My ex-husband, who is catholic, and I just recently went through a divorce. I was wondering, my ex-husband signed a document before our marriage that he would do everything in his power to raise his children Catholic. Since we are divorced now is that document null & void or does it still remain in effect? Also, since we are divorced, do both parents have to give consent on the baptism of their child(ren)?

SLK

-- Sascha Kammer (slkammer@ruraltel.net), June 23, 2003

Answers

Jmj

Dear Sascha,
Especially for the children's sake, I am sorry to read that your family is no longer intact.

You wonder if your husband's promise concerning the children is still in effect. Certainly it is. It always will be. Moreover, the fact that you are "divorced" means only that you are separated. In the eyes of the Church, you are still married -- which is why I used the word "husband" a moment ago. [You vowed, "... til death do us part."]

You also asked: "... do both parents have to give consent on the baptism of their child(ren)?"

A Catholic pastor's decision to baptize a child immediately or to delay baptism is not based on the mutual consent of the parents. Rather it is based on whether or not he has a well-founded hope that the child will be raised as a Catholic. If your husband has custody, the pastor is likely to have that well-founded hope. If your husband only has visitation rights to children who are being brought up in a different religion by their mother, the pastor may not have that hope and will be required (by Canon Law) to delay the baptism.

I pray for you to be reconciled with your husband.
God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), June 24, 2003.