Parish refusing to baptize newborn.

[Jehannette]

Janette
but you don’t know the other situation at all to be able to give further comment …

I never have claimed to know. I assume that everyone who comes here does so “in good faith,” and if true, it’s just absurd to be told that one need “wait six months” to baptize a newborn baby.

 

[SonCatcher]

I have 5 children; I baptized my last two. I have no qualms nor any problems of conscience about it at all. The parish which we were registered to only performed baptisms once a month, and for my wife and I, that was too slow.

When one of my children miscarried, I conditionally baptized him/her (too small to tell) because there was a chance he still lived but absolutely certain that in a short time he wouldn’t be. Still, I would not violate canon law by presuming to baptize any future child who is not in immediate danger of death. (violation of canon law - at least when one is aware of it - is a sin)

It does not seem at all likely that I would ever be in a situation where any priest would be totally unavailable so I don’t have any plan in place should that occur.

It is unfortunate your parish is so limiting. Mine will baptize at any Sunday Mass. Parish size sometimes makes a difference, however.

 

[Jehannette]

When one of my children miscarried, I conditionally baptized him/her (too small to tell) because there was a chance he still lived but absolutely certain that in a short time he wouldn’t be. Still, I would not violate canon law by presuming to baptize any future child who is not in immediate danger of death. (violation of canon law - at least when one is aware of it - is a sin)

It does not seem at all likely that I would ever be in a situation where any priest would be totally unavailable so I don’t have any plan in place should that occur.

It is unfortunate your parish is so limiting. Mine will baptize at any Sunday Mass. Parish size sometimes makes a difference, however.

Yours is a good parish. The one which we used to attend was huge – 5 Sunday masses. I do not know why they only performed baptisms once per month. I didn’t want an argument over it and never asked.

 

[SonCatcher]

Yours is a good parish. The one which we used to attend was huge – 5 Sunday masses. I do not know why they only performed baptisms once per month. I didn’t want an argument over it and never asked.

Probably logistics. They may well have 20 or more scheduled in a given month and everyone wants the same Mass time. It would be great if they had every Saturday morning (leaving the afternoon free to schedule weddings) and even better if they sent a priest to make hospital rounds to baptize and the children of Catholics born the previous day.

 

[Nicea325]

I never have claimed to know. I assume that everyone who comes here does so “in good faith,” and if true, it’s just absurd to be told that one need “wait six months” to baptize a newborn baby.

Jehannette,

I understand where you are coming from and it is fair. Now not to pick on you,but people need to listen at times.Let me tell you something,after for working for the church several years now, many people believe the church is like a drive-thru. There can be a lot a reasons why maybe a parish does baptisms once every six months. People are quick to judge and slow to forgive.

It is a lot different when people are only looking in from the outside, as oppose to being “inside” and looking out. Every parish community does its best to serve its community with the available resources. I deal with the same stuff and at times people do not like my reasons for why we can’t do this or do that,but these are realities of the church and we must understand both sides.

Trust me, I can understand your concern and it is fair. But at the same time,try understand the other side too.

God Bless

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

I have 5 children; I baptized my last two. I have no qualms nor any problems of conscience about it at all. The parish which we were registered to only performed baptisms once a month, and for my wife and I, that was too slow.

Once a month is pretty generous, and it’s still within the “few weeks” requirement and gives the mother time to recover after the birth.

 

[pnewton]

In my opinion, the above gave me the canonical right to baptize my last two children shortly after birth.

Opinion never equates to canonical right. Rest assured those here who read this need to know this advice is contrary to Church teaching. I would hate if anyone acted on the opinion of another in contradiction to the Church.