Can a child get baptized in the Catholic Church if the parents are not Catholic?

Answer 1

This is a complicated question which in particular cases should be referred to one's parish priest. Generally speaking, baptism in the Catholic Church can only take place when the parents of the child are practicing Catholics will share and encourage the development of the faith in their children. To baptize when this faith is not present (for instance, just to please grandma and grandpa,) may be tantamount using the sacrament supersititiously or for an unholy end (i.e., for nothing more than just to placate the g-parents, rather than with the vision of the eternal salvation of their child) and risking sacrilige on part of the parents, which can be a serious sin. Baptism grants great priviledges and places serious responsibilities and obligations on those who receive the sacrament. To baptize without training and formation in the Christian life deprives a young person of many of the rewards of living the Catholic life. The Church would rather hold the optimistic view of delaying baptisms in these cases until such a time that the parents' faith is sufficient to allow for proper Christian formation of the child(ren). Baptism is never absolutely denied even in these cases, merely delayed out of a prudent decision of the pastor involved. If the parents are not Catholic, it usually doesn't make sense to baptize the child in the Church without the parents accepting and practicing the faith as well. There are exceptional cases where the child may (or should) be baptized. Certainly in the case of threatened health or impending death, for the spiritual good of the child, baptism should be celebrated. While usually celebrated by a priest or deacon, baptism may be celebrated by anyone who intends to do what the Church does in baptizing, using clean water and the Trinitarian Formula ("I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit".) There are cases where grandparents and others, disappointed that parents have not chosen to baptize their children, 'secretly' baptize on their own initiative... this may be well-intentioned, but also seriously sinful. Outside of the danger of death, baptism cannot be licitly celebrated outside a Church without the bishop's permission. Registration of such a baptism is ncessary with the parish Church where the baptism took place in order to later allow Confirmation and First Communion and Marriage in the Church. Certainly such a 'secret baptism' is also an affront to parental rights when health or life are not threatened. From experience, one needs to realize that a 'secret baptism' may also drive a wedge even deeper between non-practicing parents and their practicing grandparents in such a way that it jeopardizes the parents ever returning to the Church. (The Church does permit baptism even in exceptional cases where explicit parental permission is not present when there is a real danger of death-- see c. 868.) If there are any parties out there who are grieving the decision of a child's parents not to baptize here are three words: "don't do it". Pray, be vigilant, help the child grow to a point where they can properly choose to ask for baptism themselves. This is better than giving a child a gift they cannot understand and that they won't appreciate... a good RCIA program later in life may be the best way in the long run to insure that they will become good, practicing, holy Catholics. Children who are adopted may be baptized only after the adoption is 'final', that is, after the adoptive parents permanently posess all legal parental rights to present children for religious rites such as baptism. There may be exceptional cases where, with the parents' permission, children may be presented for baptism by others (grandparents, etc) when their christian education may be guaranteed by these third parties. Again, see your parish priest on this one. All this being said, children who are baptized without the support of faithful parents do fully receive the sacrament and the graces attached, but regrettably, these children may have a very difficult time actually learning to live the faith. Yes

Answer 2

Yes, you can be baptized, even if both of your parents are not Catholics. Yes, it is possible to be baptized in the Catholic church if the parents are not married in a catholic church or they are not Catholic. This is what Canon Law states (bold added) Can. 865 §1. For an adult to be baptised, the person must have manifested the intention to receive baptism, have been instructed sufficiently about the truths of the faith and Christian obligations, and have been tested in the Christian life through the catechumenate. Can. 868 §1. For an infant to be baptized licitly: 1/ the parents or at least one of them or the person who legitimately takes their place must consent;2/ there must be a founded hope that the infant will be brought up in the Catholic religion; if such hope is altogether lacking, the baptism is to be delayed according to the prescripts of particular law after the parents have been advised about the reason.

Answer 3

yes ---- If the Catholic parent is a member in good standing of the parish in which the child is to be baptized, and if both parents are in agreement that the child will be raised a Catholic, then nothing should stand in the way of the child being baptized in that Catholic parish. If the Catholic parent is non-practicing and has no plans to attend Sunday Mass at that parish or otherwise to practice the faith, or if the non-Catholic parent is opposed to the child practicing the faith, then the pastor may decide against baptizing the child in his parish.

Answer 4

Yes. In 2005 the House Of Bishops issued a statement which includes the following passage: "The House considers that lay people who have registered civil partnerships ought not to be asked to give assurances about the nature of their relationship before being admitted to baptism, confirmation and communion."

Answer 5

== == Where or how the parents are married is not at all relevant regarding the baptism of their children. The sacramental rite of Catholic Baptism is open to any person of any denomination, race, colour or creed, if it were not how else would conversions arise? It is through Baptism that an individual enters the Catholic faith ... there is no other way to do so and like any organised following, the Catholic Church does not turn away prospects of conversion to its creed. Babies are naturally baptised in the faith of choice selected by the parents and it need not be the same faith as either or both of the parents. A child upon maturing, may voluntarily elect to be baptised in any religion of his/her choice, regardless of the parents' choice, their marital status or their denomination.

Answer 6

In principle, yes, if at least one of the parents consents. However, Canon 868 in the Code of Canon Law provides that there must be a "founded hope that the infant will be brought up in the Catholic religion. If such hope is altogether lacking, the baptism is to be delayed according to the prescripts of particular law after the parents have been advised about the reason."

The same canon also provides that an infant in danger of death can be baptized, even against the wishes of the parents.

Reference: The Code of Canon Law, canon 868.

Answer 7

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Catholic AnswerOf course, as long as there is a well-founded hope that the child will be brought up as a practicing Catholic. If you can not prove that to a priest, then no. If the parents are both Catholic they should be attending Mass, and registered at the parish. If they are married outside of the Church, for whatever reason, they may not receive Holy Communion until that has been rectified, but they should still be attending Mass. As long as they are attending Mass and are registered parishioners, there should be no problems.

Answer 8

Yes, it is done quite frequently as long as you agreed to raise the child Catholic. However, if there are no impediments to getting your marriage blessed you should do that.

Answer 9

Yes, the child may be baptized. The child is not punished for the sins of the parents.