Need Baptism Help Asap!

[MissScripture]

[quote name='Lil Red' timestamp='1285785229' post='2176788']
i was made fun of for scheduling all of our babies baptisms before they were even born.
[/quote]
In all of the churches here and where I grew up, you were supposed to schedule it before the baby was born, and you were supposed to meet with the Priest at least 3 months before the baby was due.

[StMichael]

This is remarkable.

I can see if there was a request that was off the map, but this is insane.

Yes, the diocese/ Priests are functioning in a way that would have Christ slap them with all 5.

Not just on this, but on many other instances.

As I posted earlier, Christ Himself stated otherwise.

To deny a child baptism because of office keeping is wrong, wrong, wrong. Maybe I need to book my anointing of the sick now, just in case.

I feel for the child and I feel for how our Church functions to its own peril.

[quote name='MissScripture' timestamp='1285784678' post='2176785']
You won't judge the parents, but you'll judge the priest/church/diocese/whoever has put these rules in place? That seems fair.
[/quote]

[Jaime]

If the parents had been going to mass at the Church, it would have happened already. Why on earth anyone would complain about "having" to go to mass for 3 months prior to their baby's baptism is deplorable. Its not about office keeping. The Church (as it should) takes all of her sacraments seriously. If you want them handed out like a happy meal at a fast food restaurant, then tell them to go and find a nice protestant church where no one will worry about office keeping.


[quote name='StMichael' timestamp='1285796375' post='2176826']
This is remarkable.

I can see if there was a request that was off the map, but this is insane.

Yes, the diocese/ Priests are functioning in a way that would have Christ slap them with all 5.

Not just on this, but on many other instances.

As I posted earlier, Christ Himself stated otherwise.

To deny a child baptism because of office keeping is wrong, wrong, wrong. Maybe I need to book my anointing of the sick now, just in case.

I feel for the child and I feel for how our Church functions to its own peril.


[/quote]

Are you saying that you aren't going to weekly mass?



[quote]\ Maybe I need to book my anointing of the sick
now, just in case.[/quote]

[Cherie]

[quote name='jaime (the artist formerly known as hot stuff) (the artist formerly known as hot stuff)' timestamp='1285799445' post='2176832']
If the parents had been going to mass at the Church, it would have happened already. Why on earth anyone would complain about "having" to go to mass for 3 months prior to their baby's baptism is deplorable. Its not about office keeping. The Church (as it should) takes all of her sacraments seriously. If you want them handed out like a happy meal at a fast food restaurant, then tell them to go and find a nice protestant church where no one will worry about office keeping.

[/quote]

If I'm correct, it's a situation in which the couple recently relocated, and the previous Catholic Church they attended was actually a "parish" on a military base, Ft. Braggs. It's not that they don't want to have to attend church for three months, (because they were attending church at the military base) - it's that they will have to wait an [i]additional[/i] three months to get their baby baptized because they'll have to establish themselves at a new parish in the place they've recently moved to.

Hope that helps clear up a few things!

A lot of people say, too, that "Well, you should've thought of that before the baby was even born - heck, you've had 9 months to prepare for this!" but I would beg mercy and understanding from people who think that. Especially for military families, or people who are moving often, and especially if this is their first child, there is so much going on -- relocating, trying to find a place to live or a place to work, trying to prepare yourself for the birth, making sure you're eating what you should, finding new doctors in the place you'll be moving, and all within a very tight budget ... sometimes things like making sure you're signed up for a particular parish's baptismal classes can be forgotten. A lot of people don't even realize you [i]need[/i] classes -- they just assume you contact the priest and he'll set up a Mass after/during which your baby will be baptized. Requirements like those are often more a "newer" thing that is to be found in dioceses (heck, until fairly recently even pre-Cana classes weren't a requirement!)

Edited September 29, 2010 by CherieMadame

[MissScripture]

[quote name='StMichael' timestamp='1285796375' post='2176826']
This is remarkable.

I can see if there was a request that was off the map, but this is insane.

Yes, the diocese/ Priests are functioning in a way that would have Christ slap them with all 5.

Not just on this, but on many other instances.

As I posted earlier, Christ Himself stated otherwise.

To deny a child baptism because of office keeping is wrong, wrong, wrong. Maybe I need to book my anointing of the sick now, just in case.

I feel for the child and I feel for how our Church functions to its own peril.
[/quote]
So, you know what is in the hearts of those making these decisions? I'm impressed.

[StMichael]

Yes. Ft. Bragg will do it, but they need their local parish to give them a release. Which they aren't doing.

[quote name='CherieMadame' timestamp='1285802562' post='2176837']
If I'm correct, it's a situation in which the couple recently relocated, and the previous Catholic Church they attended was actually a "parish" on a military base, Ft. Braggs. It's not that they don't want to have to attend church for three months, (because they were attending church at the military base) - it's that they will have to wait an [i]additional[/i] three months to get their baby baptized because they'll have to establish themselves at a new parish in the place they've recently moved to.

Hope that helps clear up a few things!

A lot of people say, too, that "Well, you should've thought of that before the baby was even born - heck, you've had 9 months to prepare for this!" but I would beg mercy and understanding from people who think that. Especially for military families, or people who are moving often, and especially if this is their first child, there is so much going on -- relocating, trying to find a place to live or a place to work, trying to prepare yourself for the birth, making sure you're eating what you should, finding new doctors in the place you'll be moving, and all within a very tight budget ... sometimes things like making sure you're signed up for a particular parish's baptismal classes can be forgotten. A lot of people don't even realize you [i]need[/i] classes -- they just assume you contact the priest and he'll set up a Mass after/during which your baby will be baptized. Requirements like those are often more a "newer" thing that is to be found in dioceses (heck, until fairly recently even pre-Cana classes weren't a requirement!)
[/quote]

[tinytherese]

I understand that it would be a pain for the parents to wait, but considering that the worst that could happen is that they would have to wait three months, but with all due respect, I don't see why it would be so terrible. No one is saying that the child can't be baptized at all. All that the parents have to do is come to mass every sunday for three months (which they should be doing anyway.) Patience is a virtue.

