Q1 (March 2020): We had a baby earlier this week, and a few days later the diocese announced that all baptisms are suspended indefinitely except in danger of death, due to coronavirus. I want her baptized as soon as possible but who knows how long this will continue. What’s a parent to do? –Emily
Q2 (April 2020): I am delivering my seventh baby in two weeks. I have been informed that priests are being encouraged to only do baptisms in an emergency. I have been encouraged to delay my baby’s baptism. Otherwise I can schedule a baptism but only ten people can be there due to coronavirus. How do I welcome a baby into the church family without even all his siblings there? I read canon law and it states lay people can perform baptisms out of necessity. What is defined as necessity? –Samantha
Q3 (June 2020): Someone on twitter said that we cannot baptize a dying person without their consent. Are we allowed to baptize someone who appears to be dying without their consent? Like do a conditional one?
Back a few months ago, I instructed my sister how to baptize in case of emergency. The instructions were for her niece as her children were sick with the flu and they feared that it could have been coronavirus. My sister, a Catholic, baptized her 9-year-old granddaughter two weeks ago. My niece was never raised in the Catholic faith, although [she was] baptized as an infant. She believes that children should make their own decisions when they’re adults. Should my sister contact her pastor? Do I need to tell her that she shouldn’t baptize the other two children? One is 17 and the other is one year old. –Theresa Continue reading