Ask a Question - or - Return to the Faith and Spirituality Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Pastoral reasons for baptizing	Chas	Friday, March 6, 2009
Question: Dear Brother.. I have a problem agreeing with this priest that I know. He seems to be very orthodox in his teachings but when it comes to administering the sacrament of baptism he seems very lenient as far as the parents and godparents are concerned. He says he does it for “pastoral” reasons and is only interested in baptizing the child. My understanding was that the Church can deny baptizing a child if she knows for sure that the parents have no intention of bringing up the child as Catholic or of giving good example by practicing the faith. This priest has baptized several children when the parents are not married and have no intention of getting married in the church or even attending mass on a weekly basis. He has baptized several children when the godparents are not married in the church and even some godparents who were not catholic. His excuse or reason was that the parents had already chosen them; they were from out of town and had already committed to traveling to town to be sponsors. Another time was because the parents wanted to go back home to another country and wanted the child to be baptized as soon as possible and the potential godparents who were not Catholic would not be able to accompany them home. Are these considered “pastoral” reasons to baptize? I know the baptism are valid non-the-less but is the priest using right judgment? God Bless
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Chas: Canon Law is clear on this issue and there is no "pastoral" reason to alter the clear teaching of the Church. "Pastoral" reasons is often a code for, "I disagree with the Chruch and I am going to take it up myself, without permission from anyone, to change the rules because I feel sorry for my parishioner who also does not want to follow the rules." Here is the Church teaching on this from Canon Law: Can. 868 ß1 For an infant to be baptized lawfully it is required: 1ƒ that the parents, or at least one of them, or the person who lawfully holds their place, give their consent; 2ƒ that there be a well‚founded hope that the child will be brought up in the catholic religion. If such hope is truly lacking, the baptism is, in accordance with the provisions of particular law, to be deferred and the parents advised of the reason for this. Can. 874 ß1 To be admitted to undertake the office of sponsor, a person must: 1ƒ be appointed by the candidate for baptism, or by the parents or whoever stands in their place, or failing these, by the parish priest or the minister; to be appointed the person must be suitable for this role and have the intention of fulfilling it; 2ƒ be not less than sixteen years of age, unless a different age has been stipulated by the diocesan Bishop, or unless the parish priest or the minister considers that there is a just reason for an exception to be made; 3ƒ be a catholic who has been confirmed and has received the blessed Eucharist, and who lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken; 4ƒ not labor under a canonical penalty, whether imposed or declared; 5ƒ not be either the father or the mother of the person to be baptized. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Pastoral reasons for baptizing

Chas

Friday, March 6, 2009

Question:

Dear Brother.. I have a problem agreeing with this priest that I know. He seems to be very orthodox in his teachings but when it comes to administering the sacrament of baptism he seems very lenient as far as the parents and godparents are concerned. He says he does it for “pastoral” reasons and is only interested in baptizing the child.

My understanding was that the Church can deny baptizing a child if she knows for sure that the parents have no intention of bringing up the child as Catholic or of giving good example by practicing the faith. This priest has baptized several children when the parents are not married and have no intention of getting married in the church or even attending mass on a weekly basis.

He has baptized several children when the godparents are not married in the church and even some godparents who were not catholic. His excuse or reason was that the parents had already chosen them; they were from out of town and had already committed to traveling to town to be sponsors. Another time was because the parents wanted to go back home to another country and wanted the child to be baptized as soon as possible and the potential godparents who were not Catholic would not be able to accompany them home. Are these considered “pastoral” reasons to baptize? I know the baptism are valid non-the-less but is the priest using right judgment?

God Bless

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Chas:

Canon Law is clear on this issue and there is no "pastoral" reason to alter the clear teaching of the Church. "Pastoral" reasons is often a code for, "I disagree with the Chruch and I am going to take it up myself, without permission from anyone, to change the rules because I feel sorry for my parishioner who also does not want to follow the rules."

Here is the Church teaching on this from Canon Law:

Can. 868 ß1 For an infant to be baptized lawfully it is required:

1ƒ that the parents, or at least one of them, or the person who lawfully holds their place, give their consent;

2ƒ that there be a well‚founded hope that the child will be brought up in the catholic religion. If such hope is truly lacking, the baptism is, in accordance with the provisions of particular law, to be deferred and the parents advised of the reason for this.
Can. 874 ß1 To be admitted to undertake the office of sponsor, a person must:

1ƒ be appointed by the candidate for baptism, or by the parents or whoever stands in their place, or failing these, by the parish priest or the minister; to be appointed the person must be suitable for this role and have the intention of fulfilling it;

2ƒ be not less than sixteen years of age, unless a different age has been stipulated by the diocesan Bishop, or unless the parish priest or the minister considers that there is a just reason for an exception to be made;

3ƒ be a catholic who has been confirmed and has received the blessed Eucharist, and who lives a life of faith which befits the role to be undertaken;

4ƒ not labor under a canonical penalty, whether imposed or declared;

5ƒ not be either the father or the mother of the person to be baptized.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum