What would you do...

[ukok]

If i sang out of tune...

Start over :Hypothetical...

what would you do if you had the opportunity to baptise a member (s) of your family that would otherwise (probably) never be baptised..because the parent's of said family members were atheist and would not baptise their children..would you be tempted to do so yourself, and would you tell the parent's and risk losing the relationship with them by doing so...or would you just pray for the unbaptised family member and offer it to God, trusting in His Merciful kindness ?


God Bless.

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

If i sang out of tune...

Start over :Hypothetical...

what would you do if you had the opportunity to baptise a member (s) of your family that would otherwise (probably) never be baptised..because the parent's of said family members were atheist and would not baptise their children..would you be tempted to do so yourself, and would you tell the parent's and risk losing the relationship with them by doing so...or would you just pray for the unbaptised family member and offer it to God, trusting in His Merciful kindness ?


God Bless.

Is the person old enough to state their own opinion?
Would you be able to make sure that person was raised and taught about being catholic?

 

[ukok]

Is the person old enough to state their own opinion?
Would you be able to make sure that person was raised and taught about being catholic?

In the case of the person being old enough to state their own opinion, i would have to say that they wouldn't have a clue about anything vaguely religious and therefore wouldn't know what baptism entailed...i'm thinking of children, one (ok, not hypothetical children, just wanted to hear what you all thought about it though) mentally disabled and the other too yoiung and unneducated to make n informed choice.

No, they would not be raised and taught about our faith.

 

[Maximus]

I'm not sure of the correct answer in this case. St. Paul says it is the children of believers who are holy (1 Cor. 7:14?), so I'm not sure about baptizing the infants of unbelieving parents without their consent. My heart says "baptize," but I'm not sure.

I know one lady who grew up in Kazahkstan when it was part of the old Evil Empire. Her grandmother baptized her in a bathtub.

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

In the case where you wouldn't be able to teach the child. I would say prayer would be the best route, and form a close relationship and hope you have chance to guide the child as the grow.

 

[ukok]

. My heart says "baptize," but I'm not sure.

I concur.

 

[ukok]

In the case where you wouldn't be able to teach the child. I would say prayer would be the best route, and form a close relationship and hope you have chance to guide the child as the grow.

what if contact was extremely limited and get together's were only once or twice a year with no other contact in betweeen ?

 

[Markh]

My heart says baptise- what in case the child dies at a young age?

what in case the child has a long term illness?

what if the child is dieing in your arms as a nurse?

I think the answer should always be "yes".

 

[Maximus]

My heart says baptise- what in case the child dies at a young age?

what in case the child has a long term illness?

what if the child is dieing in your arms as a nurse?

I think the answer should always be "yes".

Very serious considerations to be sure, and that's why I lean to your way of thinking here (and with ukok's).

Normally, however, the faithful parents of an infant provide the faith assent for their child. Can another relative - or even a concerned friend - act in that role against the express will of the child's parents?

I'm not sure.

 

[ukok]

My heart says baptise- what in case the child dies at a young age?

what in case the child has a long term illness?

what if the child is dieing in your arms as a nurse?

I think the answer should always be "yes".

Mark, thank you for responding.

This is not hypothetical, this is personal.

your points are therefore well taken....i am very concerned about both children, the child who is mentally disabled (severely so), will never recover and the long term prognosis is not possible. I pray for his continued reasonable health, though there are problems, they are maneagable at this time...and i also am concerned about the child who is able bodied, that she will 'absorb' more anti-religion from her parent's.

The parent's are good parent's don't get me wrong but they are very cynical...there is very little chance of them ever changing their mind regarding baptism, the youngest is 7, the oldest of the two is 12, and another is 17 (a step child -also not baptised as far as i am aware).

My heart say's baptise too, but i wonder about the moral implications....i considered doing so on a recent visit from them...but then i agonised about it and i thought that i would probably have to confess it as it was sneaky and underhand...then i measured that if i thought it was sneaky, it probably shouldn't be done by me...i still think about it though...i thought about making it into a game with them both, and then i thought, would it be acceptable to baptise them while they were sleeping!

