But would the graces conferred in the sacrament help him see the error of his ways? I'm no theologian so perhaps I should just stay out of this, but here I go anyway. I know in our country, Confirmation is used as a sort of acceptance of one's Baptismal promises, i.e. you're an adult in the Faith. But I also know that's not how it's viewed in the Eastern Rites where babies are confirmed.
Still, in infant Baptism and Confirmation there are Godparents standing up as believers, so I suppose that would be the argument against confirming this kid. But, still, he's just a kid. I can't help but think the graces conferred in the sacrament of Confirmation, i.e. the gifts of the Holy Spirit - wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord - accompanied by some deep prayer, might help the kid to see the error of his ways. Might teaching the boy the Church's view and asking him to pray honestly upon it both before and after receiving the sacrament be the more pastoral response?
How's expecting Confirmation to straighten out wayward youths been working out for the past forty years?
Is your parish jammed with young folks who shaped up after confirmation?
Or, are the majority of those who received confirmation with no strings attached absent without leave, doing their own thing, and while doing their own thing, claiming to be Catholic and thereby thereby slandering the name of His Church?
It cost's nothing so it must be worth nothing, that's the way it looks to this kid and his parents both. It's a cute little tradition like a new Hallmark ornament every year and not much more.
NO! what was done to this clueless kid was 100% correct.
From the reaction of his parents, I would guess that, no, he would not profit. He is blind to the fact that he is not entitled to his opinion but must give it up if he wishes to be a true Catholic.