validity of baptism

[ut_jorgeluna]

My wife and I had a baby two weeks ago and shortly after, our baby had to spend a couple of days in the hospital due to jaundice. The baby was at no point in grave danger of death and was rather healthy aside from the jaundice. While he was in the hospital my mother in law, without our consent proceeded to baptize our baby. I was not present when these events took place and would have done everything in my power to stop my mother in law had I been there, as I have a strong desire to have our baby’s sacraments be performed legally according to church law. My concern now, is that even though the baptism was illicit and against church law, that the baptism is indeed valid. If this is the case I would want to know what this means in regards to his Godparents and the ceremony that would have taken place in the church, basically can the baby still be baptized by a priest or deacon and have the Godparents that we had chosen for our baby be his Godparents. I understand that if in any way the baptism was not performed in the correct form then it would indeed be invalid and we could proceed to have our baby baptized in the church, but I am concerned with the other case.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

My wife and I had a baby two weeks ago and shortly after, our baby had to spend a couple of days in the hospital due to jaundice. The baby was at no point in grave danger of death and was rather healthy aside from the jaundice. While he was in the hospital my mother in law, without our consent proceeded to baptize our baby. I was not present when these events took place and would have done everything in my power to stop my mother in law had I been there, as I have a strong desire to have our baby’s sacraments be performed legally according to church law. My concern now, is that even though the baptism was illicit and against church law, that the baptism is indeed valid. If this is the case I would want to know what this means in regards to his Godparents and the ceremony that would have taken place in the church, basically can the baby still be baptized by a priest or deacon and have the Godparents that we had chosen for our baby be his Godparents. I understand that if in any way the baptism was not performed in the correct form then it would indeed be invalid and we could proceed to have our baby baptized in the church, but I am concerned with the other case.

You and your mother-in-law need to make an appointment with your pastor. He will interview her as to exactly what she did and how she performed the Baptism, if there were any witnesses, etc. If he determines that she validly, however illicitly Baptized the child. He will record the Baptism in the parish Baptismal register. (Canon law requires that she report the Baptism to the parish, so that it ma be recorded)

He will then make arrangements for the rest of the Baptismal Rites to take place, with the Godparents, at a Sunday Mass or other time.

If he has doubts about the validity of the child’s Baptism he will then also Conditionally Baptize the child. This is usually done at a private time, so as to not confuse the faithful who may think it is a re-Baptism.