I see many people that identify themselves as being Baptized into a particular religion. I have grown up to believe, and still do to this day, that we are Baptized as children of God, and not necessarily baptized into a particular faith.
This statement is at odds with what the Catholic Church teaches regarding baptism and with canon law.
When one is baptized in the Catholic Church one becomes a member of the Catholic Church and are bound by Catholic Canon Law. The Catholic Church recognizes the Trinitarian baptism of other Churches and ecclesial communities as
valid, however that is not sufficient to make one a member of the Catholic Church. T
That is why when someone comes in to full communion they must make a profession of faith, and receive the remaining sacraments of initiation if they are from an ecclesial community without valid Orders.
Certainly non-Catholic baptisms are valid and make one a member of the Body of Christ with an indelible mark on the soul. It imparts a character that remits original sin and makes us Christians, but **not **formal members of the Catholic Church unless one is baptized in the Catholic Church.
The Catholic Church recognizes that a person who is baptized into a particular ecclesial community is a member of that body until and unless they take a formal action to become Catholic or otherwise.
I have also believed, and still do, that when we are confirmed, we are confirmed into the faith that did so. Anyone care to shed a little light here?
Confirmation is only valid in those Churches with valid Holy Orders and valid Sacraments.
When one is Confirmed in the Orthodox Churches (or any schismatic groups with valid sacraments, too numerous to name here) then one does not repeat Confirmation should one seek to become a member of the Catholic Church. If one is a member of an ecclesial community lacking valid sacraments, then one must complete the Sacraments of Initiation (Confirmation and Eucharist) to enter the Catholic Church.
