Are there any former Catholics who got baptized again?

[vocatio]

The Birth Control issue. The Church advising on how a maritial couple should conduct their “relations”. The denial of sacrements because of my “invalid” marriage. (My athiest husband) Might make convalidating my marriage difficult.

Both are not as difficult as it seems. Besides, being in the Lord’s Church is wonderful. I returned…only after being anit-Catholic for 17 years… Birth control bacame very problematic to me and was nearly the down fall of my marriage. I wanted children and my wife seems to not be open to it after our first child. Long story short. It’s no longe a personal issue just for me…I survived with my wife and she is also now Catholic, because of the miracles we experienced together and a truthful explanation of the beliefs. Once you understand the theology it makes much more sense that believing in the “big butter Jesus and me” closed to life thing. People today treat sex like its recreational activity instead of engaging in creation with God. I figured out the problems with invetro firtilization before coming back home. I did not know what the Church’s view was on this at the time. But I was very relieved to see that somehow my Catholicity was preserved all those years I was fighting straw men and ghosts.

My marriage was convalidated. You could have your marriage senated…go to a priest and tell him you want your Marriage Radically Senated. That involves paperwork to veryfy certain things. But it is for you… If your spouse is refusing to go through the process it would not matter. That is the general purpose behind it. You would just need to go through procedures. Your marriage would be recognized all the way back to the beginning. You would have a valid marriage but as far as sacramental, you husband would have to be baptized. Even if he denies Christ and was baptized valide in the Trinitarian Formula [Father, Son and Holy Spirit] then it would then be a sacramental marriage with graces release upon it lavishly by the Holy Spirit.

If there is a divorce involved that gets more complicated but the priest or deacon assigned to this could help you there. Pastors have more authority than deacons, but some deacons know the rocess better. You would need to find out who would do what you want on these 2 matters. Unfortunately many pastors and priests do not necessarily have all the right answers. It is important to find a priest you trust with your needs.

BTW: You second believers baptism is not valid and never will be. One you are baptized an indelible mark is placed upon your soul for all eternity. The same with Marriage and Holy Orders. Then the same is true with Confirmation. You can never remove it from your eternal soul because God is the one who placed it there. Denying this is much like denying God. It is offensive to Him. I know, I did the same thing and have already confessed it.

 

[SIA]

Hopefully you are using a bible which contains all of the books.During the daily Catholic mass, the bible is read with the community gathered. Apart from daily mass, we have bible study groups and many of us have formed smaller spiritual groups. We believe that the charitable works we do for others is the result of our knowing the love of Jesus. I dont want to get into a combative argument with you because without a doubt we already know what the other will write about the beliefs in Salvation.
I am really regretful you didnt experience the fellowship in the Catholic church. To answer your question of why would you leave the Anglican church where you feel the Holy Spirit. I would ask you to come back and bring that fellowship to the Catholic church. I know we can do better. “Mass” means to go out and evangelize. Remeber you said you had no problems with the sacraments.

I cannot see ever wanting to leave my Anglican faith so thanks for the invite back but respectfully, no thanks.

 

[PBP]

What is the Anglican view on Birth Control?

It really seems you are looking for a place that will affirm your actions ? Would they be doing you a service by affirming anything which is contrary to GOD’s will ? I am not judging you. I want you to do an examination of your conscience and answer these questions truthfully in meditation.
Its about free, unselfish, giving.
Find the 3 questions asked by the priest at the very beginning of a Catholic wedding. So many times we are wrapped up with planning for the after party that we miss what we professed in front of GOD and the community gathered.
It’s not about me !

 

[vocatio]

there is no official teaching on the issue in the Anglican church.

SIA, Have you ever listened to Scott Hahn’s conversion story and the story his wife has about her research on Birth Control?
bringyou.to/apologetics/audio.htm

salvationhistory.com/
catholicaudio.blogspot.com/2007/11/dr-scott-hahn-answering-common.html

I found a free download of Scott Hahn’s story some time back. I’m sure it’s still available on catholic.com or somewhere. He discusses his wife’s research on birth control and was convince of it so much that they began a new life of not practicing it because it is a recent transition. She understood it and practice it like Cahtolics even though they were not Catholic at the time. They have a wonderful conversion story.

