Baptism

[Guest :: MichaelFilo ::]

Since it seems it is possible for a priest to withold from the parents of a child the sacrament of Baptism, then what is a child to do if it happened to die at the age of 1. In an earlier question addressing children of a 2 women living together and a child that is theirs through adoption of artificial insemination would have their child rejected from Baptism due to their lifestyle. Since the baby is punished for the parent's sin, is it really correct to withold Baptism from the child?


My prior question about the baptism of desire carries my greatest thanks if answered.

God bless,

Mikey

[BLAZEr]

The question isn't whether baptism is being "witheld" form the child, the question is whether the child who is baptised will be raised in an environment where the faith will be taught and lived with them. It does more harm to baptise a child and then raise them in a way where they will reject their baptism because of the way they are raised.

[cappie]

While not commenting on the particular case I would like to point out the following:

God's will is that everybody will be saved, this right of everyone to the means of salvation was expressed by Vatican II: "Like all Christians, the laity have the right to receive in abundance the help of the spiritual goods of the Church, especially the word of God and the sacraments from the pastors." This text was later codified in canon 213:

[b]Can. 213 Christ's faithful have the right to be assisted by their Pastors from the spiritual riches of the Church, especially by the word of God and the sacraments[/b]
This canon gives people the right to the sacraments, and establishes a presumption in favour of th eperson being sufficiently disposed to receive the sacraments, people cannot be denied the sacraments without canonical reason(s). This right should prevent clergy from adopting arbitrary pastoral criteria limiting the rights of the faithful. Furthermore canon 840 reminds us that faith "is expressed and strengthened by reception of the sacraments."

Can 213 is supported by the canon below which reminds :

[b]Can. 843 §1 Sacred ministers may not deny the sacraments to those who opportunely ask for them, are properly disposed and are not prohibited by law from receiving them[/b].

Some theologians argue that baptism should be denied to children of lapsed Catholics, however canon 849 reminds everyone that baptism is necessary for salvation:

[b]Can. 849 Baptism, the gateway to the sacraments, is necessary for salva-tion, either by actual reception or at least by desire. By it people are freed from sins, are born again as children of God and, made like to Christ by an indelible character, are incorporated into the Church. It is validly conferred only by a washing in real water with the proper form of words[/b]

When the 1983 Code of Canon Law was published there was no mention of refusing to baptise in the Canons concerning Baptism, Canon 868 only allows a priest to delay an infant's baptism.:

[b]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. [/b]


For a baptism to take place then, all that is required in law is that there be a well founded hope that the child be brought up in the Catholic religion. In other words
a reasonable hope, some minimal indication that this will happen. There is no legal requirement such as the parents attending Mass on Sundays. Other people such as grandparents, could be very significant in providing the "founded hope" for the infant's baptism.