Reader Question: Baptizing Children of an Unmarried Mother

Last week, I introduced a new submission form to make it easier for you to take part in our Reader Questions series. The response so far has been enthusiastic; you can see the questions that readers asked at Readers Respond: Do You Have a Question About Catholicism?

Our question this week is the first drawn from the submission form. Janet writes:

Would I be able to have my two children baptized, as I am not married? I am a Catholic, and my son attends a Catholic school, and I would like them both to be brought up in the Catholic faith.

It's an excellent question, and the short answer is yes.In fact, since Baptism is necessary for salvation, you should not delay having your children baptized. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church notes (para. 1250), "The Church and the parents would deny a child the priceless grace of becoming a child of God were they not to confer Baptism shortly after birth."

Janet's question seems to stem from a concern that the Church might withhold the sacrament because of her own circumstances. That is not the case. All that is necessary for a child to receive Baptism is the desire and willingness of the parents (or parent) to bring the child up in the Faith of Christ.

Going beyond the question that Janet asked, her concerns over her own unmarried status should be addressed in discussion with her parish priest. I do not know the details of her situation, but if (for instance) she is avoiding Communion because she is an unmarried mother, then she is depriving herself of graces that she needs. Since she refers to herself as "unmarried" rather than "divorced," making a contrite Confession and resolving to amend her life would likely be enough to restore her to the sacraments.

If you have a question that you would like to have featured in our Reader Questions series, please use the "Ask Your Question!" link in the "Readers Respond" section of the Reader Questions page. If you would like the question answered privately, please send me an e-mail at catholicism.guide@about.com. Be sure to put "QUESTION" in the subject line, and please note whether you'd like me to address it privately or on the Catholicism blog.