Progressive Catholic Priest willing to baptize 7-year-old even though parents aren't Catholic?

[Anonymous]

smilly faces don't make judgemental comments okay.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]smilly faces don't make judgemental comments okay.[/quote]

I've already posted but seriously... Smiley face is not being judgemental. Allowing a 7 year old to select a religion after NOT raising him that way as a family is just irresponsible. Let him select when he is an adult and can weigh it against other religions. When he can understand abortion, the pill, and all the other stances the Catholic Church makes.

[Anonymous]

“7 years old is VERY young to make a life decision about becoming any religion. Would you be as opened minded if he wanted to become Jewish or Muslim? Or join a cult? Seriously.... rethink this. HE IS 7. Does he get to Church every Sunday?”

“I was just concerned that the DD wanted to be baptized for the wrong reason because it sounded like it wasn't a spiritual decision just a matter of wanting to participate in the sacraments because her friends were.”

Are newborns equipped to "make a life decision about becoming any religion"? Are newborns baptized for the "right reasons"? Parents make the decision for the child. My husband and I chose to send our child to a Catholic school for myriad reasons, one actually being for religious education. As one previous poster said, she's being exposed to a more formal Catholic religious education than her peers in public school since she attends religion classes daily and mass weekly. She pretty much thinks she's Catholic given that she's living the life of a Catholic -- she's just lacking a piece of paper saying that she was baptized. And I understand the sanctity and importance of the act of baptism -- that's why I'm trying to have her baptized -- so that she can proceed in life as a Catholic. I think we're trying to do the right thing here, we're just doing it late in the game and trying to play catch up. Thank you to all of the supportive posters who have provided helpful suggestions, and please keep them coming.

[Anonymous]

I am Catholic and I could swear I remember that Baptism and one other sacrament, I think Anointing of the Sick, aren't reserved and recognized as Catholic specific sacraments. I was under the impression that according to Catholic doctrine, that a Christian Baptism was universally recognized and one does not need to be "Baptized Catholic". A Baptism is a Baptism is a Baptism, so to speak and one Baptized Methodist has the same fundamental rights to salvation as one Baptized in the Catholic Church.

Where my memory fails me is if the distinction of spiritual aspect of the sacrament does not translate to fulfilling a requirement for other Catholic specific sacraments like Holy Communion, Reconciliation, etc. It may very well be that one needs to be "Baptized Catholic" in order to qualify in preparation for those other sacraments that don't get reciprocity.

In any event, I congratulate the OP in having such an open mind as to encourage DC to explore and experience a religious upbringing, no matter the motivation of the 7yo. God knows wanting to experience it with ones friends is no less a trite reason then ones bloodline which is the reason I was exposed to it. At least the child is choosing it and it's not being forced upon him like it was me and many others.

[Anonymous]

I'm hoping I can shed some light on these issues as I understand them... because I think this issue is not one of "finding a liberal priest". To be sure, there are more liberal less liberal priests, and they differ on some aspects of Catholicism. But what you're talking about here is due to some fundamental rules and beliefs that I think are unlikely to change from priest to priest. You're getting to the heart of what baptism means, and I think that is why you're getting shut down.

Catholic Baptism is unique. Its not JUST that you are being baptised a Christian... but you are being baptized a Catholic. The idea is that the parents (and god parents) are making a commitment for their baby (who is to young to do so by himself) to raise the child CATHOLIC. That is why churches require the parents (and at least one godparent) to be Catholic. From the church's perspective, choosing your Jewish mother-in-law as the person tasked with RAISING your child Catholic just doesnt' make sense. Similarly, the requirement for parents stems from the mentality that, how can YOU (the parent) be committed to raising your child Catholic if you haven't made the same choice for yourself?

For children who are not baptized, or do not have Catholic parents, or somehow find their way into the Catholic fold through other means, the sacrament of Confirmation is the appropriate entry into the church. Churches don't allow kids to make this decision until they are about 13, specifically because it is felt that you can't knowingly commit to a religion of your own free will when you are much younger than that. (For kids who were already baptized, confirmation is still important because it is an act where they make the decision for themselves).

Thus, I think the OP's child is somewhat stuck in limbo. He is not old enough (by the church's standards) to CHOOSE to be Catholic by himself. And, he cannot be Baptized because his parents have not made the decision to become Catholics themselves. (Put differently, they had not decided that Catholicism is so important in their life that they are ready to make that committment for themselves, and thus can't be trusted to raise their child Catholic with the dedication that the church requires --- note, I'm not trying to case aspersions... I'm just trying to convey how I think the church views this).

His only solution is to wait for Confirmation. And, really, I understand the pressures of fitting in... but that is not a good reason to baptize, and I think the church would say the same thing.


To the OP, I''m not trying to judge you... I'm trying to explain how I understand these sacraments and why the church is being so inflexible. Believe me, there are plenty of ways in which I disagree with the Catholic church, but I'm not sure this is one of them.

[Anonymous]

To the 10:12 poster...

You are correct that Catholics recognize that any Christian baptism is "sufficient" for salvation.... but there IS a difference (in the church's view) to being baptized Catholic. The difference is the committment to Catholicism. So, while it is a little known 'rule" (and not usually enforced), people who are baptized in other denominations (Methodist, e.g.) should not take Communion in a Catholic church.

[Anonymous]

beware.......of catholics who use smilley faces!! follow your gut......there are some good names of folks to contact on this post.

[Anonymous]

I've already posted but seriously... Smiley face is not being judgemental

Agree, a smiley face is not judgemental.....but the words are. I am a practicing catholic who went to all catholic schools. I do not believe in all the teaching in the catholic faith. All our kids have been baptized. We believe in gay marriage, a woman's right to choose, birth control, and a God who is very understanding. Some would probably say I have a odd affinity for the Blessed Mother. There are catholics like me out there....lots of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:7 years old is VERY young tomake a life decision about becoming any religion. Would you be as opened minded if he wanted to become Jewish or Muslim? Or join a cult? Seriously.... rethink this. HE IS 7. Does he get to Church every Sunday?

Actually, if I remember my Catechism, one must have reached the 'age of reason' in order to receive First Eucharist and other sacraments beyond Baptism (aside for Sacrament of the Sick). If the Catholic Church considers 7 the age of reason, then to be perfectly logical the 7 year old that chooses to receive First Eucharist should be able to similarly decide to be baptized.

Good luck OP, sounds like you got some good leads. Post back when you have results

[Anonymous]

As a Catholic parent (and one of the previous posters) I baptized my infant a few months ago. Why - as one of the previous posters said an infant can't make decisions? As a responsible Catholic parent there are certain spiritual decisions that need to be made on behalf of children too young to reason. The same goes for other aspects of life - do we ask our newborns if they want to get immunized? No, we (as parents) make the decision for them because it is for their good. Do we ask babies if they want to buckle up in the car? No, but we do anyways.

Make sense?

I'm ending my thoughts with a smiley - watch out you better not trust me!

[Anonymous]

I am somewhat disgusted that a Catholic School is fine to have someone in the school but won't let them participate in a sacrament that is obviously part of their curriculum. I am a practicing Catholic by the way. I hope you call around because I know you will find a priest to baptize your daughter--I do think that you should also do RCIA program since you are raising your child Catholic it only makes sense for you to participate with her. I can't remember the name of the head priest at Annunciation parish but I thought he was wonderful when I when through my pre marriage counseling--I am sure he would help you.

[Anonymous]

I am NOT by any means an expert on the Catholic faith, but as I understand it, baptism in the Catholic church basically has to do with the concept of original sin, eg. baptism is the way to get rid of the "black mark" that all humans have at birth. In other words, unlike some of the other sacraments (eg. communion, as the OP mentioned, or something like a confirmation in the protestant church), the act of being baptized isn't contingent on the faith of the person being baptized. There is no requirement of faith, per se, for a child to be baptized. I think if you view baptism as something to wipe out original sin, prepare a child for a life in the church, and for the child to be "welcomed" in to the Catholic faith, I can completely see why the OP wants to try and do this. But of course this is very much a lay person's view of it...

[Anonymous]

As a Catholic parent (and one of the previous posters) I baptized my infant a few months ago. Why - as one of the previous posters said an infant can't make decisions? As a responsible Catholic parent there are certain spiritual decisions that need to be made on behalf of children too young to reason. The same goes for other aspects of life - do we ask our newborns if they want to get immunized? No, we (as parents) make the decision for them because it is for their good. Do we ask babies if they want to buckle up in the car? No, but we do anyways.

Make sense?

I'm ending my thoughts with a smiley - watch out you better not trust me!

[Anonymous]

I found this online. From a Catholic Church in Arizona's Infant Baptism Policy handout:

Q. I am not Catholic, but I want to baptize my baby. Can we have them baptized?

The Church deems it important for a child to have a Catholic influence. When a parent approaches the Catholic Church and asks for Baptism for their child, they are making a
lifetime commitment to raise the child Catholic and to model the Catholic faith in their home, and nurture holiness in their families. Since parents are the primary educators in
their child's life, it is important to be living and practicing a sacramental lifestyle. There must be a "reasonable hope" that this child will be raised in the Catholic faith.

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Based on this explanation I'd say a progressive Catholic priest could be the solution because the Catholic godparents are expressing a strong commitment. To be honest, I suspect that this child's call to be baptized is part of God's call to the parents to be baptized. Most Catholic churches are starting their new RCIA classes now to prepare for baptism at Easter.

[Anonymous]

To the previous poster - that is the Church in Arizona which may be in a more liberal diocese like Washington, Baltimore, and Richmond are. The Arlington diocese tends to be stricter and more old school.