home baptism

[maize]

if a child is baptized at home is it a valid baptism?

 

[vee8]

Depends. What happened?

 

[maize]

i was just curious as to if a child baptized under the trinitarian formula under running water at home was valid.

i know it is in case of death, but what if one parent doesnt want the child baptized as catholic, but still wants the child baptized?

 

[OldRedleg]

There are two issues at stake here. One is the validity (proper form and matter) of the baptism and the other is whether it is licit (legally done).

If the person doing the baptism is trying to do what the Church does when it baptizes, uses water, and uses the words “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and The Holy Spirit”, it is a valid baptism.

Whether a baptism is licit is concerned with whether the baptism was conducted in accordance with Canon Law. A parent who baptizes one of her children against the wishes of the other parent is violating Canon Law which would make the baptism illicit. The age of the child is also a concern. If the child is age seven or older it is considered by the Church to have achieved the age of reason. This means that the child must understand what baptism is and consent/desire it.

An illicit baptism that is conducted using the proper form and matter is a valid baptism. The child would receive the graces of baptism. However, under the circumstances you describe the parent would be guilty of violating Church law and teachings. Especially if the child is age seven or older.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

There’s a very practical issue as well. If you don’t record the baptism at the parish there will be no record of it. That will be a problem when the child wants to receive other sacraments.

One of the justifications for baptizing infants is that they will be raised in the faith. I wonder how likely that is if it’s necessary to hide the fact that the baby is even being baptized.

 

[Dicerning]

If done correctly via trinitarian formula by a human who is intending to baptise then it is valid.

However very likely ilicit.

There are very few legit reasons to baptise in a home.

The child will be very unhappy in the future though if they want to recieve the other sacraments later in life with no record of baptism. In fact it can be a real headache. Why would the parents want to ilicitly baptise their grandchild.

 

[Dicerning]

i was just curious as to if a child baptized under the trinitarian formula under running water at home was valid.

i know it is in case of death, but what if one parent doesnt want the child baptized as catholic, but still wants the child baptized?

Have the child baptized as a “protestant” then. Just make sure the trinitarian forumula is used.

However it is extremely important that a church has the baptism on “file” for future sacraments.

 

[maize]

However it is extremely important that a church has the baptism on “file” for future sacraments.

my protestant church had lost my baptismal record and i cant find my certificate so i had to sign an affirmation of baptism before i was conformed.

i did know when and where i was baptized though.

 

[1ke]

Have the child baptized as a “protestant” then. Just make sure the trinitarian forumula is used.

However it is extremely important that a church has the baptism on “file” for future sacraments.

A person in such a situation should consult their priest.

Baptizing a child into a protestant denomination does not fulfill a Catholic’s obligation to raise their child in the Catholic Church.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

if a child is baptized at home is it a valid baptism?

An illicit Baptism but never the less a valid Baptism. The Baptism would of course need to be recorded in the Baptismal register of the nearest parish and the additional Baptismal Rites celebrated in the Church. Also a child Baptized by a Catholic is Catholic and is subject to the laws of the Catholic Church, including the Marriage laws.

 

[kermitz06]

My brother was baptized in the bathtub by our dad, we were non-denominatiol at the the time. When we converted as a family the baptism was recognized and he is now mere months from being ordained.

 

[Phemie]

Also a child Baptized by a Catholic is Catholic and is subject to the laws of the Catholic Church, including the Marriage laws.

That will come as a surprise to a family I’m aware of. The Anglican minister was prevented from getting to the small community where there was a visiting priest. The priest agreed to baptize a baby and did so according to the Anglican rite. That baptism is only registered with the Anglican Church.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

My brother was baptized in the bathtub by our dad, we were non-denominatiol at the the time. When we converted as a family the baptism was recognized and he is now mere months from being ordained.

I’m going to guess that he was most likely Conditionally Baptized. Conditional Baptism is supposed to always be private, never public. A candidate for Ordination usually will be Conditionally Baptized to just insure a valid Baptism.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

That will come as a surprise to a family I’m aware of. The Anglican minister was prevented from getting to the small community where there was a visiting priest. The priest agreed to baptize a baby and did so according to the Anglican rite. That baptism is only registered with the Anglican Church.

The visiting Catholic priest should have explained this to the family.

 

[Phemie]

The visiting Catholic priest should have explained this to the family.

The family doesn’t know, the Anglican minister obviously didn’t know and so nobody will ever find out unless that priest, who is no longer here, were to make it public. He won’t. I know it happened because he told me but I don’t know the family.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

The family doesn’t know, the Anglican minister obviously didn’t know and so nobody will ever find out unless that priest, who is no longer here, were to make it public. He won’t. I know it happened because he told me but I don’t know the family.

Of course nothing will be held against the person since they do not know that they are Catholic and are required to follow Catholic Canon Law and practice.

 

[chalba]

I have come across this forum trying to figure out how to provide the proof of orthodox baptism for someone who was baptised at home.

The reason for this home baptism could be because of the communist regime in some countries.

If the infant was baptised in the right form and matter (Valid) at home but no record of the baptism from the church (illicit), what could be done to produce a baptism certificate which is needed for future sacraments (in this case a marriage)?

Thanks guys

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Talk to your priest to see what would be acceptable. Possibly statements from witnesses would be sufficient. But I don’t know what would be acceptable to the Orthodox.

 

[LilyM]

I have come across this forum trying to figure out how to provide the proof of orthodox baptism for someone who was baptised at home.

The reason for this home baptism could be because of the communist regime in some countries.

If the infant was baptised in the right form and matter (Valid) at home but no record of the baptism from the church (illicit), what could be done to produce a baptism certificate which is needed for future sacraments (in this case a marriage)?

Thanks guys

In such a case you would probably need to produce statements from any witnesses who were present at the baptism, stating that it happened, or if they are unavailable, statements from anyone else who may have known about the baptism occuring.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I have come across this forum trying to figure out how to provide the proof of orthodox baptism for someone who was baptised at home.

The reason for this home baptism could be because of the communist regime in some countries.

If the infant was baptised in the right form and matter (Valid) at home but no record of the baptism from the church (illicit), what could be done to produce a baptism certificate which is needed for future sacraments (in this case a marriage)?

Thanks guys

You would need to speak with someone in the Orthodox Church.