Push Admin

Kids of unmarried couples can now be baptized in Ilocos Sur

Article (news)

Bryan Realgo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/regions/6/28/archdiocese-of-nueva-segovia-bryan-realgo-abs-cbn-news-062816.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. Bryan Realgo, ABS-CBN News</div></figcaption></figure></div>ILOCOS SUR (UPDATED) - Rolando Patubo, a candle vendor at the St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral in Vigan City, has been living together with his partner for the past 10 years.They were blessed with four children aged 10, five, three, and one. But all of the children are not yet baptized because their parents are still unmarried in the Catholic Church.He is not sure when will they get married but he hopes that his children will finally become members of the Catholic Church through baptism.“Sana bago ako mawala mapabinyagan ko sila, kahit yun lang ang magawang tama sa aking pananampalataya” Patubo said.His wish may be granted soon.<div>NEW POLICY </div>The Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia in Ilocos Sur has issued a new ruling allowing the baptism of children whose parents did not yet receive the sacrament of matrimony from the Catholic Church.The old policy only allowed the first child of those who are unmarried to be baptized, the next child will no longer allowed not be baptized unless their parents are married in the church.Archbishop Marlo Peralta said most priests in the archdiocese agreed to revise the policy to show that the church is now more open to choices of followers.“The issue of marriage should be separate. We always encourage parents to get married if they are not yet married, but huwag isali ang bata dahil walang kasalanan ang bata,” Archbishop Peralta said.He explained that a child should not be denied the sacrament of baptism just because his/her parents do not want to marry yet. However, they are still encouraging unmarried couple to receive the sacrament of matrimony because this is still the foundation of a model family in the Catholic Church.“Many have died already and if we ask the parents if their children have been baptized they said no because they have not been married. So for me it’s the right of the child to be baptized whether the parents are married or not. I explained it to the priest and they understood anyway we come to this decision together,” Archbishop Peralta added.The new policy will now be implemented in the archdiocese and all parish priests are ordered as soon as possible to baptize children who were denied of the sacrament because of the implementation of the old policy.<div>BAPTISM</div>Baptism has become one of the most important sacraments in the Christian tradition, a sacrament that connotes admission and adoption through the use of symbolic water. The canonical gospels mentioned that even Jesus Christ was baptized a historical event that even until now is being celebrated.Pope Francis has long criticized those priests who refuse to baptize children of unmarried couples. In 2014, the pontiff was criticized, mostly by traditional Catholics, for baptizing a child of a couple who are not married in the Church.

Rolando Patubo, a candle vendor at the St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral in Vigan City, has been living together with his partner for the past 10 years.

Kids of unmarried couples can now be baptized in Ilocos Sur

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Regions

Kids of unmarried couples can now be baptized in Ilocos Sur

Bryan Realgo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 28, 2016 11:00 PM PHT

|

Updated Jun 29, 2016 10:57 PM PHT

Read More:

baptism

Catholic Church

Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia

Ilocos Sur

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.