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Can a Baby be Baptized Against the Parents' Wishes?
Canon Law Made Easy ^ | February 14, 2013 | Cathy Caridi, J.C.L.

Posted on 02/14/2013 12:14:09 PM PST by Weiss White

Q: Some Jewish people in my city complained to the local Catholic hospital, saying they were afraid to bring their sick children to the emergency room, because the hospital staff might baptize them. The hospital staff publicly agreed never to do this.

I had always assumed that you can’t baptize a baby without at least one parent’s consent, so I thought the hospital would simply say, “Don’t worry, we’re not allowed to do that anyway!” But the wording of the hospital administrators’ response seemed to suggest that they really could baptize a sick baby if they wanted to. Can a baby be baptized Catholic, even if the parents aren’t Catholic and don’t want the baptism? –Greg

(Excerpt) Read more at canonlawmadeeasy.com ...


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; Religion & Culture; Theology
KEYWORDS: baptism; blogspam; canonlaw; catholic; checkoutmyblog; comeseemyblog; didjareadmyblog; ihaveablog; iminteresting; listentome; lookatme; payattentiontome; pimpmyblog; readme; readmyblog; readmyramblings; trollingforhits; unbaptized
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1 posted on 02/14/2013 12:14:26 PM PST by Weiss White
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To: Weiss White
Archie Bunker did it....


2 posted on 02/14/2013 12:17:38 PM PST by massmike (At least no one is wearing a "Ron Paul - 2016" tee shirt........yet!)
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To: Weiss White

In the olden days (of my youth), a Catholic hospital might have the priest baptize a dying baby. I doubt that would happen today.


3 posted on 02/14/2013 12:19:32 PM PST by Ingtar (Everyone complains about the weather, but only Liberals try to legislate it.)
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To: Weiss White

If you are not a believer what does it matter? It is just a bath in your mind set. As long as it physically nor mentally invasive (I doubt babies could be affected emotionally) then who cares. I’d be more concerned about the quality/level of care under obamacare guidelines.


4 posted on 02/14/2013 12:21:26 PM PST by Resolute Conservative
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To: Weiss White

Legally? I don’t know.
I do know that when the time came for my husband’s dad to allow him to be baptized into the Catholic church he refused. So my mother-in-law and her mother “baptized” him in the kitchen sink.
He chose to be baptized and joined the Baptist church in his late teens.


5 posted on 02/14/2013 12:23:44 PM PST by Wiser now (Socialism does not eliminate poverty, it guarantees it.)
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To: Weiss White

If the parents were baptized against their wishes, would that make them Catholics? Or just wet Jews?


6 posted on 02/14/2013 12:24:35 PM PST by LearsFool ("Thou shouldst not have been old, till thou hadst been wise.")
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To: LearsFool

The custom of baptism didn’t just spring up when Jesus came along. The ceremonial use of water is a very ancient Jewish custom.


7 posted on 02/14/2013 12:27:27 PM PST by muawiyah
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To: massmike

yep and only if the babys daddy is a certifiable meathead


8 posted on 02/14/2013 12:28:09 PM PST by bigbob
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To: muawiyah

So Marco Rubio baptized hks self while giving his speech?


9 posted on 02/14/2013 12:30:19 PM PST by al baby (Hi Mom)
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To: LearsFool

Best laugh I’ve had all day! lol!


10 posted on 02/14/2013 12:30:31 PM PST by Marie ("The last time Democrats gloated this hard after a health care victory, they lost 60 House seats.")
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To: bigbob
yep and only if the babys daddy is a certifiable meathead

And if the baby's mama goes on to gain 300 pounds and shills for programs that supposedly feed hungry kids.

11 posted on 02/14/2013 12:30:49 PM PST by ScottinVA (Gun control: Steady firm grip, target within sights, squeeze the trigger slowly...)
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To: massmike

Charlie tried to do that on “Lost”... with a completely unrelated person’s baby no less.


12 posted on 02/14/2013 12:32:09 PM PST by Boogieman
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To: Resolute Conservative
If you are not a believer what does it matter?

Yep.

I'm pretty sure the Mormons reading the obituaries will get me proxy-baptized after I'm dead.

Doesn't bother me. I already know where I'm going, and no two people splashing around in a basin will affect that.

Not that I'd want it to :)

13 posted on 02/14/2013 12:33:18 PM PST by ExGeeEye (It's been over 90 days; time to start on 2014. Carpe GOP!)
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To: muawiyah

Sure, but my point is that baptism into Christ is a voluntary act, predicated upon belief in Christ.

Neither Jews’ children nor Catholics’ children nor atheists’ children can be baptized into Christ before they’re of an age to believe in Him.


14 posted on 02/14/2013 12:36:33 PM PST by LearsFool ("Thou shouldst not have been old, till thou hadst been wise.")
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To: Marie

:-D


15 posted on 02/14/2013 12:37:23 PM PST by LearsFool ("Thou shouldst not have been old, till thou hadst been wise.")
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To: Weiss White

This seems like agitprop to make Catholics look bad and create animosity.

____

I think an important issue also is what if someone puts a curse or magic spell on your baby at a doctors office. Or in the supermarket. Or puts magic dust on them.


16 posted on 02/14/2013 12:37:52 PM PST by ifinnegan
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To: Resolute Conservative
If you are not a believer what does it matter?

Well, in the past it sometimes mattered a lot.

17 posted on 02/14/2013 12:38:56 PM PST by Lurking Libertarian (Non sub homine, sed sub Deo et lege)
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To: Weiss White

1) Baptism by a priest doesn’t make a baby “Catholic” anymore than circumsizing a kid makes him a Jew

In fact my Catholic kids were baptized by a Methodist minister, A Christian baptism is a Christian baptism

2) If you don’t believe in the ritual of sprinkling water on a child, why fear it? They think Jahweh will be displeased? If the kid is that sick, is that their main worry so to not take them to the hospital?


18 posted on 02/14/2013 12:40:13 PM PST by silverleaf (Age Takes a Toll: Please Have Exact Change)
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To: LearsFool

My guess is that in the days of high infant mortality, the Church baptized babies to ensure that they get to Heaven.


19 posted on 02/14/2013 12:40:37 PM PST by Squawk 8888 (True North- Strong Leader, Strong Dollar, Strong and Free!)
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To: Weiss White

1) Baptism by a priest doesn’t make a baby “Catholic” anymore than circumsizing a kid makes him a Jew

In fact my Catholic kids were baptized by a Methodist minister, A Christian baptism is a Christian baptism

2) If you don’t believe in the ritual of sprinkling water on a child, why fear it? They think Jahweh will be displeased? If the kid is that sick, is that their main worry so to not take them to the hospital?


20 posted on 02/14/2013 12:41:56 PM PST by silverleaf (Age Takes a Toll: Please Have Exact Change)
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