I was baptized Catholic as a baby, but my parents left Catholicism when I was a preschooler and I was unaware that we ever had been Catholic until my late teens (years after I had chosen to be baptized in a different church).
Baptism is a permanent event and can happen only once. Any person whether Christian or non-Christian can baptize someone who is yet to be baptized. Catholics have a standard in place that ordinarily reserves it to Deacons, Priests, and Bishops. This is for good order and discipline with the ranks of Christian society.
What were the circumstances of your discovery that you had you had your “ransom paid” baptized as infant, in accordance the Scriptures and ancient tradition, within the embrace of the Catholic Church?
Never having considered myself Catholic, I am now engaged to another non-Catholic.
Congradulations! I hope the Beloved causes His Face to shine upon you and your betrothed.
Now, I’ve been reading on this website and others that I am now considered (by the Catholic church) to be bound to canon law in regards to marriage.
Ius Romanum; that is, Canon Law, is an ancient and very foundational set of laws and decrees that had evolved out of the old world and is the foundation stone for all Christianity, Catholic and non-Catholic. It is also the foundation stone for all of Western Civilization. The Canon Law can at first appearances can seems imposing but time spent with it makes us realize the wonderous and loving nature of a human society that has been infused with divinity of Christ.
From afar, it may seem that you are bound in a very autocratic way, but upon closer inspection the Canon Law is supremely democratic in its attention to even, as Christ said, the littlest among us. Exceptions are made almost to the point where the rule is often the exception. Laws are designed to be embracing of the human person.
I wouldn’t care about this for my own sake, obviously, but most of my extended family is still Catholic, and I would as soon not make my relatives think I were living in immorality.
It is good to think your family. Speaking as a Christian, they might observe and wrongly say some mean things but remember that it is not their province to judge. That is reserved for compitent authority; primarily Christ, in the Hereaftr, but also compitent authority on Earth as appointed by Christ. Yet, as I said before you will find Canon Laws to be embracing of the human person… even if it does seem to move at a turtles pace.
Am I seriously supposed to believe that the Catholic church would forbid me to ever marry at all, when I never had a First Communion, was never confirmed, and never considered myself Catholic?
On the commute home today, I found myself wondering about the babies that had been carried across the Parted Waters on the way out of Egypt. I was wondering if any of those little babies who grew up considered themselves Egyptian and not Jewish, or if any of them ever said to their parents, “Why did you take me out of Egypt against my will? You should have waited until I was older and I could have made the choice myself?” This is the truly amazing thing. We know from Scripture that similiar things certainly did happen. Many Jews were upset at having been Baptized into the Covenant by way of the event at the Red Sea.
Although I doubt that you have ever been upset at being baptized, you certainly must have been suprised to discover this. Either way, you have brought across the waters and are now in the Promised Land. You can choose to make your home here or move on into another land further from Jerusalem.
Will my Catholic relatives accept my upcoming marriage
Don’t worry if they will accept it or not. Worry if you will accept yourself. I know God certainly accepts you for who you are and who you have the potential to be. We are all flickering embers that if nurtured could become shining flames.
And, besides you can always become married in the Church later, but the easiest thing is to simply put your own beliefs on hold, trust in the Lord, who is the Catholic Church, and become a shining example of the Catholic Christian. Many Catholics harbour private doubts knowing that feelings and inclinations pass away dust to dust.
…or am I looking at even more separation than I’ve already grown up with (which, by the way, has often been extremely painful)?
Seperation is horrible. I cannot even begin to think about it without my heart being wrenched. If your Catholic relatives are hard people make them soft by impeccable Christian example. Become a saint. There isn’t a single teaching or moral item, found with the Catholic Church, that every Christian shouldn’t have trust in, believe and practice. Since the Church is the Fullness of Faith and Christianity par excellance it makes the most sense to go with the flow of the Faith.
This is what I have done for several years now and I can attest that it is only just now making blossom into a well-rounded man whom gives glory to God by just being alive.
I am sory if I disappointed you by any of my answers. It was unintentional. I have a horrible way with people and words so please forgive me. I guess we all need work.
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My soul magnifies the Lord when I walk in His ways and let Him purify me of my imperfections.
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