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Lieve
wrote:
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Dear Sir,
- Can
a Catholic priest deny Baptism to a baby who is one week old?
- If yes, what are the exact circumstances or situations?
Thanks,
Lieve
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Can
a Catholic priest deny Baptism to a baby who is one week old? }
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John replied:
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Hi Lieve,
There are occasions on which a priest can deny Baptism.
In the 1970's, for instance, there was a [woman|mother] claiming to be Catholic. She
was also an progressive pro-abortion activist.
The Archdiocese of Boston refused to allow any priest to baptize the child, because
the child had no chance of being brought up in the Catholic Faith.
In that case, the child would be worse off. It can happen, but it's rare.
John DiMascio
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Fr. Nick replied:
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Dear Mike:
Here is a quick reply before Mass.
The world we live in today is far more complex than years ago. Normally, when a baby
is presented for baptism, the parents and godparents make promises on behalf of the
baby to be role models and to bring the child up in the practice of the faith.
The priest or minister would know the family and presume these promises are made
in good faith and the baby would be baptized.
In today's world, the priest would need to assess:
- Who has legal custody of the
child.
- Is the parent who has legal custody the one
presenting the child for baptism?
- If not, are they
doing this against the wishes of the legal parent?
- Why?
- Is it a grandparent who is
worried because the child's parents do not want the
baby baptized?
- Do the parent(s) have
the intention of raising the child Catholic?
- Have
they publicly stated that they do not intend to do
this, but are requesting Baptism because of outside
pressures?
Normally, I always presume people are truthful and if
they present a child for baptism, they are doing so in
the best interest of the child. It is an opportunity
to bring lapsed Catholics back to the Church if it is
treated in a pastoral, sensitive matter.
The sacrament once planted in a child, might
grow in ways no one can predict.
Fr. Nick
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