 

[vocatio]

I cannot see ever wanting to leave my Anglican faith so thanks for the invite back but respectfully, no thanks.

SIA,
I’m not convinced of your convictions towards Anglican Church. However I understand the beauty of the church, I visit a local Anglican Catholic community and have fallen in love with their liturgy. What really confuses me is that you have not realized the role of Sacred Tradition as well as Sacred Scripture. Sacred Scripture would not exist without Sacred Tradition. I’m sure you are aware of the Talmud. The Jews also have Sacred Tradition that is required to know and believe. I alos know that you have said that ya’ll don’t beleive in solo scriptura, unless I misunderstood the problem. Many years ago the Church or at least local clergy discouraged folks from study scripture on their own. That is not the case anymore. In fact, reading scripture is highly recommended. It’s just that the Church expects you just like other churches to followed their beliefs to be in good standing with their beliefs so to speak. I’ve been Protestant and know how that works. I’d bet my life’s pay on it. They don’t tolerate dissent without reprocussions. Any buyers?. … I’d like to retire…anyone…anyone…anyone?

It sounds more to me that you misunderstood something within the group you were around, who are or were wrong by the way. As far as spirituality goes. There are many spiritualities within the Catholic Church…Charismatic is one. I grew up more in line with this spirituality and had to give it up when I converted to the one true church that Christ founded…at least that’s what they believed. It took me 17 years to realize they were basically full of darkened truths that they adhered to based on who was in charge. My wife and I attended about 19 different church only a few we stayed for more than 3 years. It was a major eye opener for me. My wife already knew of the hypocricy in it. I learned it the hard way and am very thrilled to be home again in the Catholic Church.

 

[dessert]

Are ther any former Catholics who got baptized again when they joined another Christian religion? Did it feel wierd? Did you feel indifferent because you were a baby and weren’t given a choice?

Yes Yes Yes
I got rebaptized in a river, thus really denying my first baptism that it wasn’t authentic because I was a baby. So I also was denying my parents trusting God to upbringing in the faith. And denying my godparents. I did not feel important. But I don’t beat myself over the head a bout it anymore.

It felt very weird and I was on an emotional kick about like pretending we were at the jordan river. I was being ingrained into a cult actually.

I felt like I was more grown up as making my own choice but then many people around me were getting baptized once a week or so. I look back now and see how silly it was. But that is what a cult does is wants control so will try to cut you off from family.

When I came back is when I felt I was making my own choice, finally, on my own free will no pressure, just followed my path back and there he was waiting for me at my confession. He said where have you been I have been waiting for you to return and am so happy to see you again. All is forgiven so now let’s really get to know each other in the sacraments and prayer through Our Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints that have gone before. I had felt like I had been walking in circles and now was back on a good path and had good thoughts and good feelings not sad and good forward steps of grace and mercy.

 

[SIA]

SIA,
I’m not convinced of your convictions towards Anglican Church. However I understand the beauty of the church, I visit a local Anglican Catholic community and have fallen in love with their liturgy. What really confuses me is that you have not realized the role of Sacred Tradition as well as Sacred Scripture. Sacred Scripture would not exist without Sacred Tradition. I’m sure you are aware of the Talmud. The Jews also have Sacred Tradition that is required to know and believe. I alos know that you have said that ya’ll don’t beleive in solo scriptura, unless I misunderstood the problem. Many years ago the Church or at least local clergy discouraged folks from study scripture on their own. That is not the case anymore. In fact, reading scripture is highly recommended. It’s just that the Church expects you just like other churches to followed their beliefs to be in good standing with their beliefs so to speak. I’ve been Protestant and know how that works. I’d bet my life’s pay on it. They don’t tolerate dissent without reprocussions. Any buyers?. … I’d like to retire…anyone…anyone…anyone?

