May my children receive the Sacraments?

[Corruich]

My wife and I are attempting to join the Catholic church. However, we are dealing with an annulment issue of my wife’s former marriage. We have completed RCIA, but have not been received into the church. We are well into the second year of waiting for a response from the tribunal and have heard that in the Diocese of Fort Worth it can take up to three years.

The real problem is that one of my children is in the process of preparing for first reconciliation and first Communion, but we are not sure that they are going to let him proceed. As well, we are expecting another child very soon and are not sure that they are going to let the baby be baptized.

What say you? Can children receive reconciliation and first Communion if their parents have not been received into the Catholic church? Can children be baptized if their parents have not been received into the Catholic church?

Thanks.
-Corruich

 

[catholicpublish]

The Church will generally not deny baptism to children, though they do need to be assured your children will be raised Catholic. You may have to go to the church and talk to a priest or somebody in the diocese to further explain your situation, as it does seem unique in a way.

 

[Spirithound]

Talk to your priest. Your situation does not present any canonical impediments.

 

[laszlo]

I know even a priest, whose parents were not married in the Church and their son was allowed even to be ordained (with special permission).

 

[Corruich]

I know even a priest, whose parents were not married in the Church and their son was allowed even to be ordained (with special permission).

There are two things with this though. Ordination is for adults, so presumably he already came to the church as an adult first. Secondly is your phrase “with special permission”. That is part of what I need to know. Do I need to get special permission for my children as well? If so, how do I go about doing that.

Thanks for your reply.

-Corruich

 

[ConstantineTG]

There are two things with this though. Ordination is for adults, so presumably he already came to the church as an adult first. Secondly is your phrase “with special permission”. That is part of what I need to know. Do I need to get special permission for my children as well? If so, how do I go about doing that.

Thanks for your reply.

-Corruich

Actually there is no age requirement for Ordination. You can Ordain a child, although realistically it may never happen. Note that John was about 12-14 years of age when he was Ordained by Jesus.

Today, its only by law and by discipline that there is a set age and educational attainment before receiving Ordination. But it can be dispensed if there is ever such a need to.

 

[KarenElissa]

What say you? Can children receive reconciliation and first Communion if their parents have not been received into the Catholic church? Can children be baptized if their parents have not been received into the Catholic church?

The short answer is talk to your priest, it will be up to him.

The issue is whether there is hope that the children will be raised in the Church. The worry is what if the annulment doesn’t come through? That would raise some rather large complications. So it will basically be up to the priest whether he believes the children will be raised Catholic, even if you guys can’t be received into the Church. Some priests may allow it others may insist that they wait until you guys are Catholic. It just depends.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

If the priest has a ‘founded hope’ that the children will be raised in the church he is to baptize them. Could you in good conscience promise the priest to raise the children as Catholics even if the annulment doesn’t come through? If so, the priest should baptize them. If your first child is already a baptized Catholic and preparing for first Communion and Confession I see no reason to delay this.