Lesbian couple in argentina have their baby baptized

[JamesTheJust]

This is true, but the it doesn’t need to be the parents who instruct the child. If the parents are in a same sex marriage and have selected orthodox God Parents and plan to raise the child Catholic, then in THEORY the child could be baptized if the priest feels that there is “a founded hope that the infant will be brought up in the Catholic religion.”

You’re correct. However, in this case, the godparent is the President, who has allowed same-sex marriage to remain legal, as didn’t even attend the ceremony. But as you say, in principle, if the godparent(s) were to raise the child sufficiently in the faith despite any unorthodoxy of the parents, the child could be baptized.

But if you are going to “punish” children because their parents are “bad Catholics” then you have to “punish” all children of “bad Catholics.”

From where did you get punishment?

The question is simply this “is there a founded hope that the infant will be brought up in the Catholic religion” or is the child getting baptized for “good luck” or for some kind of “superstition”? Even if the child will be raised as a Cafeteria Catholic, it’s better than not being Baptized or growing up without the sacraments.

If the parents are not in good standing, and do not actively seek to get into good standing, the child’s Baptism must be delayed to the age of reason.

 

[JamesTheJust]

Baptism requires the consent of the parents. Canon law says baptism can be delayed if there is no hope of the child being raised Catholic.

Exactly.

 

[JamesTheJust]

No, but a Hindu couple could have their baby baptized in the Catholic Church if they show that they intend to raise him Catholic. E.g., send him off to live with Catholic relatives.

But the parents have not shown a single sign that they will renounce their “marriage” or send him away to be raised in the Faith.

 

[fastenatingguy]

Slightly OT

My best friend (divorced, not yet annulled) and his girlfriend (never married) are the parents of a 5 month old daughter. They are Catholic and are delaying marriage and perhaps even baptism for the baby until they know more about the Bishops’ Synod on the family. However, they are clearly not living as brother and sister. Will the synod make concessions for the annulment process or something else that could be possible? They know that there are things that the Church cannot and will not do.

They want to raise their daughter (and future children, of which they hope for several more) Catholic because it is what they know (although obviously they are NOT practicing it well). But if they can’t have it on their own terms, they would consider Orthodoxy (and not Protestantism) in the future, if they can be accepted there, because of the validity of their Sacraments.

Other than prayers–which are most welcome-- any advice?

 

[MissRose73]

It is a very sticky situation for sure with the parents’ situation. I am sure there are plenty of couples who have children without the benefit of marriage.

The child should not be denied baptism as it is been well documented that Pope Francis had even offered to baptize the child of a woman that conceived the child during an affair, she did not abort the child per request of the father, & receiving no help from the child’s biological father if she wasn’t able to get a priest to baptize her child.

My sister and her ex husband (father of the children) consented to have their children receive the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil 5 years ago - as far as I know the priest did not tell them, me, my aunt/uncle (2 of the god parents) and my mother that their parents being divorced & fallen away should prevent the children from becoming Catholics as the parents gave consent.

 

[JamesTheJust]

It is a very sticky situation for sure with the parents’ situation. I am sure there are plenty of couples who have children without the benefit of marriage.

The child should not be denied baptism as it is been well documented that Pope Francis had even offered to baptize the child of a woman that conceived the child during an affair, she did not abort the child per request of the father, & receiving no help from the child’s biological father if she wasn’t able to get a priest to baptize her child.

Well, if it seemed like the woman was earnestly attempting to reconcile with the Church, her child should be baptized. But the lesbian couple are making no attempt to do the same.

My sister and her ex husband (father of the children) consented to have their children receive the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil 5 years ago - as far as I know the priest did not tell them, me, my aunt/uncle (2 of the god parents) and my mother that their parents being divorced & fallen away should prevent the children from becoming Catholics as the parents gave consent.

This may have been an error of the priest, but, as you say, we don’t really know the full situation.