Baptism of a disbeliever?

[jemfinch]

I know it would be illicit to baptize an adult who did not believe, but would it be invalid?

That is, if someone did not believe in the Catholic faith, but was baptized (say, against his will, under compulsion, etc.), would the sacrament still be efficacious, providing proper form, matter, and ministerial intention was there? Would that person, despite his disbelief, still receive the initial gift of the Holy Spirit and still have his sins washed away?

Just curious

Jeremy

 

[dylanschrader]

If there is an obex, that is, an obstacle in the intention of the person to be baptized, then the baptism is invalid. Basically, if the person to be baptized intends not to receive baptism, then it is not valid. Otherwise, it is valid.

Thus, infants can be baptized without explicit will on their part because they do not have the opposite intention. Someone unconscious but known to desire baptism could be baptized, also, even though the will is not engaged at the moment of baptism.