Restrictions on Baptism

[joshrp]

Hi,

Why are there so many restrictions on Catholic baptisms. I was not baptised in the Catholic church because my mom and dad did not know anyone who could be godparents to me. My mom had to have me baptized in a Protestant church. I eventually received First Holy Communion in the Catholic Church. Why is it that I have to have godparents to be baptized? I have also heard stories of people whose children could not be baptized in the Catholic Church because they had not been married in the Church. Why is this? People have been turned away because of this. I don’t understand why we have these particular restrictions.

Joshua

 

[Iron_Donkey]

Hi,

Why are there so many restrictions on Catholic baptisms. I was not baptised in the Catholic church because my mom and dad did not know anyone who could be godparents to me. My mom had to have me baptized in a Protestant church. I eventually received First Holy Communion in the Catholic Church. Why is it that I have to have godparents to be baptized? I have also heard stories of people whose children could not be baptized in the Catholic Church because they had not been married in the Church. Why is this? People have been turned away because of this. I don’t understand why we have these particular restrictions.

Joshua

Hi,

A Godparent is supposed to help the baptized person with the Catholic faith. If the parents cannot find one (and only one is necessary) the priest can help them find one. Often a close family friend or relative is chosen, but this is not necessary.

Second, a priest can only baptize a child if it seems likely that that child will be raised in the faith. If the parents were not married in the Church (and were Catholic when they married) and aren’t trying to get their marriage regularized, then they are not following the faith and are demonstrably not trying that hard to do so, so it may not seem likely to the priest that they will raise the child in the Catholic faith. In such a case, the baptism would have to be delayed until the parents can convince the priest that they will try to raise the child Catholic.

 

[eegardner]

To add more to what Iron Donkey has correctly said.

If you had a godparent that was not a baptized Christian you can not be sure that, if something happened to the parents, the godparents would ensure that the child was raised Catholic. If for instance they chose godparents that were Muslim or Jewish or Hindu, the godparents would possibly choose their religion over Catholicism for the child. The purpose of the godparent is to ensure the correct path to salvation for the child in the absence of the parents. For that reason the Church takes the choice of godparents very serious.

 

[puzzleannie]

Hi,

Why are there so many restrictions on Catholic baptisms. I was not baptised in the Catholic church because my mom and dad did not know anyone who could be godparents to me. My mom had to have me baptized in a Protestant church. I eventually received First Holy Communion in the Catholic Church. Why is it that I have to have godparents to be baptized? I have also heard stories of people whose children could not be baptized in the Catholic Church because they had not been married in the Church. Why is this? People have been turned away because of this. I don’t understand why we have these particular restrictions.

Joshua

there is no absolute requirement that the parents supply godparents. If they know of no one, the pastor will assign a godparent, so I think there is more to that story. I get this from parents all the time who are surprised when we tell them this is no barrier to baptizing their child. I think your parents made an assumption, but did not actually speak to a priest about it.

Catholic parents must give assurance that they plan to raise the child Catholic, otherwise the sacrament would be a mockery and a sacrilege (abuse of holy things). No, not being married in the Church does not prevent them from baptizing their child if they can give assurance they will raise the child properly, but if they reject the Church’s sacrament of matrimony, what assurance is there that they will respect the other sacraments? Sacraments are gifts from Christ to give grace. Someone who refuses that grace–as Catholic do when they refuse the sacrament of matrimony–has indicated the do not understand that grace, or want it for themselves, or their children. The wise priest will use this as a teaching moment and bring the parents around by gentle persuasion, rather than just send them away.

again I am betting that the parents heard this from a secretary or someone else, not directly from the pastor. Catholic parents who have issues with baptizing their child should always insist on speaking with the pastor directly, because he alone decides who is a candidate for sacraments. A candidate for baptism is anyone who asks for it, or in the case of a minor, whose parents ask for it and give evidence of sincerity and intent to follow the teachings of the faith.

 

[jmcrae]

Hi,

Why are there so many restrictions on Catholic baptisms. I was not baptised in the Catholic church because my mom and dad did not know anyone who could be godparents to me. My mom had to have me baptized in a Protestant church. I eventually received First Holy Communion in the Catholic Church. Why is it that I have to have godparents to be baptized? I have also heard stories of people whose children could not be baptized in the Catholic Church because they had not been married in the Church. Why is this? People have been turned away because of this. I don’t understand why we have these particular restrictions.

Joshua

Baptism is not merely a naming ceremony for the child. It is his initiation into membership in the Catholic Church. This is how we become Catholics. That’s why it’s so important that the god parent and the parents are good Catholics.

 

[MelSA]

I have has a similiar issue. Just recently my brother asked me to be his daughters God Mother and the parish priest said that I cannot be the God Mother as I do not live in that Town anymore. I have been baptized, confirmed etc. I attend the church in the city that I now live in and they suggested that I give my former parish priest a letter stating that I do attend mass etc but the former priest said that because I am in another town / city and I am unable to attend baptism classes with the parents I cannot be a God Mother and that this is the new ‘rule.’

This has disappointed me because when my son was baptised we chose Catholic God Parents from out of town who were our close family members but now things seem to have changed.

What if they now choose friends as they have no other options and then the friendship drifts? And the child doesnt grow up knowing her God Parents? Or they also leave that town? It makes no sense to me.

Disappointed