The Baptism of children adopted by people of the same sex

Abstract

The possibility of baptizing adopted children by people of the same sex has some consequences in the pastoral and liturgical plan. The first of these is the personalized pastoral accompaniment with which those responsible for the children are helped to reflect on the meaning of their request, instructed in the celebration of the sacrament and, at the same time, helped in their task of educating in the faith. The responsibility for accompaniment rests with the parish priest, who must guarantee it personally or through others (catechists and other suitable lay people). Furthermore, the choice of sponsors is of the utmost importance, and it is indispensable for them to fulfill the requirements determined by the Code in order to prove their aptitude for the office (cf. can. 874 §1), and the presence of the community that welcomes the child, assists him in Baptism and collaborates in his Christian education. The pastor must also act prudently, taking care that the celebration is not used for political ends or for the promotion of gay culture, but is properly prepared, with due dignity, in a pious manner and with precision, “according to the ritual prescribed in the approved liturgical books” (can. 850). As to the manner of proceeding with the annotation in the book of the baptized, the norms of can. 877 §§ 1-3 will be applied, with the appropriate adaptations that the case requires.