The sacrament of baptism (1)

Ronald Cauchi's comments (May 21) regarding the sacrament of baptism calls for a clarification. He put together facts and presumptions.

Except when the couple, who could celebrate a religious marriage, choose to contract a purely civil marriage - in which case the sacrament of baptism would be deferred - the practice is that a child of a couple who had only a civil marriage is baptised privately. Privately, in this context, means not in one of the Masses scheduled. No sacrament is in fact private.

Mr Cauchi speaks of the presumption "that since the parents were 'living in sin', the sin of the parents affected the child too". This presumption is wrong. The sin of the parents does not affect the child. In fact, we believe that those who receive baptism are purified from every sin.

The reason behind all this is pastoral prudence and it is not intended to be a punishment either for the parents or for the child. The Church and its institutions give all pastoral care to such parents and their children.

These parents, because of their situation, cannot go to confession and receive holy communion.