During the horrible Nazi era, lots of Jewish children across Europe had been entrusted by their parents to Catholic neighbors for their protection. Many of these Jewish parents were, after the war, missing or dead, but the Catholic Church would not baptize these children even if they and their Catholic guardians wanted it. The Church said that they must be returned, unbaptized, to whatever Jewish family members could be located, or placed with surviving unrelated Jewish families.
This is because Baptism is NOT to be conferred on anyone unless they are of age to request It, or are Catholic children being raised as Catholics in their own families.
The issue is: once baptized, a person's objective status is: a baptized person. They can leave, but they're still "a baptized person who is not a practicing Catholic." They can be excommunicated, but they're still "a baptized person who is excommunicated." They can go to hell and still be "a baptized person who is damned." That's just the reality. You can't take away what actually happened.
You’re correct. They will remain a person who once got wet during a religious ceremony, regardless of the current, chosen condition of their heart.
So if the Catholic Church wants to keep record of those who once got wet (baptized) during a religious ceremony, regardless of the present/current STATED condition of their heart/mind/will, they can just “baptize” everyone and it will make their record keeping so much easier.
Those who actually have faith in Christ will be saved...and those who don’t will be damned.
To be fair, you stated they must initially consent, or be consented for (where do you get that in the Bible?). So I guess the Catholic Church has the option to keep up its current (apparent) system of “one way” baptism recording.
“You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave...”