Abuse during the Sacrament of Baptism?

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A.Pelliccio

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So I am with the US Army currently deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism in the Balkans (former Yugoslavia). On a recent ‘pass’ to Greece it was observed that the Catholic Chaplain and the Baptist Chaplain did a ‘joint baptism’ by immersion, not following proper the proper rubrics, nor did he have on anything that distinguished him as a Priest.

I know that Holy Mother Church recognizes the validity of Baptism outside of physical realm but is it right of a Catholic Priest to embrace these schismatic practices?

Best wishes,

SGT P
 
can you give a few more details such as why you think it was outside of rubrics (wording perhaps?). It would be very odd to see a Baptist doing a Baptism in this manner, with a Catholic priest that is.
 
I did not see the event, I read the ‘journalist report’ and saw the picture of the immersion. Why I assumed it was outside the ‘rubrics’ is because the Priest did not use the usual blessing, did not us the holy oils, and he was not in any Priestly garb or vestments.

I am inqurining into this, not becuase I want it to be wrong, but because I do not know if its right. I also understand that in ‘dire’ situations laity can baptize others, but this Priest has access to all the neccessary acutruments to perform a ‘standard’ Catholic Baptism.
 
Well, provided that he used the correct wording and had the right intent, the baptism itself was valid.

However, was it distasteful for a priest to do? Yes, even in an effort to be eumenical.

Well, was the baptised person Catholic or Baptist? Actually, I don’t think it matters. I, personally, don’t like it.
 
well as far as i know, and I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong, the only necessary words are that of the Trinitarian formula, other than that you only need a baptised individual.

Would be cool to read the article, though creepy hearing about Baptists and Catholics “collaborating” in a Sacrament.
 
Well like I said before, Holy Mother Church recognizes the baptism of other denominations but is it right for a Priest to have a blatant disregard for his standards and guidelines to be ‘friendly’ with the tabarine beaters?
 
Since as you said the Catholic priest was a military chaplain, the odds are that he was wearing his military uniform, not priestly garb.
also one is “baptised” into the christian faith and not into a denomination. It is not unusual to have ministers of different faiths be involved in a baptism, especially when the parents are of different traditions.

But from what you have stated nothing would lead me to think that it was not a vaild baptism.

In Christ’s Love,

Br Mark, OSB
 
Military chaplains do have some latitude in carrying out their mission including the use of vestments (a priest would make a great target in full Mass vestments on a battlefield, for example). Sometimes a military chaplain uses a very short stole, hardly more than a long ribbon, over whatever other clothing he is wearing. Also, military chaplains of different denominations seem to be able to overcome their differences for the common good.
The use of Holy Oils is not required for the Sacrament of Baptism, only the Trinitarian formula. One is not baptised a Catholic, Baptist, or whatever. One is baptised a son of God.
 
If you think something went wrong, even though you weren’t there, contact Bishop O’Brien. He takes snail mail and email. milarch.org Be respectful, of course, but mention your concerns. I assure you, Bishop O’Brien pays attention to the souls of his troops.
 
I had the great pleasure of meeting His Excellency last Christmas on his visit to us in Camp Bondsteel. I will tell you that our Catholic Chaplain now and the prior were far from orthodox. Each week they would never genuflect after the consecration, they would merely bow. When the Bishop performed Liturgy for Christmas Eve, both genuflected with him.

V/R

SGT P
 
we are commenting on a news story without a link which is against forum rules. Without the details in the original story, (or more likely details the newspaper left out) we have absolutely no basis for comment or discussion. We don’t know of the priest was a military Chaplain assisting in the baptism of non-Catholics as part of his job, we don’t know anything about it, so why speculate?
 
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