Post-baptismal education responsibility

[mek42]

If a child is baptized and parents fail to ensure proper catechism, how is responsibility for the child lapsing apportioned? Are the parents and child equally responsible, just the child?

 

[1ke]

If a child is baptized and parents fail to ensure proper catechism, how is responsibility for the child lapsing apportioned?

The Church doesn’t apportion anything to anyone.

Are the parents and child equally responsible, just the child?

I’m not sure how the child can be responsible for not knowing what they were never taught.

The child is responsible for what they do know.

 

[Antegin]

This is why the Church asks you to select God Parents who should step in if parents can’t or won’t continue the child’s education in the Faith.

 

[Casilda]

If the child grows up and tries to return to the church, since they were in essence baptized Catholic, they are responsible for all irregularities in their life, even if they have lived as a good Christian, married a Christian, etc. They would have to pick up where their parents (or the church) left them. Sacraments of confirmation and a valid marriage would have to be obtained in order to resume communion with the church.

I am that baptized child, who from the age of nine (and after receiving first communion), grew up outside of the church environment. So the responsibility has been on me to prove my catholicity (to the church). Mary and Jesus already know me.

 

[InNomineDomini]

Sacraments of confirmation and a valid marriage would have to be obtained in order to resume communion with the church.
.

Of course, such a child would not need to be Confirmed before being able to receive Communion, if they’d already received Communion previously. However, yes, if they grew up to be in a marriage that needed to be regularized, they would have to do what is necessary to accomplish that.

I really feel for those in that situation, and it genuinely saddens me that some seem so deflated by issues surrounding their grown-up marriages. I really should start praying more for those folks.

For the OP:

Don’t forget that children could have parents that come from a mixed-faith background. The non-Catholic parent does not have an obligation to raise the child Catholic, contrary to popular understanding; and the Catholic parent has to promise to do whatever they can, in their power, to ensure a Catholic education for their little ones.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Every Christian has the responsibility to study the Faith, although there will be differences among sects and denominations about what this entails. Parents who neglect the religious education of their children are guilty of grave neglect.

 

[Casilda]

saddens me that some seem so deflated by issues surrounding their grown-up marriages. I really should start praying more for those folks.

I don’t think the people in the positions of assisting those coming into the church have been adequately trained. I don’t think they knew how to help me as I was given wrong advice, many times over. Some people give up trying. I did.

At first no one told me about ‘certified’ baptism records. It took a year to get mine at the same time I was searching for the original. By the time I was filling out paperwork for convalidation the baptismal certificate had become invalid because it was over 6 months old. Then I was told to start over at another parish, which had no priest! Really? And you wonder why people get deflated.

 

[InNomineDomini]

And you wonder why people get deflated.

I understand, Casilda. I also understand that everyone is unique, and that crosses are always difficult to bear, and most of us do very poorly at carrying them, whether big or small. (I personally have trouble dealing with even the tiniest of disappointments, let alone something as serious as all of this.)

As I say, this all clearly requires a tremendous amount of grace. My own parents have been affected by this sort of thing, and I’m afraid I perhaps don’t pray nearly enough for them, or for others in their situation.

I also pray that God will give you peace, Casilda. My apologies for getting a bit off topic here.