When it is ilicit to baptize a baby

The Catholic Church forbids baptizing babies unless they will be raised in the traditional Catholic Faith. In danger of death, however, it is always licit to baptize a baby, even without the parents’ consent.

Canon 750: “(1) A child of non-believers is licitly baptized, even against the will of the parents, when the child’s state of health is such that it can be reasonably foreseen that he or she will die before reaching the age of reason.

(2) Outside of the danger of death, and provided that the child is given a Catholic education, a child of non-believers may be licitly baptized:

(a) If the parents or guardians, or at least one of them, consent;

(b) If the parents—that is, the father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, or guardians—are absent or have lost all rights over the child, or if they are unable to exercise their rights.”