Valid Baptism?

[zealousdefender]

I have a rather unique situation. While I don't believe it requires a scholar's expertise, I would like to post my question here. I was in prison for several years. Ironically, in the several months preceding the events which led to my incarceration I began to question my Protestant upbringing. I won't clutter this space with my conversion story, but I converted to Catholicism while in prison in 1997. Not an easy choice at the time -- I would be the only Catholic in my family, and my present environment at the time was decidedly and vehemently anti-Catholic.

 

So, leaving prison several years later, I left behind the only Catholics I had known. I moved to Tampa, FL and became a member at Sacred Heart. Although I attended regularly as required and sang in the choir, I didn't really try to make any friends, and I did not become close to anyone. A couple of years later I married a childhood sweetheart whom I had know since age 12, and we had a son the following December. I do understand the importance and the solemnity of the office of godparent, and maybe because of that, had no reasonable candidates for my son. We just didn't socialize with anyone, did not know any Catholics personally. When I approached the priest about having my son baptized, he refused because of the lack of godparents.

 

I had been taught that Baptism requires water and proper form, and that it may be performed by a lay person in times of emergency. So, I went home and baptized my son myself using water from the bathroom sink, pouring it over his head three times as I said "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" and making the sign of the cross. I just didn't know what else to do. I have always believed this was a valid baptism, and I was hoping to get some confirmation of that here.

 

I'm embarrassed to say that I have not been to Mass in a couple years now, my son has not been properly instructed... everything is just a mess and I don't know what keeps me from setting things straight. There are just so many obstacles. No excuse, but it's just overwhelming to me.

 

 

[cappie]

It's a shame that the priest's insistence on Godparents was an occasion for your baptism dilemma. Usually one can work out these problems with a bit of pastoral care and explanation!  

 

Your child is baptised validly however The danger here is failing to bring the grace of baptism to fruition. The only exception to this law would be if the child is in danger of death. Canon law states, "An infant of Catholic parents, indeed even of non-Catholic parents, is lawfully baptized in danger of death, even if the parents are opposed to it."    If death is near, the salvation of the child’s soul then prevails. So it's primarily for those in danger of death.

 

  It should also be noted that, according to canon law, "The ordinary minister of baptism is a bishop, a priest or a deacon" (861) and that the pastor, by his office, has jurisdiction of all baptisms within his territory (530, 862).

 

A layperson who baptizes without the permission of the local pastor violates this law. Although the Code of Canon Law does make provision for cases "of necessity" for a layperson to baptize, a strong desire is not one of them.

 

In the future I would have a talk with a local pastor. There would be no record of your child's baptism and this could have consequences for the later reception of the sacraments.