Is it fair for babies to be baptized in the Catholic religion without their consent?

Question

Forget about having or not having the babies consent.

What happens if that baby becomes an atheist later on in life?

and what if, what if he has a stupid GODMOTHER!!!

Answer 1

No it's not fair, it's not possible to have your name removed from the Baptismal records either as far as I know, I don't want to listed as a Catholic... forever skewing the statistics on their numbers in their favour.

There is something corrupt and abusive about the religious branding of children, there is no such thing as a Christian child they are just the children of Christian parents imposing their own religion upon their children. Where is freedom of & from religion for these kids they are given no choice.

Answer 2

The Catholic Church teaches, "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"

St. Paul wrote that baptism has replaced circumcision (Col 2:11-12), and in Judaism circumcision was performed primarily on infants.

By the way, infant baptism is also practiced by the majority of Protestants in the world, including Lutherans, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Dutch Reformed, Methodists, and others.

For more information, see Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 1250: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2.htm#1250

With love in Christ.

Answer 3

No it is not very fair. Babies can't consent to much of anything and certainly not getting baptized. In my religion, we believe that once you reach the age of 8 you are accountable and can make the choice to get baptized or not, though the parents do highly encourage it.

Just wondering, but why do people get baptized in the Catholic church? What purpose does a baptism serve there? In my religion (LDS), we get baptized to become a member of the church and to wash away our sins. We also make promises to keep the Lord's commandments.

Answer 4

Good question. Religion is mainly based on belief. Knowing and understanding of doctrines.
Does a baby know that? Does a baby believe in anything?
Well, there you go. A simple sprinkle of water can mean something to the parents- a mere tradition or procedure, at best. But it means nothing to the child, of course, which makes it a waste of time...and water.

Answer 5

Infant baptism is an initiation of that child into the Church... not only the local, actual church that we attend, but of the "universal" Church. That is a beautiful thing to think about! The Catholic Church is a church that is basically the same all around the world... the same beliefs, the same traditions, the same Lord (maybe just different languages and styles of worship). This child is to be supported and loved and taught by all of its new brothers and sisters in Christ in the church.

Answer 6

(sarcasm alert)

Yes, a friend of mine is in this quandry. He confessed to me that he no longer believed in God, but he could not be an atheist because his parents had him baptized as a Catholic when he was a baby. He was complaining that even though he did not believe in God, he HAD to because he was baptized a Catholic. Because he was baptized a Catholic, he HAD to go to Mass every Sunday, he HAD to confess sins he didn't even believe to BE sins to a priest, he HAD to receive the Body and Blood of Christ even though he believes that is is just bread and wine, and he HAD to ask the saints in Heaven to pray for him even though he does not believe there IS a Heaven.

I gave him $1.27 and told him to get a life.

Answer 7

Yes, because the sacrament of confirmation is when that person can ultimately decide ON THEIR OWN to either accept Catholicism in their life or not in order to find a different religion that better fits their beliefs. Just because a baby is baptized Catholic does not mean they have to remain Catholic.

Answer 8

Catholics believe everyone is born with the "original sin" of Adam and Eve and that if a person of any age dies before being baptized they will either be stuck in pergatory or go to hell for all of eternity.

Answer 9

It takes Nothing FROM them, It's a Ritual for the Parents. They are not Committed to Anything any more than the Parents wish-With or Without a Baptism.

A Bris is a bit more Personal!

Answer 10

FINALLY A SISTER WHO THINKS!!!!! YEAY!!!"WHATS UP" TO YOU!! anyhow NO!!!!!!!. Jesus was baptized when He was 30!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He had decided, for HIMSELF, that He was ready to be seriously devoted to the Father's purpose as much as humanly possible. When the season is ripe, individual hearts are led to complete reconcilliation.
WHY DO PEOPLE EVEN BOTHER TO BELIEVE IN GOD IF THEY THINK HE WOULD CAST AN INNOCENT TO "PROVERBIAL HELL"(WHICH IS also A pAPAL INVENTION ADOPTED DOWN FROM ITS EGYPTIAN ROOTS) HAD IT NOT BEEN BAPTIZED BEFORE DEPARTING FROM BREATH????
God is kind, loving, understanding, forgiving, full of mercies, beauty, truth, and laughter....Some Old Testament scripture revealed by and angel to a prophet says of the new Earth to come regarding children : They will grow up as calves among the stalls do, side by side they will spring up as trees" Where God and all His Faithful will be, clearly,children in thier new glorious bodies (1st Cor 15:52) In the twinkling of an eye...at the last trumpet, they shall all be changed.This corruptible will have put on incorruption,and his mortal shall put on immortality!!)All children who never had a chance are definately included in this group and anyone who doesnt believe this i seriously cry for....
See Ya!!and peace be with you