Have you ever baptised anybody?

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Charlie_Zeaiter

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The Catholic Church recognises that anybody can baptise anybody. (Apparently, you don’t even need to be a christian to perform a valid baptism, which seems strange to me. Anyway…) But tradition dictates that a priest will perform the baptism.

What about the non-Catholics out there; Have you ever baptised anybody? Would you baptise, or would you prefer somebody else to baptise your children and friends? Please share your stories.
 
Charlie_Zeaiter said:
The Catholic Church recognises that anybody can baptise anybody. (Apparently, you don’t even need to be a christian to perform a valid baptism, which seems strange to me. Anyway…) But tradition dictates that a priest will perform the baptism.

What about the non-Catholics out there; Have you ever baptised anybody? Would you baptise, or would you prefer somebody else to baptise your children and friends? Please share your stories.
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no, the Catholic Church says anyone can baptize a person who is in immanent danger of death, and only if a priest or deacon is not available. if you are going to cite a policy, cite the whole thing, please.
 
:hmmm: hmmm… I always thought that the Catholic Church will recognise the baptisms of non-Catholic denominations. (I’m happy for somebody to correct me here…)

So, whilst recognising that their baptisms are valid, I was interested in knowing if any non-Catholics in these forums have baptised anybody, or are willing to baptise somebody.
 
Charlie_Zeaiter said:
:hmmm: hmmm… I always thought that the Catholic Church will recognise the baptisms of non-Catholic denominations. (I’m happy for somebody to correct me here…)

So, whilst recognising that their baptisms are valid, I was interested in knowing if any non-Catholics in these forums have baptised anybody, or are willing to baptise somebody.
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I would do it, as long as the person understood that it wasn’t a magical charm to protect against evil, but just a demonstration of willingness to proceed in faith.
 
When you get to other denominations, such as Baptists and some other Evangelical denominations, they don’t always believe that baptism has any salvific effect and is considered merely a sign of being Christian and an expression of faith.

So, without intent by anyone involved for it to truly cleanse of sins, it doesn’t seem valid. About as valid as being dunked in the pool by a friend.

Here’s the Wiki en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Believer%27s_baptism
 
Of course the baptisms are valid, no matter what it “seems” to you
archdiocesesantafe.org/Offices/Worship/RCIA/RCIAInformation/Baptisms.pdf

To answer your question, when we lead a person to Christ, we usually participate or lead the baptism. So I have baptized more than 50 but less than 75 I would say. Not everyone you lead to Christ will be baptized in your church naturally. Some return to the church of their youth or with friends and such.
 
When you get to other denominations, such as Baptists and some other Evangelical denominations, they don’t always believe that baptism has any salvific effect and is considered merely a sign of being Christian and an expression of faith.
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So, without intent by anyone involved for it to truly cleanse of sins, it doesn’t seem valid. About as valid as being dunked in the pool by a friend.
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hmmm. A Catholic Priest made a file on me somewhere saying my inter-denominational Baptism was valid. I wasn’t in any danger of Death at the time of my baptism.

As for baptizing others, I would only do it in an extreme circumstance. My church allows anyone to do it, but I would just feel uncomfortable. I guess I would in some crazy situation where I was the only one available.
 
Out from lurking 'cause I can’t resist sharing… my mother is a Jew (that makes me one, too, even though I converted to RC as an adult).

Anyhow, my Mom was a nurse in the WWII era. She was always proud to tell us that she offered and extended Christian baptism to many a dying person (mostly soldiers, but others as well). Mom is 92 years old, still Jewish in her unique way, still as ornery as they come. But she baptised a whole slew of folks who never even thought of it themselves – she brought the subject up!!!

My mom has many, many faults, and my childhood was no bed or roses, but I get enormous satisfaction of knowing how many folks were baptised before death by an ornery Jewish woman who hardly ever had a nice word in her mouth for anyone.

Our great God has one h*ll of a sense of humor, that’s for sure!!!

Oh, and my Mom has nearly always had her hospitalizations in Catholic hospitals, where she left the welcome sign out for any roaming Priests or Sisters who wanted to spend a bit of time praying over her… she said “it couldn’t hurt.”
 
brycelaliberte said:
Well thank you for showing the discretion. That’s cool, though I don’t understand how this happens without the intent? Technically, the Trinitarian formula is applied, and it is done by full immersion (speaking of my Baptist believer’s baptism). I see it’s valid, but why?
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How do you know that when a priest pronounces the words of consecration that he believes it? If the mental state is that important, there would have been a good number of invalid masses, etc. Even without any conversation of sin, baptism makes you a part of the Body of Christ. That is how God sees it. If I don’t beleive it, but I baptise you, why should you be punished?

IT must be Trinitarian and “living water” (it has to flow over the person) must be involved. That is what matters.
 
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