May one be baptized by a priest without becoming Catholic?

[kliff]

I work with a young couple. She is Catholic and he has not been baptized. They have a baby girl that has been baptized. My question is a 2 part question. He does not want to be baptized in the Church because he is not ready to become Catholic. Can a priest/Deacon baptize him and later he goes thru RCIA? Is he in danger of going to hell?

Thanks for any help on this.

[Fr. Vincent Serpa]

Hi,

We can't put the cart before the horse. One becomes a Catholic through receiving the sacrament of Baptism. If one isn't ready to become a Catholic, then one waits for Baptism until one IS ready. So long as one is honestly searching and discerning in the hope of being baptized, one is not likely to go to hell should he die unexpectedly.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.