Waiting for six months for baby's christening?

Question

Tell me what you think..I am a catholic and have been here in the US for 3 years..I have always been to church to attend mass most of the sundays for 3 years now but I didn't register to any church because I kept on moving...I just had my baby in march...I called the church that I often attended mass to,and wanted to schedule for my baby's christening..i wanted to do it as soon as possible because I dont want to travel to places if my baby has not been baptized. But they said I have to register and wait for 6 months before I could have my baby baptized. Just tell me what you think about this..is this reasonable?I understand the policy of the catholic church but honestly for me this doesn't make sense at all...tell me what you think..thanks..

Answer 1

To me this is not reasonable.  You clearly understand the importance of the sacrament of Baptism so I would contact the church to see if you could attend a Baptism ceremony earlier.  

My now ex-wife, by the grace of God and the prayers of my family, converted to Catholicism about three years into our marriage.  She is now a very devote Catholic.  Upon deciding to become Catholic she had to wait one year and attend RICA classes before being Baptized at the Easter Vigil.  I still don't understand why it took so long. Yes she likely needed time to learn about Catholicism but an entire year?  

I wish you all the best! May God continue to Bless you and your family.    

Answer 2

that's a load of c**p to have to wait 6 months. I'm serious. At our church we had to take one class (free). Then we just let them know when it would be. She was born in March and baptized June 1st. No problems either. I have never heard of the way you are describing.

Answer 3

I'm Catholic and alot of what the church says doesn't make sense to me either.  Registering is not the end of it.  They are going to want to see proof that you have been going to that church at least during those six months and this includes using their envelopes for your contributions-so they can track it and how much.  And when this happened to my cousin, he had to show proof that the people he choose for his child's godparents most likely are  "good" Catholics as well-according to their judgment.  This means also proof that they attend church, etc.  As if going to church makes you a good person and those that don't go regularly, are not good people or worthy.  You would think they would be opening their arms to these babies being brought into the church-especially with the way things have been going these last several years.  If my kids were babies again, I wouldn't do it.  I would find a church that loves and accepts people as they are which is what I think God does.  

Answer 4

The purpose of that policy is to make sure the parents have a relationship with the parish, and aren't just using it to baptize your child.

Answer 5

I disagree with their decision. I think the fact that you are attending church and want to have your child christened should be a good thing to them. I have never heard of a church required a 6 month waiting period. To me, this is the type of church that would send you rude letters down the road saying that you're not giving enough, etc. I would find another church that is glad that you want to have your child christened.  

Answer 6

When you Baptize a baby into the Catholic faith you are promising to raise that child in the Catholic Church....many many people are Christmas/Easter Catholics, and Sacramental Catholics...that is Baptism, 1st Communion, Confirmation, Marriage and Burial.

Our church states that you must be registered with the parish 3 months prior to Baptism.  They will do it sooner if you are from another state and can provide a letter from your parish stating you are an active member there.

This is to avoid Baptizing children who's parents have no intention of bringing them up inthe church.

Rest assured, if God forbid the unspeakable happens, all babies are loved and cherished by God...all will see Heaven.

Answer 7

No, that doesn't make any sense.  We were able to register at the church and have the baby baptized right away.  There is a class you have to take, called Pre-Jordan, but once that is done, you should be able to have the child christened.  Maybe they only perform baptisms once every few months?

Answer 8

i'm catholic and i've never heard of such a thing.  just as you can marry outside of your parish, you can have your baby baptized in any catholic church...if you're really close to that church and don't want to go somewhere else, perhaps you can speak with one of the priests after mass instead of calling the receptionist.

Answer 9

I'm not catholic, but my church would baptize a baby by scheduled date; not waiting 6 months for registration, either.  If you are ok w/ baptizing your baby outside the catholic church, this may be a better option for you.  If you are set on a catholic baptism, you may not have an option but to wait.

Good luck.

Answer 10

Although I do not know why the parish is asking you to wait, I may have an idea.

One requirement for baptism is that the parents have to promise that they will raise their child as a Catholic.

If there is something in the parents' lifestyle that makes the priest think that they will not uphold this promise then he can "delay" the baptism of the child until the situation is resolved.

Not being registered in a parish and/or not being known at the parish tells the priest that you may not really want to raise your child as a Catholic. Asking you to make a commitment for your chile and to your parish is completely within the priest's authority.

Of course, an exception would be made for emergency situations like danger of death.

For more information, see the Code of Canon Law, section 868: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__...

With love in Christ.

Answer 11

That sounds dumb.  I don't got to a regular Chatholic church.  I got to a Lytheran church, but we didnt have to register our baby at all.  I went in and said I wanted my son baptised.  The pastor said when?  i said 2 weeks, so that I could invite family, done like cake!

Answer 12

i would try a diff church.... maybe they say 6 months bc u have to take the classes and all that  

Answer 13

Baptism is an act of obedience, a baby cannot obey, so it is a Christening, right?  You are dedicating your baby to God's work, and promising to raise the child in a Catholic household, right?

I don't know if it is a policy of the church so much as preparations that have to take place in order to do the christening.  Maybe they are booked up for the next 6 months, or maybe that is the particular chuch's policy to ensure that you have time to make sure that you want to christen your child.

Congratulations on the baby, though I am curious what christening a child would do to protect him/her from anything.  I wish you well on your travels, take lots of pictures, the US is a beautiful place, and good luck finding a church to help you with christening your baby.