Msg Base:  AREA 3  - ASK FATHER (AMDG)
  Msg No: 128.  Wed 10-21-92 20:04  (NO KILL)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Joan Keith
 Subject: validity of sacraments

JK|What would the Roman church say about the Episcopal sacraments, e.g.
  |baptism, confirmation, the sacrament of reconciliation, marriage,
  |ordination, annointing the sick, etc?  Are they valid?
 
JK|What would they do if one converts to the Roman church?
  |Is it significant, or controversal if a non R.C. is receiving
  |sacraments in the Roman church?  I'm rather curious.
 
 
 
Dear Joan,
 
A sacrament is valid if an authentic minister with the proper
intention performs the rite integrally for a person capable of
receiving the sacrament.
 
Everyone, even non-Christians, can baptize validly if they perform
the rite integrally with the intention of doing what Christ (or
Christians, or the Church) does.
 
Baptized non-Catholics who are free to marry validly confer the
sacrament of matrimony on each other.
 
Holy orders must be given by a bishop who is himself properly
ordained.  The candidate (the deacon-, priest-, or bishop to be) must
be capable of receiving the sacrament.
 
Confirmation is given by a bishop or a delegated priest.  The
candidate must be validly baptized.
 
Mass can be said only by properly ordained priests and bishops.  To
receive Holy Communion, one must be baptized and in the state of grace.
 
The minister of penance and anointing of the sick is a priest or
bishop.  To hear confessions, a priest must have faculties from the
diocesan bishop.
 
Converts to Catholicism who are already baptized are not re-baptized.
If prior confirmation can be shown to be valid, they are not
re-confirmed.
 
If a convert who is not a validly ordained priest wants to become a
priest, he must be ordained.
 
About non-Catholics receiving sacraments from Catholic priests, please
download Message 686 of Sept. 18, 1992 (Father Mateo to Scott Spencer on
this Ask Father conference).  By and large, this practice is forbidden.
 
Gently and sweetly,  may I say that very many Catholics resent being
called "Romans" and our Church the "Roman Church".  We are and we call
ourselves Catholics.  "Roman Catholic" will do also, but it's quite a
mouthful, isn't it?  So Catholic will do very nicely, I think.  Thanks.
 
                                        Sincerely in Christ,
 
 
                                                Father Mateo