Marriage/baptism

[Joe_5859]

Of course their children can be baptized. Let’s say they were married in California then move to New York and start having children. Would they be required to travel back to California everytime they want a child baptized? Of course not! The place of your marriage has nothing to do with where your children are baptized.

You do, however, have to prove that at least one parent is a baptized Catholic (apparently there are exceptions for RCIA candidates). If I remember correctly, I also had to prove where I received my first holy communion, too. I don’t remember if they asked if I was confirmed, but I was and I remember where (all three different churches, BTW.) I didn’t have to come up with actual documentation, though, just names and approximate dates. My husband is not Catholic but our marriage has been blessed by a priest and, frankly, the priest who did our baptism didn’t care about those details. All he cared about was that my husband supported the decision to raise our child in the Catholic faith.

My daughter’s Godfather is a baptized Catholic but I’m not sure he had to do anything to “prove it”.

We went to a baptism preparation class led by a deacon. A private meeting with the priest was completely unnecessary.

When a parish asks for the name of the Church and the approximate date of the sacrament received, it is so that they can contact that parish and confirm.

Ordinarily, a parish requires documentation for godparents who are members of other parishes. But if the priest knows and trusts you, he might not ask. I know that was the case with my kids. He knew us and knew that we took it seriously.

I know a couple that had their grandchild baptized at their parish even though their daughter (and her husband) do not practice the faith and most likely will not raise the child to practice the faith. Anecdotal examples abound, I am sure.

But that these things happen does not mean that every priest would (or should) be okay with it. The canons are in place for a reason. Sure, the couple might find that a certain priest doesn’t care whether they practice or not and will baptize the baby anyway. But I would never tell someone to expect this or to shop around until they find a priest willing to bend the rules. The couple needs to be honest with the priest and ready for the possibility that the priest will ask them to start practicing their faith before he will baptize their child.

 

[joanofarc2008]

And worry about their souls. They are living in a state of sin

They simply need to go to their Pastor, make good confessions, live as brother and sister until they can be married in the Church.

You are being presumptious - you don’t know that their marriage is not valid. You do not have enough information. For instance you do not know if there was a dispensation or if the other Church was Catholic.

 

[Phemie]

Joe5859, I don’t really think they have a priest, like i said they are not completely non-practicing, but pretty close…Or do you mean just a priest at their church?

Whether they know it or not they are members of a parish since a parish is generally a geographical entity that covers all Catholics who live within its boundaries. It’s a good probability that if they approach the pastor of the Catholic Church nearest where they live they will find that that is their geographical parish and the parish responsible for the administration of the sacraments of initiation and marriage.

 

[txangel]

How is it that this couple was able to find a priest to marry them? Was this one of those rent-a-priests?

You stole the words right out of my mouth. How could any priest agree to perform the marriage ceremony outside of the church. It’s my understanding this is a “no-no”. That is why Catholics cannot have “location” wedding.

 

[puzzleannie]

If 2 non-practicing Catholics get married by a priest but outside of their church, will they be able to have their children baptized at that church?

two non-practicing Catholics will almost certainly be advised by the priest to delay baptism until such time as they can give assurance the child will be raised Catholic, which is the minimum requirement. Non-practicing means by definition they cannot and don’t want to give that assurance. Marriage is only part of it, and no by itself, is not reason to delay baptism if they are willing to work on remedying that situation.

Because if they are baptized Catholics but married civilly, then the Church does not see them as married, so they would have to get married first in the Church.

.

by itself this is not true, no they are not validly married, no it is not absolutely necessary that the marriage be convalidated before the child is baptized, but the situation will certainly raise a red flag for the priest who will ask for assurance they intend to raise the child Catholic.

the only way this couple is going to get an answer that applies to their specific individual situation is to meet with the priest in their local parish.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

Everyone here is full of advice but the only sure thing is for the couple to talk with their local parish priest. He can discuss their situation with them and figure out the best course of action.
Baptism may be delayed, it may not be delayed. Only the couple sitting down with the priest can figure it out.

 

[veilofveronica]

hi there, welcome

They should make an appointment to talk with their parish priest. Or, if they don’t have a parish, call the closest Catholic Church to them, and sit down and talk with a priest… Every situation is different. I have never heard of a child being refused baptism. The parents would need to promise that they are going to raise their child in the Catholic faith and do everything that they can to ensure that their child has a Catholic upbringing.

God Bless