baptism

Father Mateo (76776.306@compuserve.com)
18 Feb 96 15:30:59 EST

To: cinaskf@catinfo.cts.com
960131.01
> From: Ajig Alcalde <ajig@max.ph.net>
> Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 15:06:04 +0800 (GMT+0800)
> Subject: Question
>
> Dear Fr. Mateo,
>
> I have long known that when a baptized Protestant converts
> and becomes a Catholic, he is not baptized again because the
> Catholic Church recognizes his Protestant baptism as valid.
> Lately, however, I have come across Evangelical or
> Pentecostal churches that view baptism as simply a symbolic
> rite which does nothing except to show publicly what they
> believe has already happened (rebirth). In other words, they
> have not been baptized according to the intentions of the
> Catholic Church.
>
> Are those baptisms valid? Do they need to be rebaptized
> again when they become Catholics? What is the criteria for a
> baptism acceptable to the Catholic Church?
>
> Sincerely,
> Ajig Alcalde
> ajig@mail.ph.net

Dear Ajig,

For valid baptism there must be: 1) valid matter - washing
by immersion or pouring with water; 2) valid form - the
Trinitarian form of Matt. 28:19; 3) the minister's intention
to baptize "as the Church does" or "as Christians do" or "as
Jesus Christ does".

If the non-Catholic minister means to baptize as the New
Testament church baptized, the baptism is valid, even though
he does not identify the New Testament church with the
present-day Catholic Church.

One who instructs a non-Catholic Christian for entry into
the Catholic Church must be careful to enquire about the
matter, form, and intention of the earlier rite. In case of
doubt, the convert should be baptized conditionally.

Sincerely in Christ,
Father Mateo

- Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit -

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