Put's a whole new spin on the film title "While you were sleeping"

God Bless.

 

[St_Joseph_Cupertino]

would you be tempted to do so yourself

I didn't know lay-Catholics can baptise others. Is that true?

Pardon my ignorance

Peace in Christ!

 

[Maximus]

I didn't know lay-Catholics can baptise others. Is that true?

Pardon my ignorance

Peace in Christ!

In exigent circumstances, yes. I don't have the authoritative quote for you, but I'm sure someone else will supply it shortly.

 

[QuagDabPeg]

My mom did that when she was a little girl, maybe 7 or something. They had family friends who were Catholic but the parents were going through a divorse and weren't going to baptise the baby, so my mom baptised him. I don't think you're supposed to do that though.

 

[Adammi]

I say that you round 'em all unstairs to the bathroom pull out the water!!

 

[jukesk9]

I'd sneak the kid off to a priest or baptize him myself...

 

[AMDG]

Oh, I know the answer to this. I'm there. Not hypothetical for me at all. I want with all my heart to baptize my five (soon to be six) Mormon grandchildren, (and in an emergency anyone can baptize--if he/she intends to do what the Church intends) but the Church says that the emergency is imminent danger of death. You see, the Church insists on at least a chance that they will be raised...and there is none. I must trust Jesus. Jesus loves the little children. And so I pray and I include Proverbs 7:1-4 in that prayer.

 

[Paul S]

I didn't know lay-Catholics can baptise others. Is that true?

Anyone can baptise. If the person had to be ordained, almost all non-Catholic and non-Orthodox baptisms would be invalid.

Here's what the 1983 Code of Canon Law says:

Can. 861 §1 The ordinary minister of baptism is a Bishop, a priest or a deacon, without prejudice to the provision of can. 530, n. 1.

§2 If the ordinary minister is absent or impeded, a catechist or some other person deputed to this office by the local Ordinary, may lawfully confer baptism; indeed, in a case of necessity, any person who has the requisite intention may do so. Pastors of souls, especially parish priests, are to be diligent in ensuring that Christ's faithful are taught the correct way to baptize.


Can. 862 Except in a case of necessity, it is unlawful for anyone without due permission to confer baptism outside his own territory, not even upon his own subjects.


Can. 863 The baptism of adults, at least of those who have completed their fourteenth year, is to be referred to the Bishop, so that he himself may confer it if he judges this appropriate.

 

[ukok]

I didn't know lay-Catholics can baptise others. Is that true?

Pardon my ignorance

Peace in Christ!

Yes, it is possible

..and you are not ignorant, because if you were, i would be a chronic ignoramus, by your standard of ignorance

God Bless.

 

[ukok]

Oh, I know the answer to this. I'm there. Not hypothetical for me at all. I want with all my heart to baptize my five (soon to be six) Mormon grandchildren, (and in an emergency anyone can baptize--if he/she intends to do what the Church intends) but the Church says that the emergency is imminent danger of death. You see, the Church insists on at least a chance that they will be raised...and there is none. I must trust Jesus. Jesus loves the little children. And so I pray and I include Proverbs 7:1-4 in that prayer.

i'll pray for your grandchildren too

God Bless.

 

[Miss Shelby]

In the case of the person being old enough to state their own opinion, i would have to say that they wouldn't have a clue about anything vaguely religious and therefore wouldn't know what baptism entailed...i'm thinking of children, one (ok, not hypothetical children, just wanted to hear what you all thought about it though) mentally disabled and the other too yoiung and unneducated to make n informed choice.

No, they would not be raised and taught about our faith.

hmmm...I don't think a priest (or one worth is collar) would baptize an infant if he knew for a fact they wouldn't be raised in a Christian home. So I would have to say that I would probably not. I would just pray. But that's a very thought provoking question, and I haven't read through the thread yet, as I just noticed it.

Michelle