It sounds more to me that you misunderstood something within the group you were around, who are or were wrong by the way. As far as spirituality goes. There are many spiritualities within the Catholic Church…Charismatic is one. I grew up more in line with this spirituality and had to give it up when I converted to the one true church that Christ founded…at least that’s what they believed. It took me 17 years to realize they were basically full of darkened truths that they adhered to based on who was in charge. My wife and I attended about 19 different church only a few we stayed for more than 3 years. It was a major eye opener for me. My wife already knew of the hypocricy in it. I learned it the hard way and am very thrilled to be home again in the Catholic Church.

I appreciate your attention to this, but I have many other issues as well. For instance, I do not buy into many of the Marian doctrines of the RCC and I do not share your belief in the infallability of the pope. I never did when I was Catholic. It’s not that I have new found energy in another church that will one day wear off either. I have been Anglican now for several years and the energy grows and renews and grows more as the Scriptures speak of. It’s not a fad thing or a rebellion against anyone. I came to truly know Christ and grow my faith in him in my faith community.

 

[graceandglory]

I thank you for your concern, but truth be told, I don’t agree with all doctrines and would be considered a cafeteria Catholic. I give religion too much respect to no follow the doctrine of it.

That’s respectable. Do you at least believe in the Nicene Creed? If so, then it says, “***We believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.” *** Your Catholic baptism will work in every orthodox Bible believing denomination. It is not a membership rite of passage. Only extreme anti-Catholic churches would say that your Catholic baptism was “no good.”

A valid Christian baptism is a baptism using the Trinitarian formula, “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Most protestant Churches have borrowed that from the Catholic Church. All Trinitarian baptisms are valid according to the Catholic Church, so if you were raised and baptized as a Baptist or Lutheran or Calvary Chapel or Presbyterian; and then convert to Catholicism, the Catholic Church would not re-baptize you. It was valid.

 

[graceandglory]

I felt like I was more grown up as making my own choice .

That whole “adult thing” and making your own choice…
I think that’s what Confirmation is all about.

To answer the OP’s original question, I did too, and have repented of it.
I truly didn’t understand what I was doing. Now I know enough to hopefully help keep someone else from making the same mistake.

Remember the Creed: “We believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.”

 

[vocatio]

I appreciate your attention to this, but I have many other issues as well. For instance, I do not buy into many of the Marian doctrines of the RCC and I do not share your belief in the infallability of the pope. I never did when I was Catholic. It’s not that I have new found energy in another church that will one day wear off either. I have been Anglican now for several years and the energy grows and renews and grows more as the Scriptures speak of. It’s not a fad thing or a rebellion against anyone. I came to truly know Christ and grow my faith in him in my faith community.

Be careful what you say. It might bite you later on when you come to realize issues you have mentioned. If that’s how you felt then why did you go from one valid Eucharist to a non-valid Eucharist? You should have become Orhtodox based on what you just said. Unless you don’t think the Eucharist is real or absolution is valid. You reject things you say you understand. I really question that, even if yoiu don’t admit it. I had the same doubts myself most of my life growing up. I knew the teachings of the Church for the most part. But it came to me from studying on my own. It appears that many Catholics fail to learn the true teachings of the Catholic Church. That’s why we started on infants in our fundamentalist bible classes, to plant the seed young so it never dies. That was the hope at least. Ultimately we all choose. My dad was much like you but he refused to leave because one basic truth he did understand is the Division is not Holy, it is an act of hate against God. I’ve posted something elsewhere to you regarding this subject. You didn’t need new sacraments because you even recognized that you already had them. I’ve heard Orthodox would redo your baptism to indoctrination you form the very beginning. You have to public renounce Catholicism. That’s like renouncing the Church of Christ. I didn’t even have to do anything that way. Ironically I defended many things in the first few years of my conversion. Later on I dropped that and became even darker. Ultimately I broke with it and nearly became egnostic if not atheist, but refused to open say it. I believed that I was hurt and confused. I can’t live without God. In fact, if I stopped truly believing in God, I’d end my life because it’s been so hard for me. I’m only 47 and I’ve live the most difficult life a person can live outside of a situation where peolpe die right in from of your very eyes. But abortion is so violent to me it might as well be a bloody war. For faithfull Catholics it is.

