But, what if a child, through no fault of its own, of course, is born into a household that may be lacking in authentic Christian living…should baptismal grace (that the Church teaches IS necessary for salvation) be withheld from the helpless babe simply because of this? That is a very slippery slope of thinking in regards to the sacraments and grace and negates the entire point of what baptism truly is, IMHO
No, I did not suggest witholding Baptism from an infant brought to the Church.
I’d much rather err on the side of baptizing a child who may not be catechized correctly or even taught in accordance with Church teaching than to not simply because they MIGHT NOT be. Better to have a fire that may be snuffed out than no fire at all
What I am suggesting is for our pastors and brothers and sisters to bring to attention the hypocrisy going on with some parents who want their child Baptized but oppose that same grace with how they are living and creating the environment of that child.
Refer back to Vico’s post #85 on this thread about what Haydock’s commentary says in regards to mixed marriages and a child being sanctified because of believing spouse bringing them to baptism. The situation in the early Church that St. Paul speaks of is not uncommon to today in which one parent is not a Christian and is essentially living a pagan life like the unbelieving spouses were then. St. Paul didn’t tell them they had to first have a purely “Christian” household before their children could be baptized.
I appreciated that post when he posted. Although it’s not such an easy passage to interpret. The word “sanctify” is technically used for the non-believing spouse. But I also agree that it implies the children are Baptized. But it’s not confirmed by the Church, I believe. It may have a different connotation. Furthermore, the Believing spouse is assumed to be walking in the faith, and so would be living in accord with a promise at their child’s Baptism.
Excellent post!
It is even possible that the Baptized child will lead the parents back to the Faith.
Yes, and it is even possible that the very event of approaching the Church can be a means for the Church to use that faith to compel them out of serious and apparent sin.
IOW, if the Faith of the parents was sufficient to have the child Baptized in the first place, the Baptism is efficacious. And that grace, like God’s rain, will not return to Him until it fulfills His will by watering the souls of the child and parents alike.
Again, I’m not suggesting to refuse Baptism, but to admonish a hypocritical situation. It makes no sense for a parent to make a promise which they are already in the act of contradicting.
What you seem to be implying is OSAS. What I am encouraging, is to confront what Hebrews 11 warns:
*For if we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins
The faith of the parents is no less important than that of the child. To strengthen the parents is to strengthen the child.
I understand the priority of living a life of Christian witness. That should go hand in hand with Baptism. But even if it doesn’t, Baptism is too important to skip just because the parents don’t exemplify perfect Christian behavior, or even deplorable behavior.
Yes, and I’m not speaking about what happens merely down the road, but what is apparent and glaring at the moment. An example would be two parents, one or both being Catholic, but their marriage was only civil, or not even married at all! Or the parent has not been to Confession in several years. Our pastors need to test the faith of parents to root out sin and clear the path for their sake AND their child. Baptism is all about this, but without it is lacking in growth and obedience. It is like the faith alone that James condemns. And this is ironically eating away at the Catholic Church.
As Jesus said: “Suffer the little children to come to me.”
I am not opposed to what you both are saying, or Jesus. I am the God parent of my nephew who was Baptized in the Catholic Church. His mother is my sister, and she is not Catholic. Her husband is. But they were not married in the Church, use BC, never go to Confession, rarely went to Mass, etc.
Later on, they went to a church my sister liked and my brother in law decided he believed in Jesus for the first time, accepted Him as his personal lord and savior, was rebaptized and never set foot in the Catholic Church again.
I don’t regret accepting to be Godparent, and I did do my best to talk about these issues. But I don’t think the Church really cared too much. It was just Baptismal business without the Spiritual guidance.
Which leads to the consumer response of trying other brands when the current one appears to be unsatisfactory. 