Russian Orthodox baptism

[dtjesus]

Our adopted baby boy was baptized under Russian Orthodox. We want to baptize the baby again, here in our American church. Is this necessary? Also, we want to change the baby’s baptismal name? Can we do this?

 

[malphono]

Our adopted baby boy was baptized under Russian Orthodox. We want to baptize the baby again, here in our American church. Is this necessary?

The Sacrament of Baptism can be conferred only once. Orthodox baptism is valid, so no, it would not be possible to “re-baptize” the boy. If not already in your possession, you should, however, get a record of the child’s Orthodox baptism as proof of baptism. If that is not possible, (i.e., there is no proof of baptism), the parish priest would likely perform a conditional baptism, and if so, he will also prepare a baptismal record showing whichever name was given.

Also, we want to change the baby’s baptismal name? Can we do this?

Again, no, unless there is no proof of baptism. If the point is to change the name legally, that can be easily done through the court system. It’s not unusual for a person to have a legal name different from his baptismal name.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Our adopted baby boy was baptized under Russian Orthodox. We want to baptize the baby again, here in our American church. Is this necessary? Also, we want to change the baby’s baptismal name? Can we do this?

The Orthodox Baptism is valid. You should not attempt another baptism.

 

[Joannm]

Also you should realize that the child was probably also confirmed and received First Eucharist at his baptism. So he will not be receiving First Communion and Confirmation again when he gets older. We have had several cases of this in our parish.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Also you should realize that the child was probably also confirmed and received First Eucharist at his baptism. So he will not be receiving First Communion and Confirmation again when he gets older. We have had several cases of this in our parish.

Right. But the child can join the First Communion ceremony in the Catholic Church. What’s the difference between the First Communion and the next one anyway? We receive Christ the same each time we partake of the Eucharist, so there’s no harm if the child joins other Catholics for First Communion. Its good too to be able to receive proper Catholic education about the Eucharist as part of the process.

Its best that the baptismal record of the child is retrieved and a copy forwarded to the new parish so the priest will be informed. The child may also be part of the Confirmation Rite but not be actually Confirmed. I heard this done before.

 

[Spirithound]

Would the child now canonically be Catholic?

 

[FrDavid96]

Would the child now canonically be Catholic?

Not enough information.

The child “may” be Catholic–if the parents (or at least one parent) are Catholic and intend for the child to be Catholic, then he is. Nothing more is required beyond the parents intent here.

Based on the little information we have here, though, the child is Catholic (since the OP probably would not have posed the question in the first place unless he has such an intent).

 

[FrDavid96]

Our adopted baby boy was baptized under Russian Orthodox. We want to baptize the baby again, here in our American church. Is this necessary? Also, we want to change the baby’s baptismal name? Can we do this?

You can bring him to church for a blessing, but since there’s no question that Orthodox baptisms are valid, re-baptising is not possible (not even a conditional baptism). You can’t change his baptismal name because that’s a fact of history and you can’t change the past. You can give him a new legal name though.

The fact that he’s now your son, and you want him to be Catholic is sufficient in itself to make him a Catholic. A blessing by the local pastor to welcome him into the Church would be a good thing, but not strictly necessary.

 

[Phemie]

Right. But the child can join the First Communion ceremony in the Catholic Church. What’s the difference between the First Communion and the next one anyway? We receive Christ the same each time we partake of the Eucharist, so there’s no harm if the child joins other Catholics for First Communion. Its good too to be able to receive proper Catholic education about the Eucharist as part of the process.

Its best that the baptismal record of the child is retrieved and a copy forwarded to the new parish so the priest will be informed. The child may also be part of the Confirmation Rite but not be actually Confirmed. I heard this done before.

While it may be very good for him to join in the preparation classes with his peers, if he has already received Communion isn’t he now entitled to keep receiving Communion?

 

[FrDavid96]

While it may be very good for him to join in the preparation classes with his peers, if he has already received Communion isn’t he now entitled to keep receiving Communion?

Not exactly–although it might seem that way at first. Once he becomes Latin-rite Catholic, he has to wait until the age of reason before resuming receiving Communion because he’s not “eligible” to receive until that age. What makes a child in the Latin Rite eligible to receive Communion is not the fact that he’s already received First Communion, but the fact that he’s attained reason.

There are other examples of Latin-Rite children who receive Communion but aren’t eligible to continue, such as an infant in danger-of-death who can receive (infant, yet old enough to tell the difference between Communion and ordinary food), or one who receives “by accident” in an Eastern Liturgy (Catholic or Orthodox), or even one who receives by accident because the child looks old enough but the priest doesn’t know that he hasn’t made 1st Communion yet (a new pastor, or a visiting priest, for example). The last example, we all know, happens relatively often.

 

[ConstantineTG]

While it may be very good for him to join in the preparation classes with his peers, if he has already received Communion isn’t he now entitled to keep receiving Communion?

True, but instruction would be needed nonetheless.

edit: I’d go with what Fr. David says. But in any case I would still recommend a child go through the classes, even if one is converting right around the age of First Communion. For me its just that the child should receive proper instruction in the Catholic faith, even though there is hardly any difference from the Orthodox belief.