What is the rules of Catholic baptism?

Question

What mandate did the Vatican use to come up with Baptism as an infant and Confirmation at 16 years? The only instance of baptism in scripture is Jesus getting baptized at age 30. Shouldn't we be following His example?

Answer 1

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "Born with a fallen human nature and tainted by original sin, children also have need of the new birth in Baptism to be freed from the power of darkness and brought into the realm of the freedom of the children of God, to which all men are called."

Infant baptism is not a new thing. There are non-biblical documented sources starting in the second century telling of infant Baptism.

There are even several passages in the Bible where whole households were baptized. This would include everyone who lived there, men, women, children, and infants.

Acts 16:15, "After she and her household had been baptized"

Acts 16:33, "then he and all his family were baptized at once."

Acts 18:8, "came to believe in the Lord along with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians who heard believed and were baptized."

1 Corinthians 1:16, "I baptized the household of Stephanas"

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Baptism is a choice made by informed people.
Properly done is by immersion, and only after a verbal test confirms the person understands the obligations associated with it. Sprinkling and Godfathers don't cut it.

Answer 3

ImaCatholic2 is correct concerning original sin.

The sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation that follow are not done lightly and these include training, discussion and willingness.

It is a sign of commitment.

Answer 4

they think it's better when you're a baby so you can catch it early? i really don't know. but there's really nothing wrong with it. and confirmation is probably good to have as a teenager...who knows when they'll get married (:-O

Answer 5

You mean, what are the rules?