Confessing conditionally?

[rissa87]

Hello!

I am in RCIA and my baptism is being evaluated as to whether or not it will be valid. My question is, if the priest should choose to baptize me conditionally, would it also follow that I should make a “conditional” confession of mortal sins committed since the first baptism? Just in case the first baptism was legit???

Answers would be much appreciated Thanks!

 

[twopekinguys]

If you are to be baptized “conditionally”, then confession would be required prior to the baptism. However, it would not be a “conditional” confession.

The reason you would be required to go to confession is the possibility that your baptism is indeed valid, but cannot be confirmed.

If the baptism is confirmed to be valid, confession would be required before receiving the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.

 

[rissa87]

But I thought the priest could not give me absolution if I was not known to have a valid baptism…

 

[twopekinguys]

But I thought the priest could not give me absolution if I was not known to have a valid baptism…

The assumption is that a baptism is considered valid until proven otherwise.

Bottom line is if you are to be conditionally baptized, then confession is necessary, and required.

IF you are being conditionally baptized, then there is reason to believe that a baptism has been performed previously, but cannot be verified. Since the possibility exists that you were in fact baptized, then confession would be required.

Another option is that the church does not recognize your baptism as valid, then confession would not be required.

Yet another option is that your baptism is valid, and confession would be required.

Hope this helps.

 

[Bookcat]

Hello!

I am in RCIA and my baptism is being evaluated as to whether or not it will be valid. My question is, if the priest should choose to baptize me conditionally, would it also follow that I should make a “conditional” confession of mortal sins committed since the first baptism? Just in case the first baptism was legit???

Answers would be much appreciated Thanks!

One would tell the priest when you are confession that you had been conditionally baptized…such would be part of the confession…

In the older works they would call the “absolution” given conditional…

That is prob. what you may have heard.

 

[bsaucer]

So, if you receive absolution before your “second” baptism, but your “origional” baptism was invalid, is this “absolution” also invalid?

 

[Digitonomy]

So, if you receive absolution before your “second” baptism, but your “origional” baptism was invalid, is this “absolution” also invalid?

I would say yes. Not that it matters much, since you (or the OP in this thread) are about to be baptized. In the event your baptism doesn’t take place due to extraterrestrial invasion or whatever, it is reasonable to suppose that even without normal sacramental baptism, baptism by desire may occur in case of death. In case you survive, your act of contrition should be of benefit.

 

[James_Miller]

Rissa, this is exactly how it was done in my case 50 years ago. Conditional baptism followed by conditional confession