Mary Rector
wrote:
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Hi guys,
I am coordinator for the RCIA program at St. Viator's Catholic community in Las Vegas,
Nevada.
One of our participants was baptized at the Howesville Church of Christ in
Tunnelton,
West Virginia. The certificate does not mention the Trinity, but states:
In obedience to the command and in imitation of the example of our Lord Jesus Christ you are buried with Him in Baptism.
- Is that considered a Christian baptism
or does she need to be baptized at
the Easter Vigil?
Thanks for your prompt response,
Mary
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Is the Baptism our candidate received at a Church of Christ valid from the Catholic Church's view? }
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Eric replied:
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Hi Mary,
It is best to contact your diocese or a competent canonist. I suspect this
is beyond the scope of our competency.
Should you run short on time (this being Palm
Sunday), I would do a conditional baptism just in case.
One suggestion might be to locate
that church, call them, and ask them how they do their baptisms and how they
might have done them then, even though that will not prove beyond a shadow of a doubt
how they baptized at the time your candidate was baptized.
Chances are good
that it would not have changed over time.
Hope this helps,
Eric
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John replied:
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Hi, Mary —
I agree with Eric, you should check with the diocese. The threshold for
the intent required for a valid baptism is very low.
All that is required
is an intent to perform a Christian baptism, however, the form itself, must be Trinitarian.
In all likelihood a conditional
baptism may be required.
Hope this helps,
John
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Fr. Nick replied:
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Dear Mary:
This would require a call to the Church asking if the baptism was with water and
utilized the formula
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
- If water was used with this formula, it is a valid baptism.
- If not, then they should be baptized at the Easter Vigil.
- If you are not able to ascertain, I would conditionally baptize the candidate.
Fr. Nick
[Related posting]
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