Could an athiest administer baptism?

[dje101]

Hello,

I hear this somewhere, but I can’t remember where. Basically, the individual was talking about how baptism can be administered by the laity in an emergency situation and that even an athiest could baptize someone if the person being baptized wanted it and it was done in proper form. The reasoning being that the validity or effectiveness of the baptism is not necessarily dependent on the person baptizing because it is for the benefit of the person being baptized.

Is this correct?

Thanks.

 

[Kielbasi]

Theoretically, yes.

But the baptizer has to have intent to baptize- not just proper form.

I was watching The Godfather, and the actor portraying the priest used proper form- to baptize the child actor.

But to administer the sacrament of baptism wasn’t the actor’s intent, the actor portraying the child wasn’t validly baptized.

 

[dje101]

Theoretically, yes.

But the baptizer has to have intent to baptize- not just proper form.

I was watching The Godfather, and the actor portraying the priest used proper form- to baptize the child actor.

But to administer the sacrament of baptism wasn’t the actor’s intent, the actor portraying the child wasn’t validly baptized.

hahahaha I was just watching the Godfather the other day and noticed that! I was thinking about if that was going to be valid.

Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut, its greatly appreciated!

 

[poche]

As long as they intend to do what the Catholic Church does and use the correct form with the correct matter then an atheist can validly baptize some one.

 

[Crusaderbear]

Form is what counts, a Trinitarian format is essential. If they get the words right, you are baptised. The real question is, would an atheist agree to do it!

 

[Monte_RCMS]

A nurse in a hospital could baptism someone in a life-threatening emergency. For example, if an infant was dying and had only seconds to live. Or an adult who is moments from death and complains that they had never been baptized.

I have friends who are atheists who happen to be very decent people; they say that they just lack the gift of faith.

 

[John_Lazarus]

Form is what counts, a Trinitarian format is essential. If they get the words right, you are baptised. The real question is, would an atheist agree to do it!

Some would.

I have friends who are atheist. And I know if I was, say, a catechumen, and in danger if death and wanted to have an emergency baptism, they would oblige me and because of our friendship I know they would be able to form the intent.

 

[Beryllos]

Here is the relevant passage from the Catechism of the Catholic Church
V. WHO CAN BAPTIZE?

1256 The ordinary ministers of Baptism are the bishop and priest and, in the Latin Church, also the deacon. In case of necessity, anyone, even a non-baptized person, with the required intention, can baptize , by using the Trinitarian baptismal formula. The intention required is to will to do what the Church does when she baptizes. The Church finds the reason for this possibility in the universal saving will of God and the necessity of Baptism for salvation.