Posted on 01/09/2014 11:27:51 AM PST by Weiss White
Q: My neighbors are Catholics who didn’t practice the faith for years, but now they are returning to the Church. Their children were never baptized, so they went to the parish priest to arrange for their baptism. But he refused, because he said the children are too old! He claims the children are mature enough to decide for themselves if they want to be Catholic or not…. The whole thing sounds bizarre. The parents truly want to raise their children as Catholics. Is it possible the priest doubts their sincerity? What can they do? –Rachel
A: It’s impossible to be absolutely sure what is happening to Rachel’s neighbors without knowing all the details, but we can nevertheless piece together the likely reason for the priest’s refusal to baptize their children at the parents’ request.
(Excerpt) Read more at canonlawmadeeasy.com ...
I doubt seriously that anyone would write that this situation ‘sounds bizarre’. This seems to me to be like ask the mullah or dear ann landers. Why not just ask a general question about children and baptism rather than putting words in a nonexistent person’s mouth?
Weiss White seems to respond immediately to articles written by
Cathy Caridi, J.C.L. which leads me to believe they are both the same person.
The way i understand it is that infant Baptism is only a christening and not a baptism in the Church.
A person must decide for them selves if they want to be a part of the Church.
Jesus was Christened as an infant, but close to thirty years old before he was baptized, aside from Jesus many young people do not know what they really believe even at that age, and some much older.
I believe you are correct that they are one and the same. And Weiss White is very adamant about the articles being copyrighted and not permitted to post the entire article.
Does not JimRob require bloggers to post their entire article?
If they’re posting from their own blogs, there is no need to excerpt. If they’re posting from someone else’s copyrighted blog, there’s no choice.
How old are the kids?
3-4-5 priest should go with parents wishes
13-14-15 let kids make up thir own mind
“Jesus was Christened as an infant”
Where is that in the Bible or tradition? I’m not accusing you of anything, just never heard anything about that.
He was certainly circumcised per Jewish Law as an infant. Is that what you mean?
Um, no.
I know Catholics get angty at me because I question them a lot, but ... Where did you get THAT ?
I doubt that ravenwolf is a Catholic. If so, he/she is a poorly informed one.
I think you mean, Jesus was taken to the temple for the sacrifice, naming and circumcision.
That ceremony is at 8 days.
Short answer: If they’re old enough that they could make First Communion if they were baptized already, they’re old enough to make their own decision to be baptized, and go through (I know this is going to sound strange, but go with it) RCIA adapted for kids.
I know this because I’m an adult catechumen right now and my parish has a separate RCIA class going for the kids.
I believe you're correct on the first part. And I know you're correct on the second part, making the first part (if true) disingenuous.
Not bizarre. Infant baptism is for infants. Adults must ask for baptism on their own. The official church reply makes sense.
By faith, I believe you just made sense
I wonder how many kids raised by Catholics are actually allowed to make that decision for themselves?
Or how many baptize their children, but later leave the faith entirely?
In the traditional church calendar, the Nativity is celebrated on Dec. 25, the Circumcision 8 days later on Jan. 1, and the Presentation in the Temple (or the Purification of the Virgin Mary) on Feb. 2, the 40th day after the Nativity.
Mary and Joseph were observant Jews, Jesus would have been circumcised when he was eight days old, Joseph would have named Him, and there would have been a sacrifice.
I have know idea what your dates are referring to, the family would have acted in accordance to the Law.
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