The COVID-19 pandemic has put on hold the plans of countless people, who are waiting until the day when they can reunite with family and friends.
For some parents, this also means putting on hold the sacrament of baptism for their baby, born in the midst of the pandemic. These parents continue to wait, while the pandemic continues to spread and has no end in sight.
The Catholic Church strongly urges these parents to have their children baptized as soon as possible, not waiting for the perfect circumstances in an unknown future.
The reason for this insistence is that baptism is an essential sacrament, even more important than the "essential services" that were allowed to stay open during the shutdowns of 2020.
The Catechism of the Church Church explains the necessity of baptism.
Pope Francis is one of the strongest advocates for having children baptized as soon as possible after their birth. He reflected on this topic in a general audience in 2018.
We can't predict the future, but what we can do is take action in the present moment. Find a priest in your area who will baptize your baby. Think of it as an essential "doctor visit," that will lay the foundation for the spiritual health of your child. You already take your newborn baby to the doctor for checkups every few months. Why not schedule a baptism with a local priest?
