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Cathy
Frank
wrote:
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Hi guys,
My son was baptized Catholic back when he was an infant,
however, he was never confirmed. He is now 29 years old.
He was married four years ago in a non-Catholic ceremony
and his wife has no religious orientation and has never
been baptized. He just recently had a baby girl and would
like to have her baptized in the Catholic Church. We have
gotten conflicting stories from different Catholic churches
and priests on whether this is possible.
We would like to know what he has to do in order to get
his baby baptized in the Catholic Church or whether this
is not possible, due to the fact that he has not been confirmed
and was not married in a Catholic Church ceremony?
- Since he is already legally married,
does he have to be remarried in the Catholic Church?
- Does his wife have to be baptized or
join the Catholic Church?
- Will he have to be confirmed before his
baby can be baptized in the Catholic Church?
We would greatly appreciate any information you can
give us in regards to the rules of the Catholic Church
on these issues.
Thank you so very much,
Cathy Frank
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{
In this case, what is needed by my son and his wife in order to have their baby baptized Catholic? }
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Mike
replied:
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Hi Cathy,
Your son would first have to have his marriage convalidated
by the Church. Then your son's wife would have to
agree to have her children raised as Catholics. She
would not have to become Catholic unless that was
her desire.
Mike
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Cathy
replied:
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Hi,
Thank you so very much for your reply.
- Will his not being confirmed in the Catholic Church
be an issue or is that something he can do at a
later date after his baby is baptized?
Thanks again so much for all of your help.
Cathy Frank
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Eric
replied:
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Hi Cathy,
The main requirement for Baptism is that there must
be a well-founded hope that the child will be raised
Catholic. He should be motivated by a genuine desire
to give her the grace of eternal life and make her
a Christian, with the commitment that involves. Baptism
is not a nice ceremony you can invite friends and
family to and have a party, it's the beginning of
the Christian life for the baptized.
Confirmation is irrelevant. His wife need not be
baptized.
He should talk to his pastor. His pastor has the
discretion to discern whether there is a hope that
the child will be raised Catholic and knows all the
local requirements and details.
Eric
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Mary
Ann replied:
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Cathy,
You said:
Will his not being confirmed
in the Catholic Church be an issue or is that something
he can do at a later date after his baby is baptized?
It should not be an issue but the parish will encourage
him to sign up for Confirmation prep.
Mary Ann
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