So when I got baptized again I was days away from being 28 years old and in the Army under lots of stress with everyone around me rejecting my faith. I do understand what you mean about Papal and Marian doctrine. You would fall under the category of “Old Catholic” then.

 

[Sepharad]

Are ther any former Catholics who got baptized again when they joined another Christian religion? Did it feel wierd? Did you feel indifferent because you were a baby and weren’t given a choice?

In my work as an exit counselor, sometimes we encounter Gentiles who are a little interested in Jewish subjects, even though they remain Christian.

I remember a few former Catholics I ran across, who had joined Protestant churches, and they were re-baptized. They actually told me they felt the Protestant baptisms (by immersion) were the “true” baptism because (they believe) baptism by pouring or sprinkling doesn’t count (they said the Greek word for baptism, “baptizo”, means to immerse.)

That makes sense to me, because if Christianity arose out of Judaism, it makes sense they would do it by immersion since in Judaism, that is how we use the mikveh (the Jewish ritual bath which baptism was copied from)…we use it for ritual purification, and its always done by complete immersion. In fact if one strand of hair does not get immersed, it has to be done over again!

Anyway, the former Catholics I met ranged from 7th Day Adventists to Baptists.

 

[vocatio]

In my work as an exit counselor, sometimes we encounter Gentiles who are a little interested in Jewish subjects, even though they remain Christian.

I remember a few former Catholics I ran across, who had joined Protestant churches, and they were re-baptized. They actually told me they felt the Protestant baptisms (by immersion) were the “true” baptism because (they believe) baptism by pouring or sprinkling doesn’t count (they said the Greek word for baptism, “baptizo”, means to immerse.)

That makes sense to me, because if Christianity arose out of Judaism, it makes sense they would do it by immersion since in Judaism, that is how we use the mikveh (the Jewish ritual bath which baptism was copied from)…we use it for ritual purification, and its always done by complete immersion. In fact if one strand of hair does not get immersed, it has to be done over again!

Anyway, the former Catholics I met ranged from 7th Day Adventists to Baptists.

Read the following:

earlychristianwritings.com/didache.html

This is evidence that the early Chrisitians DID baptize by pouring. This was the beginning of my journey back home…THe FIRST thing that called all that I had believe for 17 years into questions. Baptism other than complete submersion and believe it or not…abortion is condemned in here.

 

[Sepharad]

Read the following:

earlychristianwritings.com/didache.html

This is evidence that the early Chrisitians DID baptize by pouring. This was the beginning of my journey back home…THe FIRST thing that called all that I had believe for 17 years into questions. Baptism other than complete submersion and believe it or not…abortion is condemned in here.

As a religious Jew, I don’t have a dog in this fight, so to speak…I was just stating what some ex-Catholics told me who joined Protestant churches. But as a Jew, I know that in our faith, the mikveh (from which baptism evolved) is always done by total immersion, its not valid done any other way.

 

[vocatio]

Every time I try to make a post something bazaar happens. I’m at my whitts end. It’s making me crazy and worst angry. It’s coming out on my posts. I’ve spend that past 3 hours doing system admin and I’m just to dog gone tired to mess with it…rant over.

mikveh - I’m interested in learning more about this. I’ve heard about it. I became scrupulous about me infant baptism and got baptized completely submerged. Same as you claim as in mikveh. It’s a rather humorous discussion among those of us that bailed on our former faith. I am alos interested in the Passover in particular. Scott Hahn gives a really good presentation on the Lambs Supper. I need to memorize and really learn some Jewish customs more completely. I already have links from an Orthodox Jewish site.

