Why is an annulment needed for baptism?

[newcatholic76]

My question is really for a friend of mine in RCIA. I was married previously, but I’m not dating anyone so I don’t need an annulment before I get confirmed. My friend, however, is divorced and remarried. Both she and her current husband are in the process of getting annulments. She (and I) totally understand the necessity for a Decree of Nullity before one can be confirmed if one is living with a spouse from a second marriage. Clearly one cannot be in full communion with the Church in such a situation. But she is being told that she cannot be baptized until her Decree of Nullity is granted.

Why is she being denied baptism absent an annulment? It seems that she should be able to be baptized immediately (well, at the Easter Vigil) and wait to get confirmed once/if the annulment goes through.

Specifically, CCC 1233 states:

… in the Roman rite it [baptism] is followed by years of catechesis before being completed later by Confirmation and the Eucharist, the summit of their Christian initiation.

CCC 1271 specifically allows for a person who is baptized and not yet in full communion with the Church when it quotes UR 3:

For men who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in some, though imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church.

CCC 1246 which states that “Every person not yet baptized and only such a person is able to be baptized.” (emphasis added)

How can the Church deny baptism to anyone with right intention? Any light you can shed on this subject is most appreciated.

God bless!

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

When one is baptized one receives sanctifying grace and is freed from all of one’s sins. One then begins to live a new life in Christ. But since your friend’s marriage is not considered to be in a valid marriage in the eyes of the Church, she commits a mortal sin by having relations with one with whom she is not validly married. If she were living in a celibate way until her marriage was blessed by the Church, that would be a different matter. But the Church cannot baptize her while she continues to live in a sinful way.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.