
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I am aware of the requirements for sponsors.

What I said was that if they are not known to the pastor he may or may not ask for more information.

In my experience, most pastors I have worked with have not asked for “documentation”
or “verification” beyond the godparents’ own affirmation. In general, they’ve just asked the godparents or the parents verbally about their suitability.

Nor have my husband and I been asked for documentation when we stood as godparents to our nieces and nephews.
Horton said:
This is often accomplished by a letter from their home parish stating they are eligible to act as godparents.
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Indeed, this is sometimes the case.

It’s not a requirement.
 
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Horton. Do you work at a parish? If so you are kind showing the frustrating situations there can be. Parish staff are not interpreters of law, or ministers. The priest us in line with the bishop. In too many parishes the staff has either been instructed to or taken it upon them selves to “run interference” for father. Um nope! Babies are to be baptized asap.
 
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