 

[Sepharad]

Every time I try to make a post something bazaar happens. I’m at my whitts end. It’s making me crazy and worst angry. It’s coming out on my posts. I’ve spend that past 3 hours doing system admin and I’m just to dog gone tired to mess with it…rant over.

mikveh - I’m interested in learning more about this. I’ve heard about it. I became scrupulous about me infant baptism and got baptized completely submerged. Same as you claim as in mikveh. It’s a rather humorous discussion among those of us that bailed on our former faith. I am alos interested in the Passover in particular. Scott Hahn gives a really good presentation on the Lambs Supper. I need to memorize and really learn some Jewish customs more completely. I already have links from an Orthodox Jewish site.

The RCC is free to do baptisms any way they want; my only intent was to show how the mikveh (from which baptism derives) was and is only done by total immersion. In fact, as I said, if one hair is above the water, the immersion must be done again. They’re that fussy!

In Judaism, the mikveh is used by married women once each month, 12 days after their monthly cycle ends. for ritual purity (it is part of the laws called taharas ha’mishpacha, or laws of family purity). Orthodox men also use the mikveh to immerse before certain festivals.

And it is used by both male and female converts to Judaism as well. We also will use it to immerse vessels used in preparing food, if they have been rendered unkosher for some reason.

Natural water must be used in the mikveh, though it is permissible to mix tap water with natural (rain) water.

The best mikveh is a living body of water, such as the ocean or a river…you know, like the Jordan?

 

[vocatio]

Sheppard this brings up a series of interesting unasked questions. I will start a new thread and call it “Jewish Purity”
it will get a bit intimate as well as ritualistic I think. But it would answer some interesting questions I’ve had in recent years.

 

[Frank_J]

You asked the question were Ex-Catholic re-baptized?

I’m a member of an O.C.A Church and I was not re-baptized when entering the Orthodox Church.

I was told that Catholic baptisms are view as defective and so that was the reason I was to receive my Chrismation.

A little bit of water was poured on my head so as to stand that the Orthodox Church having the last say on my baptism not the Catholic Church.

It was not a baptism but just to have the last say in it.

 

[crosshauler]

Here is a thought. I have some Catholic background and have studied the Bible to see that most of the things that Catholics do are not proven in the Bible. This is also the same as that of many other denominations. From the pope to the chancellor to monk, friar and prior. These were all started by men. There is not a mention of them in the NT. Vessels and articles, Garb of clergy, Mass, Infant baptism, etc. Not one mention of them. I have recently changed from what I “was raised in” and now see the light. The Bible warned us long before that men will come having the desire to create for themselves what they want.
I have an idea, let me come up with my own religion and my own doctrine and say that it is truth. Can’t happen. Others have done the same and we see the inconsistency of man and his mistakes as leaders, popes, bishop’s and Joseph Smith’s. They are nothing when it comes to Christ and I find it hard to picture them as His equal or people that somehow were crowned as prophets but we have no proof. If I am to have faith in anyone it will be in the Godhead or God himself that created the world.
Look to the Bible for the “plural” elders, pastors and bishops that rule the church. With qualifications that is. It is very simple, but when it is brought out to people one verse at a time, I could make any three passages give me permission to do what I like.
Baptisms examples are all immersion. Jesus was even immersed. Eunuch “came up out of the water”, after studying what?
Not catholic precepts, but the Bible. Jesus.
We are to be immersed for remission of sins, Acts 2. Mark 16:15,16.
We are to be baptized into Christ, not as a sign to the world, or men, or like a wedding ring. This is a sign to God that we are willing to be obedient. Look at all the verses of baptism in the NT. Look at Rom 6, I Peter 3:21 and several others. They all congruently associate with the step being as what saves us.

I have seen for too long the leadership in many religions fail due to men being placed up high as God and then failing and we all don’t see the light. I am nothing. I am a humble servant of Christ. I will do everything in my power to follow the NT. Many are not. I study Greek and everything I read connects exactly with the simplest form of communication. He meant it just as it was written. Should JEsus refer to the Bible (“it is written”) when he was tempted but we take it as second to our own idea and names of what we like to happen.

