Catholic baptism

[dany174]

I wondering if there is anyone how can shed some light on catholic baptisms for me.

My DH comes from a very very Catholic family, they all live in a different country (South America), we live in the UK. He has been baptised but is no longer religious and for the last 15 years has only gone to church when visiting family around Christmas. I'm not religious and come from a non religious family. Our wedding was non religious.

My DH and I are trying to conceive and the subject of baptism has come up. I know it would be very important for his grandmother that any great grandchildren are baptised. We have no problem with this.

So my question is do you think a UK catholic church would baptise a baby if the parents are not registered with the church and have no intention of attending church? I have a close friend here in the UK who is Catholic who I could ask to be godmother and we would be happy to do it at her church if they allowed it.

Also I would like to note we have nothing against religion and if our child choose to go to church themselves we would have no problem with that.

I'd be researching Opus Dei if I were you OP.

Just saying.

I've never heard of a priest refusing to baptise a child. They will want you to bring the child up a Catholic, as obviously that's kind of what the baptism is meant to start off. But it's not like you have to apply to have them baptised with only the virtuous making the cut! In my (large) parish you have to go to a group session where they explain about baptism and you can ask questions. Then it's just a case of booking the date. In my group session there were a few nervous parents asking questions that basically boiled down to "is it allowed... Do we have to... Is it a problem that we...", and the priest put them all at ease. I remember one couple probably much like you, where the mum seemed nervous and clueless, and the dad had brought along his mum who was possibly the driving force! The church will hope that the baptism brings the family closer to the church, but they can't really mandate this. Baptism is better than nothing, in their eyes.

The only thing that was a no-no was naming the child Jezebel or something.

Also, it doesn't sound like you object to the godparent doing their job, or to your in-laws sharing the faith with your little one. i.e. it's not as if you purely want a photoshoot and presents while being set against the church!

Probably would in my parish. We never see most of the families ever again.

DH is atheist and I am a lapsed Catholic, we had DS2 baptised to please my parents. No questions asked by the priest and no baptism prep classes required

I’m Catholic and I would think that you could arrange a Baptism with your local church (as long as the individual priest was willing). It would seem a bit strange to baptise the baby at a godparents church (I have never heard of this but might be wrong).

At least one parent needs to be Catholic but from what you say of your husband, he would fit this criteria.

There is also the option to select one non-Catholic godparent (known as a ‘Christian witness’)

This is a good overview:
parish.rcdow.org.uk/italianchurch/sacramental-prep/baptisms/

And this explains the commitments/vows you would agree to during the ceremony:
baby.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Catholic_Baptism

@Wondermule

No, they wouldn’t. Mass attendance is a prerequisite for baptism. However I believe one of your relatives could informally baptise your child by themselves if they were that bothered about it.

@Wundermule

This is not the case. It’s up to the priest, but showing some interest - ie by pitching up to mass a few times in the next months, would be a good idea - can you just do that?

Otherwise just do the rounds of priests in ever increasing circles - someone will be happy enough to do it.

We are rc from different countries. Our DC are baptised here. All you have to do is produce a baptism certificate from one of the parents home countries.

Ps, going to Mass isn't a prerequisite, they can't not welcome a child into the church because of their parents actions.

I don’t think you’ll have a problem op. Baptism is very important in the Catholic Church to the extent that there are provisions under canon law for the baptism of infants by anyone at all in cases where the child might die and a priest isn’t around.
Canon law is clear that parents faith is preferred but not a bar to baptism.
I can’t believe a priest would refuse.