Why Does the Catholic Church Baptize Babies? Part 1 of 3

A reader writes:

"I really like your website. I'm not a Roman Catholic, but I don't hate Roman Catholics.This has been bothering me: why do Roman Catholics baptize babies? The Bible only talks about adult baptism, and babies can't make the decision to be born again anyway."

Let's first address a problem with the question itself- what does it matter to you? Most Protestants, specifically Fundamentalists, will tell you that baptism is not effectual (i.e. does not benefit the soul, and is simply an outward symbol. It is not necessary for salvation). If, indeed, it is just a symbol, then why the controversy of infant baptism? If it has nothing to do with salvation, as many Protestants support, then it doesn't matter how baptism is done and to whom! So, while there is not a direct contradiction in the question, there certainly is in the mindset of many Protestants (though not for all).

The way I understand it, the question can be broken down into three sections (each a different post): 1) Where in Scripture do Catholics get the idea of infant baptism; 2)What does baptism do for someone that would make one baptize babies; and 3) Why do Catholics baptize infants?

1) Where in Scripture do Catholics get the idea of infant baptism?

The first place to look is in the Old Testament, where baptism in prefigured in circumcision. St. Paul makes this comparison in Col. 2:11–12: "In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism" (emphasis added). The Old Testament presents the similarities that St. Paul is writing about. The first is that children were circumcised in Judaism, even though they had yet to make a 'profession of faith.' It was assumed that they would be raised in the faith. Faith was not a prerequisite for circumcision or baptism in regards to children. For adults in Judaism, faith was a prerequisite for circumcision. The pattern is the same in Catholicism: if one is an adult, faith is a prerequisite before receiving the rite of membership (i.e. baptism); if one is an infant (can't make the decision for oneself), one may be given the rite of membership in the knowledge that one will be raised in the faith. Paul’s reference to baptism as "the circumcision of Christ"- that is, the Christian equivalent of circumcision- becomes clear.

These Fundamentalists are reluctant to admit that the Bible nowhere says baptism is to be restricted to adults. The people whose baptisms we read about in Scripture are adults, because they were converted as adults. This is simply a matter of common sense. Christianity was just beginning- there weren't people brought up from childhood in Christian homes. The New Testament doesn't present an example of a child raised in a Christian home who is baptized only upon making a 'profession of faith.' Instead, it's assumed that the children of Christians are already Christians and that they have already been "baptized into Christ" (Romans 6:3). If infant baptism were not the rule, then we should have references to the children of Christian parents joining the Church only after they had made a 'profession of faith', and Scripture doesn't provide any.

What we do find is entire households being baptized... everyone. Some Fundamentalists will assert that children are not part of these households... but that is a ridiculous idea! Of all the households mentioned, they all contained only adults? Let's look at those Bible verses: "She [Lydia] was baptized, with her household" (Acts 16:15); "I [Paul] did baptize also the household of Stephanas" (1 Corinthians 1:16); "he [the jailer of Paul and Silas] was baptized, with all his family" (Acts 16:33). St. Peter said that baptism was offered to everyone: "repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children" [emphasis added] (Acts 2:38-39).

What did the early Church say about infant baptism? I'll only include two in this post, but you can read more of them here.

Irenaeus: "He [Jesus] came to save all through himself; all, I say, who through him are reborn in God: infants, and children, and youths, and old men. Therefore he passed through every age, becoming an infant for infants, sanctifying infants; a child for children, sanctifying those who are of that age" (Against Heresies 2:22:4 [A.D. 189]).

Hippolytus: "Baptize first the children, and if they can speak for themselves let them do so. Otherwise, let their parents or other relatives speak for them" (The Apostolic Tradition 21:16 [A.D. 215]).

Let us remember the words of Christ- "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God" (Luke 18:16).