Editing Infant baptism (section)

=== Roman Catholic ===
{{further|Baptism#Catholicism}}
The [[Catholic Church]] requires a "founded hope" the child will be raised Catholic for licit baptism ([[1983 Code of Canon Law|Code of Canon Law]] 868 §1, 2° CIC). If absent, baptism is postponed (not denied) with explanation. The [[sacrament]] grants [[Regeneration (theology)|regeneration]], removes original sin, and unites the child with Christ.<ref name=":25">Jakubiak, T. (2018). The Founded Hope that an Infant will be Brought up in the Catholic Religion as a Condition for Baptism. ''Studia canonica'', ''52''(2), 491-508.</ref> Therefore, baptism is a fundamental sacrament in the Church, marking the initiation of an individual into Christian life and the Church community. It is essential for salvation, providing spiritual rebirth and access to other sacraments.<ref name=":25" />

The Church requires assurance that baptized infants will be raised Catholic (Canon 868 §1, 2° CIC). Parental consent is mandatory - at least one parent/guardian must approve. Baptism cannot be administered against parental wishes except in danger of death, when it may proceed regardless of objections.<ref name=":25" /> Additionally, baptism is seen as a one-time sacrament that marks a person’s commitment to Christ and cannot be repeated. If there is serious doubt about whether someone was baptized before or if it was done correctly, the Catholic Church allows a conditional baptism to be performed. Moreover, the practice of baptizing miscarried or stillborn infants is no longer done.<ref name=":35">{{Cite web |date=2025-03-05 |title=Roman Catholicism - Baptism, Sacraments, Faith {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Roman-Catholicism/Baptism |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

The Church recognizes both pouring ([[affusion]]) and [[Immersion baptism|immersion]] as valid baptismal methods, stating that the symbolic cleansing is preserved through the ritual use of water, even when full immersion isn't practiced.<ref name=":35" />

The Church acknowledges the importance of a personal decision in baptism, which infants cannot make. To address this, godparents are appointed to stand in for the child, committing to their Christian upbringing on behalf of the parents. The role of parents and godparents is strongly emphasized in the Church’s rite of infant baptism, first introduced in 1969 and later revised. As they grow, baptized children are expected to embrace the faith chosen for them, confirming the decision made on their behalf.<ref name=":35" />

Historically, such practices were developed gradually, rooted in early Christian tradition, [[original sin]], and sacramental theology. While adult baptism was initially dominant, the practice of baptizing infants became common by the third century. [[Cyprian|Cyprian of Carthage]] (c. 250 AD) defended it, arguing that baptismal grace should not be denied to children.<ref name=":44">Johnson, M. E. (1999). Baptismal" Spirituality" in the Early Church and Its Implications for the Church Today. pp. 188-211.</ref> In the fourth century, [[Augustine of Hippo]] linked baptism to original sin, asserting that it was necessary for salvation. His arguments shaped medieval sacramental theology, which emphasized that baptism remained valid regardless of personal faith ([[ex opere operato]]).<ref name=":44" /> The concept of ''[[limbo]]'' (''limbus infantium''), a speculative idea that unbaptized infants neither enter heaven nor suffer in hell, was never official Church doctrine. Though widely held from the 12th century onward, belief in limbo had largely faded by the 20th century.<ref name=":35" />

In-response to Protestant critiques, the [[Council of Trent]] (1545–1563) firmly upheld infant baptism as obligatory, solidifying its standard practice with support from godparents and catechesis. Today, the Church teaches that unbaptized infants are entrusted to God’s mercy, while maintaining that baptism remains essential for initiation into the faith and liberation from original sin.<ref name=":44" />