I do not hate anyone, but am passionate about this. I am to love my neighbor, but struggle because so many just do what they wish. I strongly wish someone would stand up for the Bible and speak where it speaks. We cannot read between the lines. It is all there.
Kindly, L

 

[vocatio]

crosshauler, thanks for the belly laugh. You are quite the fundamentalist it seems. I went through the same thing in 1989 and joined a fundemantal evangelical group myself. I was very staunch most of what yoiu said.

therealpresence.org/eucharst/father/a5.html

The following link, a non-Catholic or Orthodox site containes many of the early church writings that changed my life. Read the Didache. Open your eyes…a realization that pouring was accepted though not preferred was acceptable and valid began the unraveling of my Protestant faith in the Church of Christ.

earlychristianwritings.com/

I was quite the anti-Catholic fo 17 years. In fact, once I realized for a fact the stuff contained in the link I provided I actually wanted to look at the Orhtodox Church for many reasons. But the issues I had are believed also by the Orthodox Christians…Theotokos or God Bearer…Mary is the Mother of God, Eucharist is Christ’s flesh and blood or “real presence”, infant baptism, othe than complete subersion, reconciliation, Holy orders, celibacy, Holy Matrimony…ther 7 sacraments in other words…praying to the Saints in heave for their intercession, the list goes on and on. It was learning the truth about the early church that convinced me my lack of practicing the truth that brought me back to Catholicism.

A questions that bothered me for years was “how do we know which books belong in the bible?” Further, who had or took it upon hemselfs to put the bible together? And which books were contained in the first Chrstian bible? If you study history you will not only see that the Catholic Church put the bible together while they Orhtodox were still in union with the Church [they’ll say opposite,but the point is the same]. Today the Church consists of 1.2 billion Catholics and the Orhtodoxconsists of 250 million. Numbers mean nothing except there is a real presence in the world of Christ’s Church…the Church of Christ as we say.

There are far too many questions not aswerable in non-Catholic faiths. You obviously were never taught like most of us Catholics were not taught thoroughly about the luturgy…you have no idea about Judaism and the customs and methods of worship. It’s true that we live under a New Covenant, but not really a change in the form of worship. We still worship God liturgically as a community. That never chaned. That’s a Protestant born identity. You are unaware apparently of the early church fathers, the men appointed by the apostles appoited by Christ…all in an unbroken chain.

Nothing Catholic can be disputed by scriptures becasue the Church was always Catholic. The scriptures either directly or indirectly can prove or reveal the Catholic Church. Martin Luther bagan the most abrupt heresy since Arianism, And like the early church heresies the numbers today are astounding in todays anti-Catholic world. You have heard so many twisted anit-Catholic spills on the bible that you fail to realize where the bible came from to begin with. Spend some time reading what the Church teaches on this and if you are open to learning, instead of hiding you might begin to understand all the confusing lies out about Catholicism.

 

[crosshauler]

So you are saying that Christ died for the catholics? I don’t buy it. If so, why isn’t there a line of commands telling us all how to go to mass, pope’s and everything else? “His divine power has given everything we need for life and godliness” it says, and also “All scripture is inspired… so that the man of God is thoroughly complete for every good work.”
Think about what you are saying. You are trying to minimize the Bible and even say that we are not sure where we got it and if we have every piece. I bet you can even tell me of a catholic that has a piece of the Bible that says what he wants it to say.
Anyone can do that and have.

I am probably beyond proving anyone wrong anymore with scripture.
NOw it is just a complete disregard for the Bible and people begin to doubt its inspiration. That was warned against also.
Did Paul, one of the greatest men who are written about never have to go to mass? Pope? Don’t you think that is kind of odd?

Now I do agree with you about the history that Catholics have gone way back. I worship according to the Bible. I don’t think you could argue that you do. That is my point. The Bible is second to the catholic doctrine. Or you would not be going to mass or confessing to a man rather that God.

Oh, and I looked at you info. Read a lot of it. Still, 90% is written by people you know nothing about. A lot of commentaries and not much scripture. You have to admit, as most catholics do, there is not much scripture that supports the catholic doctrine. I respect you, and will not speak in anger or hurt, but have to stand with healthy doctrine. Doctrine before preference, not the other way around.