Non Emergency Emergency Baptism

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Irishrugger

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Friends,
I am a police officer, and a close friend of mine/fellow officer has recently asked me about becoming a Catholic. He grew up in the Southern Baptist tradition from his parents, and has a solid knowledge of the Bible and the gospel message, but has never been baptized.

Throughout the past few months he has asked me plenty of questions concerning the Catholic faith, and has decided that he wants to become a Catholic. I explained the RCIA program to him, but with the nature of our job, and the inherent danger, he asked if there was a way for him to at least be baptized before being confirmed.Is there a process for getting someone baptized sooner than next Easter based on his circumstances?
 
Irishrugger said:
Friends,
I am a police officer, and a close friend of mine/fellow officer has recently asked me about becoming a Catholic. He grew up in the Southern Baptist tradition from his parents, and has a solid knowledge of the Bible and the gospel message, but has never been baptized.

Throughout the past few months he has asked me plenty of questions concerning the Catholic faith, and has decided that he wants to become a Catholic. I explained the RCIA program to him, but with the nature of our job, and the inherent danger, he asked if there was a way for him to at least be baptized before being confirmed.Is there a process for getting someone baptized sooner than next Easter based on his circumstances?
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I know someone who was conditionally baptized before being received into the Church because they didn’t have a record of his baptism and that was before he was officially Catholic so you might want to talk to a priest. I wish I could tell you more but that’s usually the best advice in sacramental situations
 
Irishrugger said:
Friends,
I am a police officer, and a close friend of mine/fellow officer has recently asked me about becoming a Catholic. He grew up in the Southern Baptist tradition from his parents, and has a solid knowledge of the Bible and the gospel message, but has never been baptized.

Throughout the past few months he has asked me plenty of questions concerning the Catholic faith, and has decided that he wants to become a Catholic. I explained the RCIA program to him, but with the nature of our job, and the inherent danger, he asked if there was a way for him to at least be baptized before being confirmed.Is there a process for getting someone baptized sooner than next Easter based on his circumstances?
Click to expand...
Check with the pastor; private instruction may be available for him.
 
Irishrugger said:
Friends,
I am a police officer, and a close friend of mine/fellow officer has recently asked me about becoming a Catholic. He grew up in the Southern Baptist tradition from his parents, and has a solid knowledge of the Bible and the gospel message, but has never been baptized.

Throughout the past few months he has asked me plenty of questions concerning the Catholic faith, and has decided that he wants to become a Catholic. I explained the RCIA program to him, but with the nature of our job, and the inherent danger, he asked if there was a way for him to at least be baptized before being confirmed.Is there a process for getting someone baptized sooner than next Easter based on his circumstances?
Click to expand...
First of all, every time an adult receives a Sacrament of Initiation, that is, by definition, a form of RCIA. So this isn’t about “RCIA or something else…” It’s about adapting RCIA to the circumstances.

Local pastors have very broad latitude in adapting RCIA to individual circumstances. That’s the good news.

The point is that your friend needs to talk to the local Catholic pastor. One way or another, the pastor will (certainly “should”, I hope “will”) work with him towards adapting the process for his particular needs.

The rules here get rather complicated, and there are all kinds of permissions or delegations that (safe to say most) bishops give to parish pastors. You don’t need to worry about the specifics; let the local pastor deal with those. Because these vary by diocese, there’s no point in me posting them. The part that you and your friend need to know is that what you’re asking about can be done.

There is no such rule in the Church that adults can only be baptized at the Easter Vigil. It simply doesn’t exist; although it is encouraged.

So again, talk to the local Catholic pastor.
 
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