Question about being baptized twice

[pig_boy]

I was having a conversation with someone over the weekend about baptizing children. They stated that one of their friends had a priest come to the hospital and baptize all their grandchildren and then the priest will later perform a baptism at the parish church for the entire family to attend. I cannot help but think that this is wrong but I’m not sure as to what exactly prohibits it. Does anyone have any references?

Thanks.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Pigboy, there’s something about this story that your friend either has wrong or is leaving out.

 

[pig_boy]

Pigboy, there’s something about this story that your friend either has wrong or is leaving out.

Trust me that there is nothing she is leaving out. She knows the family well and knows the priest as well. This has been the case with multiple children.

 

[Deacon_Ed]

If the baptism at the hospital was an emergency baptism then the other parts of the rite (anointing with chrism, etc.) were not done, and it is probably these other parts of the rite that will be done. One cannot be baptized twice since baptism imparts an indelible mark on the soul.

Deacon Ed

 

[pig_boy]

The baptism are done in the hospital because the grandmother does not want the children to die without being baptized. However, the children do not face a higher risk of death than other normal, healthy children. I will say I do not know what rites are followed at the hospital other than having water with an “I baptize you…”. At Church, they perform a “normal” baptism.

 

[puzzleannie]

I was having a conversation with someone over the weekend about baptizing children. They stated that one of their friends had a priest come to the hospital and baptize all their grandchildren and then the priest will later perform a baptism at the parish church for the entire family to attend. I cannot help but think that this is wrong but I’m not sure as to what exactly prohibits it. Does anyone have any references?

Thanks.

it is wrong and a grave abuse of canon law and of the sacrament, however, I doubt this is what really happened. I rather assume that the grandchild was baptized in the hospital because he was in danger of death, and the rite was completed at a later time in church, with the family present, that is the anointing, candle, profession of faith and other parts of the rite, to complete the water baptism with trinitarian forumula which was done at the hospital. This is what is supposed to happen after an emergency baptism, and of course, the record keeping must be done as well.

If the grandparents just routinely are baptizing their grandchildren themselves, in the absence of danger of death, they are gravely wrong and should be counselled by their pastor.