Required Donation for Baptism?

[Artc]

I was looking through a bulletin for another church is my area, and came across their requirements for baptism. One of the requirements was listed as (and this is a direct quote):

“Donation of $75 for one child, or $100 for two or more children, per family”

I have to admit, my jaw practically dropped. I am aware of traditionally giving the priest a stipend for the baptism, as with a wedding, but I have never heard it listed as a requirement, nor at such a high price. I find it particularly troubling because this parish is in a lower income part of our city, so the cost would be even more of a hardship.

Furthermore, in the Spanish translation of this message, the requirement is followed by “no rembolsable”- non refundable. I kind of think this is weird in an of itself, but the fact that its listed only on the Spanish tranalation?

Has anyone else ever heard of such a thing? Is this more common than I think?

I plan on calling my own parish soon to ask about baptism classes/requirements (I am pregnant), and frankly now I’m a little scared of what they might say!

 

[bardegaulois]

First of all, understand that you are not paying for the sacrament. The Church can never charge to administer the sacraments, for that is simony and forbidden by canon law. You are correct, however, in presuming that a customary stipend is given to the parish priest in keeping with the precept of the Church of supporting the clergy financially.

If you are unable to provide the stipend or can only provide a part of it, that should not be a bar to having your child baptized. Talk to your parish priest about this. If you are truly unable and he refuses to baptize your child, then he is committing a grave breach of canon law and you ought to send a letter to your diocese’s vicar-general.

God bless.

 

[Petaro]

Setting an amount for a stipend seems a bit over the top.
I noted in the newspaper today that the Sydney diocese in Australia has revealed to the Royal Commission into child abuse that it has reserves of 1.2 billion dollars. That is just one diocese!
I know we must support our local parish but I think too many churches of all denominations are setting too many charges and costs for a church wedding. This is why there are so many park weddings. I would hate to see a set amount charged for a baptism, even if it disguised as a voluntary stipend.
I have told my non-catholic wife to have six masses said for me on my death, but she is allowed to haggle.

 

[Phemie]

I have to fight this kind of thing every time we have a finance council meeting.
“How much do we charge for Baptism?”
“Nothing, we are not allowed to sell sacraments.”
“We should be charging at least $25.”
“???”

I could see asking for a voluntary donation to cover the cost of consumables used in baptismal preparation and the candle which probably add up to less than $10. But this idea of wanting to charge for every little thing makes me cringe. As does the idea of making parishioners who donate every week pay a fee for a certificate of Baptism which takes all of two minutes and a sheet of paper to print.

When people have asked about a stipend for the priest I’ve told them to give whatever they feel comfortable with and to just put it in an envelope for him.

 

[mcw013]

I was looking through a bulletin for another church is my area, and came across their requirements for baptism. One of the requirements was listed as (and this is a direct quote):

“Donation of $75 for one child, or $100 for two or more children, per family”

I have to admit, my jaw practically dropped. I am aware of traditionally giving the priest a stipend for the baptism, as with a wedding, but I have never heard it listed as a requirement, nor at such a high price. I find it particularly troubling because this parish is in a lower income part of our city, so the cost would be even more of a hardship.

Furthermore, in the Spanish translation of this message, the requirement is followed by “no rembolsable”- non refundable. I kind of think this is weird in an of itself, but the fact that its listed only on the Spanish tranalation?

Has anyone else ever heard of such a thing? Is this more common than I think?

I plan on calling my own parish soon to ask about baptism classes/requirements (I am pregnant), and frankly now I’m a little scared of what they might say!

I was baptised in Europe. I was required to pay 70 euros for my baptism. Doesn’t surprise me.

 

[PazzoGrande]

Seems to me that donations should always be voluntary.

That being said, I’m sure they have some kind of policy for those who cannot afford.

 

[maryjk]

When people have asked about a stipend for the priest I’ve told them to give whatever they feel comfortable with and to just put it in an envelope for him.

I understand what you are saying, but some people want a ballpark figure.

I know my mom requested a Mass said. They told her to put in whatever she felt comfortable with.

She put in $100. The office told her that $100 was too much.

Well, then give us a ballpark figure.

$10 for a Mass.

 

[aicirt]

No, the Church or priest cannot charge for a sacrament. However, if they’re to follow Canon law, then us lay people should follow the rules of common courtesy.

If you are celebrating a sacrament by having a party afterwards, please consider giving a donation to the church. If necessary, discuss your finances with the priest if you are pressed for cash. Your joyful about your child receiving a sacrament. Spread the joy. Invite the priest to the party, wedding, funeral luncheon etc. Give what you can cash, a gift certificate what ever.

 

[Bookcat]

It is a donation. One may never ever ever ever pay for a sacrament or be required to (as already noted…).

The customary donation can likely vary from place to place.

But such is never ever payment for a Sacrament. The non-refundable part -is well it is a donation so if someone decides to have the Child bapized somewhere else -they ought not say give me my donation back.

My parish provides a baptismal garment (hand made I believe) and of course the candle and certificate etc. The customary offering here with my newborn being baptized recently was $25. They did not ask me - I asked them.

Churches though have huge expenses keeping things going (poorer places need more of course -but I am sure understand when what is customary does not happen due to the particular persons income etc -but one could ask themselves- are they giving $10 and then having a big party?)-and they are our Churches and our Priests who serve us and need to meet their needs to (as St. Paul put it the worker is worth his wage…but he was not talking of course about paying for a Sacrament).

 

[1ke]

Can.* 848 The minister is to seek nothing for the administration of the sacraments beyond the offerings defined by competent authority, always taking care that the needy are not deprived of the assistance of the sacraments because of poverty.

The “competent authority” is the bishop (unless it is a religious superior). So the offering amount is established by the bishop for his diocese, both the amount and how it is to be used, for each sacrament.

For example, in my old diocese the offerings went to the priest. In my current diocese, the go into a parish works of charity fund that we then use at the parish level, for example we have paid bills for needy families, etc.

And, as Can 848 also outlines, those who cannot make an offering are not to be deprived of assistance.

 

[Mike_Dye]

I do the Baptism preparation class for the parents and godparents in our parish. We would never ask a fee for the sacrament. I do mention that it is customary for the priest to be offered a stipend, but never mention a set price and I do emphasize that if the stipend is a difficulty that it is not a problem and not to worry about it. Our current pastor turns any stipend into our parish general collection anyway. He is really good about things like that.

 

[zab]

I always like to know what the suggested donation is, but I have to say that the way the requirements is written in this case does not come across very well. The donation does seem rather steep and it comes across as more of a requirement than a “suggested donation”. I suggest that one give the donation that seems appropriate for their family to give and not worry about it. It is a donation not a charged fee.