i was just curious about this.... my friend is having a baby with her boyfriend. she's due tomorrow! they want to have him (the baby) baptized in the catholic church. they are unmarried, and the father is catholic, but my friend is not. are there certain rules about that? or as long as one of the parents is catholic it's allowed?
if someone could help me out that'd be great :) thanks!
2007-07-06 09:50:01 · 7 answers · asked by nhtennis02 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes.
The Catholic Church will look for some assurance that the parents will keep their promise to raise the child as a Catholic. A Catholic father will help fulfill this need.
With love in Christ.
2007-07-06 17:36:16 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
*Is Catholic*
The Church will baptise a child if there is resonable expecation that the child will be raised in the Catholic faith.
Think of it this way, Baptism is like planting the seed of the Holy Spirit in an individual. If it is not watered, the seed will die. The watering is raising the child in the Catholic Faith.
So the question is, can the priest expect that two unmarried people, with the father not being very devout, raise their child in the Catholic faith?
Perhaps they should get married and start going to Mass.
If I was their priest, that is what I would ask them, and their reaction would help me to determine if there is a resonable expectation.
2007-07-06 13:02:20 · answer #2 · answered by Liet Kynes 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as the godfather is a practicing Catholic, the godmother simply needs to be a Christian of any kinds. Since she was Roman Catholic when she was younger, she was probably baptized as an infant. Your priest may or may not require her to present a baptism certificate and/or a letter from her pastor stating she attends church regularly -- regulations vary by diocese. If she can't meet the minimal requirements set by your diocese, then you can make her an honorary godmother, but she wouldn't have any official role in your child's baptism.
2016-05-20 00:24:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmm, I don't know. It really depends on the priest doing the ceremony... some will not baptise a baby unless the parents are married. There should be no problem with the mom being non-catholic, though... I was baptised and my dad is not catholic. The only catch is that in order for the baby to be baptised, both parents have to promise to raise the child catholic.
2007-07-06 09:55:06 · answer #4 · answered by Rat 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You know, I don't even know if one parent has to be Catholic, as long as they have the desire to raise the child as a Catholic. I am sure it would be easier to do that if at least one parent were Catholic (hard to teach a child what you don't know).
With the father of the child being Catholic, I am nearly 100% sure the baby can be baptized, as long as the mother agrees.
2007-07-06 09:55:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
As long as one parent is Catholic, the child may be baptized in the Catholic church.
In fact, it is the Catholic parent is REQUIRED to have the child baptized in the Catholic church.
Since he didn't bother living up to waiting until marriage to have sex, it really is the least he can do for the child.
2007-07-06 11:46:58 · answer #6 · answered by Mommy_to_seven 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
as long as both parents agree to raise the child within the faith - there will be no problem. they do NOT reject the baptismal of a child.
2007-07-06 10:34:19 · answer #7 · answered by Marysia 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