Baptism

[ImageTrinity]

My sister and her ex-boyfriend have a one-year-old son. They are not living together and have no intention of getting married. My sister has been going to Sunday Mass since the baby was born. She is a baptized Christian, but is not ready to become Catholic. She would like to have the baby baptized within the Church though. The baby's dad is Catholic, but not practicing. Is there any reason why she wouldn't be able to have him baptized?

[cappie]

The Code of Canon Law states: Can. 868 §1 For an infant to be baptised lawfully it is required:

1° that the parents, or at least one of them, or the person who lawfully holds their place, give their consent;
2° 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.

The permission of at least one parent is needed. In addition to this consent, there must be a realistic hope that the child will be brought up in the catholic religion. Such a hope can be easily verified normally when the parents are together and are practising Catholics. However, other family members or sponsors (godparents) can give reliable assurances to this effect.

If these assurances are not forthcoming or are judged to be inadequate, then the baptism is to be deferred.

Your sister should make herself known to the pastor and discuss this with him. You could go along with her and if appropriate give the pastor the assurances.

Edited July 29, 2011 by cappie