Case 7. Parents' Neglect

Lucius, a missionary priest in England, found, not without sorrow, that several boys and girls in his elementary school had not been baptized. Some were born of parents who were indeed Catholic but very negligent and vicious; others of Protestant parents who were indifferent in religious matters. After due instruction in the catechism had been given, he baptized all of them who were willing, and forcibly washed at the sacred font a certain four-year-old Lucillus, born of Catholic parents, who resisted vigorously with feet and fists. The neighboring priests heard these things not without astonishment. Hence it is asked:

1. Can children be baptized against their parents’ will?

2. Can children of heretics be baptized, and under what conditions?

3. At what time and under what obligation are parents bound to procure Baptism for their children?

4. What is to be said of the case?

The first question was answered above, p. 104, and the second, p. 98.

3. When and under what obligation are parents bound to have their children baptized?

Catholic parents are bound to have their children baptized as soon after birth as they can conveniently. According to approved theologians it would be a grave sin for parents to put off their child’s Baptism for a month without good cause.¹

1 Manual of Moral Theology, vol. ii, p. 63.

4. The case. Lucius did right to baptize the children of Catholic parents who had not been baptized. They are being educated in the Catholic school and they can thus be instructed in the Catholic religion. It is plain that there has been grave and culpable negligence on the part of their parents. For the same reason he was right too in baptizing Lucillus. He was only four years old and had not yet the use of reason, so that his resistance need not cause scruple or doubt. It was probably directed against a function which he considered objectionable but which he did not understand. As his parents were Catholics the Church had a right to baptize him. Lucius should not have baptized the children of Protestant parents without procuring a promise from the parents that they should be brought up Catholics and allowed to practise the Catholic religion. He should in addition have provided them with sponsors whose duty it would be to watch over their Catholic education. The Baptism, however, even of these was valid, and Lucius should do what he can to educate them as Catholics and induce them to lead Catholic lives.