St Richard Skelmersdale : Baptism - what the Church teaches us

Baptism - what the Church teaches us

Baptism

Cannon Law on Baptism says:-

Canon 867

§1 Parents are obliged to see to it that infants are baptized with the first weeks after birth; as soon as possible after the birth, or even before, parents are to request the sacrament for their child and to be properly prepared.
§ 2 An infant in danger of death is to be baptized without delay.

Canon 868

§ 1 For the baptism of an infant it is necessary that:
   • parents or at least one of them or the person who lawfully takes their place gives consent;
   • there be a founded hope that the infant will be brought up in the Catholic faith; if such a hope is altogether laking, the baptism is to be delayed according to the prescriptions of particular law and the parents are to be informed of the reason.
§ 2 The infant of Catholic parents, in fact of non-Catholic parents as well, who is in danger of death is licitly baptized even against the will of the parents.

Canon 872

Insofar as possible, one to be baptized is to be given a sponsor who is to assist an adult in Christian initiation, or, together with the parents, to present an infant at the baptism, and who will help the baptized to lead a Christian life in harmony with the baptism, and to fulfill faithfully the obligations connected with it.

Canon 873

Only one male or one female sponsor or one of each sex is to be a godparent.

Canon 874

§ 1 To be admitted to the role of sponsor, a person must:
   • be designated by the one to be baptized, by the parents or the one who takes their place or, in their absence, by the pastor or minister and is to have the qualifications and intention of performing the role;
   • have completed the 16th year;
   • be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received the sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist and leads a life in harmony with the faith and the role to be undertaken;
   • not be the mother or father of the one to be baptized.
§ 2 A baptized person of another Christian church may not serve as godparent or sponsor but may serve as a witness to baptism together with a Catholic sponsor.