I have a family member who wants me to be the Godparent of her unborn baby b/c her sister is not confirmed. The mother is also not confirmed. I am worried that she won't raise this child Catholic. I don't want to interfere in how she raises her child, but I don't think I can be a Godparent for a child who will not really be raised Catholic. Is it ever O.K for a child to be baptized Catholic and not to continue in their Faith? Does the child have the "right" for his or her original sin to be forgiven, even if his parents no longer practise their religion? I don't know what to do.

-- ro (rmhoye@yahoo.com), May 07, 2003

Answers

Jmj
Hello, Ro.

You asked: "Is it ever O.K for a child to be baptized Catholic and not to continue in their Faith?"

It is not God's will for this to happen, and this is reflected in the Code of Canon Law:
Canon 868 -- §1 For an infant to be baptized lawfully it is required:
1° that the parents, or at least one of them, or the person who lawfully holds their place, give their consent;
2° that there be a well­founded hope that the child will be brought up in the catholic religion. If such hope is truly lacking, the baptism is, in accordance with the provisions of particular law, to be deferred and the parents advised of the reason for this.

You also asked: "Does the child have the 'right' for his or her original sin to be forgiven, even if his parents no longer practise their religion?"

That is an interesting question, one I've never heard anyone ask. I think it would be good to modify your terminology a bit. The "original sin" is not "his" or "hers" (speaking of the baby), but the "original sin" of Adam and Eve. Thus, we do not inherit the guilt of that sin, but the effects of the sin. So we can say that Baptism removes those negative effects, primarily the loss of sanctifying grace (and bestows several other very important gifts as well).

But does the child have a "right" to Baptism. I would have to say "no," because not even every adult has a "right" to Baptism. Here is what Canon Law says about that:
Canon 865
§1 To be admitted to baptism, an adult must have manifested the intention to receive baptism, must be adequately instructed in the truths of the faith and in the duties of a Christian, and tested in the Christian life over the course of the catechumenate. The person must moreover be urged to have sorrow for personal sins.
§2 An adult in danger of death may be baptized if, with some knowledge of the principal truths of the faith, he or she has in some manner manifested the intention to receive baptism and promises to observe the requirements of the Christian religion.

Baptism is always a divine "gift," rather than a "right" -- and a particularly great gift when received by a baby, who thereby has sanctifying grace, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the three theological virtues from such a tender age.

Ro, for the good of the baby, I want to suggest that you do something that may not "feel" right at first. Please call the priest who is going to baptizing the baby and express your concerns. Ask him to make sure that the parents are really going to do what is right. Then stop worrying. Leave it in God's hands, knowing that (if the Baptism takes place) you will be there to help the child grow in the faith if your aid is needed.

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), May 07, 2003.

Thank you.

-- ro (rmhoye@yahoo.com), May 07, 2003.

Faith and Baptism

1253 Baptism is the sacrament of faith.54 But faith needs the community of believers. It is only within the faith of the Church that each of the faithful can believe. The faith required for Baptism is not a perfect and mature faith, but a beginning that is called to develop. The catechumen or the godparent is asked: "What do you ask of God's Church?" The response is: "Faith!"

1254 For all the baptized, children or adults, faith must grow after Baptism. For this reason the Church celebrates each year at the Easter Vigil the renewal of baptismal promises. Preparation for Baptism leads only to the threshold of new life. Baptism is the source of that new life in Christ from which the entire Christian life springs forth.

1255 For the grace of Baptism to unfold, the parents' help is important. So too is the role of the godfather and godmother, who must be firm believers, able and ready to help the newly baptized - child or adult on the road of Christian life.55 Their task is a truly ecclesial function (officium).56 The whole ecclesial community bears some responsibility for the development and safeguarding of the grace given at Baptism.

-- No Mail (no.spam@thx.com), May 08, 2003.

I just checked. The three paragraphs above are copied from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1997).
JFG

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), May 08, 2003.

Do you really think that God could not take that child into his arms, even though we couldn't get our religious formulas to work for him? God's not that small.

-- Leon (vol@weblink2000.net), May 11, 2003.

I'm 100% aware this a catholic forum , but still I want to give a reply !!

I have a family member who wants me to be the Godparent of her unborn baby b/c her sister is not confirmed. The mother is also not confirmed.

Explain this , please ?? (English is not my mother tongue)

I am worried that she won't raise this child Catholic. I don't want to interfere in how she raises her child,

We do live in a democrazy , what if she wants to raise this kid as a lutheran or another religion or even without , her kids are not yours' !!

but I don't think I can be a Godparent for a child who will not really be raised Catholic.

What is wrong with people who have another conviction or have another point of view ??

Is it ever O.K for a child to be baptized Catholic and not to continue in their Faith? Does the child have the "right" for his or her original sin to be forgiven, even if his parents no longer practise their religion?

My parents , they let me baptise , but later , I left religion for good , 'cause religion is not mine !! A baby can not decide what they gonna be in the future , parents make this decission for them !! Most of the parents , they try to raise their kids in the best way , and that's great !!!! But personal , I think it's better to let the kids decide they want to be baptized or not , at the age of 18 or 16 !! (just my opnion)

I don't know what to do.

Do what you think it's the best/right thing to do , for you !!

Greets from a NON BELIEVER:

-- Laurent LUG (.@...), May 11, 2003.

Laurent,

Of course a person has the option to raise their child in a non-Catholic way, but one of the things a Godparent does at the baptismal ceremony is to agree to assist the child's development as a Catholic. If the mother doesn't want to raise the child as a Catholic, then she should not be asking the lady who made the original post to be a Godmother. Being a Godparent to a child who is not raised to be Catholic, and knowing this will be the case, involves a sort of fraudulency. In my own opinion, and I suspect that of several others here, if the original poster knows that she will not be able to perform the primary duty of the Godparent(assisting in raising the child to be Catholic), she should decline this honor.

-- No Mail (nospam@thx.com), May 11, 2003.

@ No Mail , I Agree !!

Greets from a NON BELIEVER

-- Laurent LUG (.@...), May 12, 2003.