What is a "valid baptism" according to the Roman Catholic Church?

[pearl]

A lot of lay Catholics are not very informed and the best place to go for answers is the source

Easier to go here;
Catechism of the Catholic Church (vatican.va)

 

[Rival]

Easier to go here;
Catechism of the Catholic Church (vatican.va)

It is, but I think having a physical book helps too. I'm traditional like that There also might not always be internet access etc.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I’m not Catholic, but I’ll give it a shot based on my understanding of Catholic beliefs. If two Catholics are married, and it is later discovered that one or both of them had an “invalid” baptism, they would still be married in the eyes of God, but they would no longer have their marriage considered a sacrament. If you are unbaptized, your marriage was valid, but it was not a sacrament.

Right; not, say, "annulled and of no consequence."

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

Invalid baptisms in Arizona point to something very wrong in the Catholic Church (nbcnews.com)

Man, we made so many jokes about this one when it came out some time ago...


Yes, yes... you have to say the words of the magic spell correctly... otherwise it doesn't work.

 

[Rival]

Right; not, say, "annulled and of no consequence."

"Does this affect the validity of my marriage?
Unfortunately, there is no clear answer when it comes to the affect on marriage. Individuals are to contact the tribunal and work with them to come to any conclusions regarding the validity of their marriage."

What do you if your baptism was ruled invalid by Catholic Church?

Hence why I said 'may', but you seemed to take all my statements as 'absolutely totally!!!'

But I was right, as there's no clear answer this has obviously to be worked out. It may still affect marriages.

 

[pearl]

It is, but I think having a physical book helps too. I'm traditional like that There's also might not always be internet access etc.

I too much prefer the physical book, but for the CCC on line offers easy navigation. Èulogos IntraText - Instructions and Help (vatican.va)

 

[YoursTrue]

Yes, it is. Any former Anglican male can become a Catholic priest.

The church only accepts baptisms from other faith communities that used the proper form and matter of the sacrament. Even these baptisms must use the words “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” to be valid.

So he would no longer function as an Anglican priest if he decides to become a Catholic priest. he "leaves" in a manner of speaking the Anglican Church, and his Anglican baptism is considered as "valid" by the Catholic church.

 

[Rival]

So he would no longer function as an Anglican priest if he decides to become a Catholic priest. he "leaves" in a manner of speaking the Anglican Church, and his Anglican baptism is considered as "valid" by the Catholic church.

No, he'd belong to a totally different church.

 

[YoursTrue]

Immersion.

As I understand it, a baby gets sprinkled. Not immersed. I could be wrong, never having been closely associated with the Catholic Church except going into a church from time to time. So are you saying adults who get baptized as Catholics are totally immersed? And while I believe that God knows the circumstances of each person, it is possible that when a baby grows up he may not be aware that the so-called wrong words may have been used and his baptism is considered invalid. But then -- who knows?
Which brings up the question, invalidated in the view of the Catholic Church, or in the eyes of God?
(And P.S., one Catholic poster here who is knowledgeable about some things religious, said it's ok if needed, to spit on a person for baptism, I suppose the right words must be said in order to have it validated by the Catholic Church, would you agree, according to circumstances?)

 

[YoursTrue]

No, he'd belong to a totally different church.

So he would or wouldn't need to get baptized by the Catholic Church if he decides to leave the Anglican priesthood and become a Catholic priest instead?

 

[Rival]

As I understand it, a baby gets sprinkled. Not immersed. I could be wrong, never having been closely associated with the Catholic Church except going into a church from time to time. So are you saying adults who get baptized as Catholics are totally immersed? And while I believe that God knows the circumstances of each person, it is possible that when a baby grows up he may not be aware that the so-called wrong words may have been used and his baptism is considered invalid. But then -- who knows?
Which brings up the question, invalidated in the view of the Catholic Church, or in the eyes of God?
(And P.S., one Catholic poster here who is knowledgeable about some things religious, said it's ok if needed, to spit on a person for baptism, I suppose the right words must be said in order to have it validated by the Catholic Church, would you agree, according to circumstances?)

Babies have water poured over them, iirc.

To your second post, no, his baptism is valid. He doesn't need to be rebaptised. A Trinitarian baptism is valid.

