How to advise

[Donxyz]

A friend has knowingly had his baby baptised by a minister because his wife is nonCatholic. In a previous script,it was shown this was a serious wrong and before 1983 was subject to excommunication. After 1983 the script indicated this person is subject to censure which is still serius. What advise should I give my friend about how he can get back in good standing with the church? How should he confess this? I will give him a copy of any replies and pray he makes the right decision

 

[Dr.Colossus]

Though the penalty of censure is proscribed in Canon Law, I think he would have to be fully aware of the Church’s opposition to non-Catholic baptism (at the request of a Catholic parent) in order to be subject to such a penalty. If he was not aware of the seriousness of the sin or that such a penalty existed, he should simply confess it as he would any other sin, and meet with the priest to discuss how he can raise his child in the Catholic faith. If the child is still below the age of reason (7 years old), it should be fairly simple to have their baptismal certificate entered into the parish records and go from there.