[MIKolbe]

Since the infant cannot make a profession of faith for him/herself, and the parents make it on behalf of their child; I see Mass attendance as a very rudimentary way of discerning the faithfulness of the parents...perhaps not perfect..but it seems like an honest attempt at some type of 'due diligence'. If you have the faith (however imperfectly), you would attend Mass. No matter how bad I am in math, I still attend all the classes... If you do not have the faith, how can you honestly profess it for your child? How can you honestly pass it onto your child?

Now, if the Church was saying, 'How can we cut off the sacraments to the most amount people...OH!! I KNOW!! let's require XYZ!!"..then maybe St.M, you might have a better point. But the Church isn't doing this. Maybe she takes her sacraments more seriously than Lutherans or Methodists?

Are the parents more upset with their relationship with God, or with the Church daring to call them on it?

My prayers for them and the child.

[AccountDeleted]

I am a little concerned at the attitude of the parents, that it is just as acceptable to be baptised in another faith. I do understand that they are concerned for their child, but it shows little faith in either God or His Church.

I too, don't see why waiting three months would be such a bad thing. The child is hardly going to be punished by God should it die unbaptised but the parents would definitely benefit from understanding more about their faith.
Prayers for the family.

[Cherie]

[quote name='nunsense' timestamp='1285848439' post='2176908']
I am a little concerned at the attitude of the parents, that it is just as acceptable to be baptised in another faith. I do understand that they are concerned for their child, but it shows little faith in either God or His Church.
[/quote]

I must say, in order to give this family the benefit of the doubt, I know a family that is very strongly Catholic, and their son had a child and was in a situation in which it was questionable whether or not the child would receive Baptism, because the mother of the child was very much against it. Though they knew it was far from the most desirable situation, they were desperate for the baby to be baptized, and yes, considered having it done by a Greek Orthodox priest they knew who was willing to baptize him. Anyway ... I think when it comes to faithful Catholics who are considering this, it's more a situation of "Baptism is necessary for salvation, and the baptism is certainly valid in this other church, so let's get it done asap!" Especially for "old school" Catholics, they realize the incredible importance of this Sacrament, and so while on the outside it may seem like, "How could they be good Catholics if they are considering getting the baby baptized in a Lutheran or Methodist church?!?!" ... sometimes the intentions and convictions of the people in the situation aren't what they seem! That's why sometimes it's good to at least give the benefit of the doubt



St. Michael, why is the current parish not giving a "release"? (and by "release" I'm assuming you mean they won't baptize the child earlier than three months even though they have a letter from the chaplain that they've been faithfully attending Mass on base). Are there any other parishes in the area who would honor the letter from the chaplain?


For those who are following this thread, don't you think it rather unfair that a parish wouldn't baptize the baby sooner since they received a letter from the chaplain at Ft. Bragg stating the family was in regular attendance at Mass there? This family just moved to the area, so of course they aren't established at the parish yet, and they are relying on the recommendation of the chaplain, who has given them a good recommendation!

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='StMichael' timestamp='1285703874' post='2176507']
Every Church in Fayetteville, NC is telling a friend that she can't get her infant baptized in the Catholic Church unless they have been practicing for 3 months at a particular Church.

Both parents are Catholic, married and her husband is a recent Vet.

Really need some advice here on how to assist them to have their child (infant, this is an infant) baptized into the Church. Their back up plan at this point is to go Lutheran or Methodist.

I will save my distain for those who are attempting to deny this child the gift of Faith.
[/quote]
So I assume that whiile this drama is going on they are presenting themselves at Mass at a specific parish every week? Introduced themselves? Signed up for parish activities? The parents have the right to ask for baptism, but the Church has the responsibility to make sure its not a one -shot deal on the part of the parents. Frustrating -yes. But isn't baptism important enough to prepare for in the same way we prepare for a wedding? After all you don't usually present yourself to the rectory and annnounce you want to be married the next week. Threatening to go somewhere else is like the wedding couple saying if you don't comply we will run to the local JP.

[mcts]

Keep in mind that I have no idea about this stuff, but it seems like if the parents were attending Mass somewhere else that they could get a letter from the pastor of their previous church saying that they did. If they didn't, then there is a problem.

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' timestamp='1285851401' post='2176916']
So I assume that whiile this drama is going on they are presenting themselves at Mass at a specific parish every week? Introduced themselves? Signed up for parish activities? The parents have the right to ask for baptism, but the Church has the responsibility to make sure its not a one -shot deal on the part of the parents. Frustrating -yes. But isn't baptism important enough to prepare for in the same way we prepare for a wedding? After all you don't usually present yourself to the rectory and annnounce you want to be married the next week. Threatening to go somewhere else is like the wedding couple saying if you don't comply we will run to the local JP.
[/quote]
Dying in the state of singleness is not generally considered detremental to one's soul. If the parents truly believe their child is in danger of dying before they can have him baptized, that's certainly different than an impatient couple going to the JP.

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' timestamp='1285855547' post='2176922']
Dying in the state of singleness is not generally considered detremental to one's soul. If the parents truly believe their child is in danger of dying before they can have him baptized, that's certainly different than an impatient couple going to the JP.
[/quote]
If they truly thought the baby was in danger of dying they would baptise him immediately without hesitation, and worry about the church after.

[homeschoolmom]

I agree. I'm wondering why they don't just do that, actually.