 

[YoursTrue]

@YoursTrue

A lot of answers here are from non-Catholics, myself included. If you really have an interest in this, I'd strongly suggest buying a copy of the Catechism (can be found very cheap on eBay and other places), which I have done (mine was only £4 or so), and go through it in your own time. I'd also suggest buying a Catholic study Bible or such, which I have also done. My boyfriend is a strong Catholic and I have been making efforts to get with his faith, and this is the best way to do it. A lot of lay Catholics are not very informed and the best place to go for answers is the source. Catholic books, news agencies, and so on. There are answers to your questions, but they come with nuance and history. It's not going to be anything like Protestant 'free-for-all' (for lack of a better phrase), so may come off as legalistic and ritualised if you are not used to this. I just think that would be better than what you're finding here.

I have a copy of the catechism. I'll check, not sure if it's the latest edition and if it's valid. But I'll check. I just wondered what people thought that are interested in religion based on the article about the invalidity of the baptisms performed by a particular priest. I do agree there are a lot of answers here that are questionable insofar as valid or invalid is concerned about baptism using the right words. Because -- if I recall correctly, one poster said all baptisms are considered valid by the Catholic Church if, in fact, they're done by a trinity believing church. I'll check the catechism later about baptisms.

 

[YoursTrue]

Babies have water poured over them, iirc.

To your second post, no, his baptism is valid. He doesn't need to be rebaptised. A Trinitarian baptism is valid.

I'll ask about infant baptisms maybe later (and what they mean per the Catholic church). Thanks again. Since you're online now and so fast, I'll quit, I have things to do. See ya later!

 

[Rival]

if I recall correctly, one poster said all baptisms are considered valid by the Catholic Church if, in fact, they're done by a trinity believing church. I'll check the catechism later about baptisms.

This is generally true, yes.

 

[metis]

Also wondering since someone said baptisms can be performed with saliva,
if someone spits on a person but doesn't use the formula preferred by the Roman Catholic Church would that be valid?

It's been said by some that "There's no such thing as a stupid question", but you've proved them wrong. You also expose your own bigotry with such sarcasm, so have you no shame whatsoever? Is there any low you won't stoop to?

There are valid questions to be asked of the Church, no doubt, but yours above is basically unChristian in its approach.

And...What's declared by the Roman Catholic church to happen if the person dies before a "valid" baptism is performed?

There's what's called "baptism by desire", namely like the one man on the cross next to Jesus, there may be no opportunity for baptism, and yet Jesus said that that man that he would be with Jesus in paradise on the same day.

 

[metis]

Let's be honest.

That would be nice.

Some here who profess to be Catholic don't even know if Christ really existed.

Such as whom?

 

[metis]

(And P.S., one Catholic poster here who is knowledgeable about some things religious, said it's ok if needed, to spit on a person for baptism,

Another lie of yours as I said that in an absolute emergency one may use "spittle" if no water was available-- not to "spit on...". One could even use juice from a lemon, or whatever.

Again, have you no shame?

 

[lostwanderingsoul]

Maybe so, but now I'm seeing that if an unbaptized person marries a Catholic, presumably baptized correctly, the baptized person would have to have, or supposed to have, special dispensation from the bishop. WHY???? And more importantly than the why, what does it mean for their standing before God?

All of this foolishness only applies to people who choose to believe in the teachings of that one particular church. Do you think a Jewish marriage is invalid? Or a Muslim marriage? They would only be invalid to the one church that says they are not. And some people do not care about what that church thinks.

 

[lostwanderingsoul]

In a sense, I suppose we always are. But I believe in a loving God. I know the Bible in places suggests we should fear God, but I draw courage from God, not fear.

I think "fear" in this sense means more like "respect". God is not sitting there waiting to send lightning bolts at someone because of something they did.

 

[metis]

Do you think a Jewish marriage is invalid? Or a Muslim marriage? They would only be invalid to the one church that says they are not. And some people do not care about what that church thinks.

We recognize marriages performed in other religions and denominations, as well as civil marriages. In Catholicism, since marriage is one of the seven sacraments the Church recognizes, one has the option of having their marriage blessed if they wish to become Catholic.

I thought I would post the above for clarification.