True. My old church didn’t present me with a certificate or anything when I was baptized at age 19, and I didn’t really want to ask for a record because of some ill will between us. I just typed up a letter saying the date of my baptism and had my parents who were present sign it. The parish did want a letter signed by witnesses though. I wasn’t allowed to just sign it myself.
Deacon, so you would advice all non Catholics to foregone baptism unless they enter into the Catholic Church? I would agree with your advice if the parents had already decided to enter the Church, but the OP has not. I am not trying to be trite, I do not know the right answer in this case.
There is nothing wrong if your Son is Dying, which needs immediate baptism. But if not, you can ask a priest to do his Job.Hello all!
I am new to this forum, and let me start by saying that I am not Catholic. I am a Protestant (though I hate identifying myself with a word that essentially means, 'protesting against the Catholic Church, because I actually really like the Catholic Church…eh, semantics.). Anyway, I am a Protestant who has recently been delving into Catholic ideas and exploring the faith, because I’m not entirely sure that I am right; I am becoming more and more convinced that you guys are the ones who have it right. We shall see how that study concludes; not making any rash decisions. But on one thing, I am absolutely certain. I KNOW that infant baptism is more right that waiting until he hits an arbitrary and undefined “age of reason.”
My husband and I have a 1 year old son and though neither of us is Catholic, we strongly believe he should be baptized. I know the Catholic Church will not do it (which I fully understand the reasoning for, no problems there) and my church definitely won’t do it. They would think we were crazySo, the option we have right now is to just do it ourselves. His grandfather (also Protestant) agrees with it and will do the baptism. After all that, my question is: what exactly goes on at a christening? How exactly should we do it? I’ve seen many adult baptisms but never one for a baby, except on television!
Thanks so much and God bless!
It is likely that a Catholic priest will not agree to baptize the infant. A priest can only do so if it is likely the child will be raised in the faith, and that is not at all apparent.
Well they can ask another priest if a priest refuse to baptize their Son. In our country, a priest can baptize all children regardless of the religious affiliation of their parents, and with the permission of the parents of course. I became a catechist and teach pupils in the different schools for their first communion, at least 88 pupils in the class, some of them are protestants, I convinced them to convert and become catholic, then their parents asked me to Baptize their children, then I asked our Priest if its is ok, he said to me, as long as the parents allow and permit them then it is ok. And of course before the First communion, we set a meeting with parents to briefly catechize them, and reiterate the importance of the Church and her teachings.
Are you sure about this? Is it a Latin Rite country? The code of canon law is quite clear
I am not for sure what the OP should do, but I am certain that any Catholic priest would be wrong to baptize this child unless there was a danger of death.
In the Roman Rite, its just sprinkling of the holy water in the forehead and a holy oil.
Yes, it is catholic nation. I am just sharing my observation. But in some cases, I catechized the parents before Baptism of their infants. And as I remember, the parents promise to raised their children in Catholic way. By the way, though those parents are protestant, they also believe in the catholic Church, its confusing, because, they are members of the Methodist Church.
I think if you read all of my posts, here and in other threads, you will see that I want all to want Catholicism, yes. And the OP here did give some indication this is where they may be heading, but I am not asking nor advising anyone to forgo baptism, unless it is into the Catholic Church. It would be best that they themselves, the parents, come into full communion first; then they can together raise their children in teh Catholic faith.
The priest’s job would be to say no. The child under the age of reason has no Catholic parent to legitemately ask for baptism into the Latin Rite Catholic Church. You may find a priest, or as the other thread illustrated, a deacon; but it would in fact be an ilicit baptism, valid and efective but an illicit action by the minister.
So you are baptizing these children? And you are a deacon, priest or bishop? It’s not that simple. This is not a little game or just something fun to do, with this comes great responsibility. Are you ready to take on that weight?
I think it is in the Priest… The OP should ask the priest first, as long as they will pay the stipend.The priest’s job would be to say no. The child under the age of reason has no Catholic parent to legitemately ask for baptism into the Latin Rite Catholic Church. You may find a priest, or as the other thread illustrated, a deacon; but it would in fact be an ilicit baptism, valid and efective but an illicit action by the minister.
However, not an illicit action by the parents to baptize their child into the Christian family. Not my suggestion, just conversation.
What rite are you? Are you a Latin Rite Catholic? If so you are bound by the same canon law as I, this is not licit. What country? How old are these children? If they are over 7 then you cannot baptize them even if their parents are Catholic, unless they are not responsible for themselves. If the yare not responsible then they are to be treated as infants where baptism is concerned.
So if the stipend is not paid you don’t baptize, but if the protestent parets can pay, you baptize their infant?I think it is in the Priest… The OP should ask the priest first, as long as they will pay the stipend.
Not necessarily. We baptize by immersion too. In fact, when I read the Rite of Baptism for Infants, it presumes an immersion Baptism. We offer both in our parish and leave it up to the parents to decide which way they want the Baptism to be celebrated. About 30% opt for immersion.
I see, that is great. So is there any difference of the collected fees for immersion and sprinkling?
Phemie didn’t say anything about collecting fees.