I was baptized by a baptist preacher when I was 18; now I am 20 and want to join the Catholic Church. Is my baptism valid?

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I believe it depends on the formula of baptism used by that church. If you were baptised in the name of Christ only then you would have to be re-baptised, if you were baptised in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit then I believe your baptism would be valid. You would still have to take an RCIA program and take confirmation though.
 
cause8191 said:
Would I have to be rebaptized?
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The Church would need to look into your particular baptism which very well can be valid.

Which is made easier of course by the fact that you did it not long ago.
 
PerfectTiming hit the nail on the head.

As long as you were baptized “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son,and of the Holy Spirit,” instead of “I baptize you in the name of Christ,” then it is perfectly valid.

Also, one other note: the idea of the Trinity must be more or less the same as Catholics’ view. Here’s a perfect example of what I mean: the Mormon Church does baptize their members “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son,and of the Holy Spirit.” So does that make the Mormon baptism valid? Not quite. Mormon theology actually denies the Trinity as orthodox Christians view it. So even though they have the right words in the formula, their understanding is completely off base.
 
Give us details about how it was done. What he said when he baptized you. What was the intention of the baptism. etc.
 
It will depend on the validity of that baptism. Your particular baptism will be looked into.

Most baptism of other Christians are valid. Though of course sometime various preachers can go off the norm…especially a risk in small independent groups.
 
A Sacrament is only valid if the one administering it has the proper matter (in this case water), form (in this case “I baptize thee in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”), and intent (in this case the remission of original sin + any personal sin and initiation into the Church).

I don’t understand how the baptism would be valid unless the Minister intended to remit original sin + any personal sin and initiate the neophyte into the Christian Church.
 
In the vast majority of cases, protestant Baptisms are valid because in the vast majority of cases protestants use water and use the Trinitarian formula. The ones who don’t are in the minority. In other words, call up your preacher and ask him if he used water and the Trinitarian formula. If there is significant doubt, I believe a Priest could simply administer a conditional baptism just to be safe.
 
cause8191 said:
Would I have to be rebaptized by a priest?
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You will be screened when you register for RCIA, which is a great learning experrience. In general, if you were baptized with water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are batized for Life, Once Only
. Again, if there are unusual details or questions, The Priest will decide. There is a “Conditional Baptism” if there is Doubt. God Bless you.
 
I was baptised by water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It was normal except for the fact that Baptist believe that it´s only symbolic. The Priest that was my spiritual counseler said that I could be Catholic and would not Baptize me again. About thirteen years later another Priest said that I must be Baptised. I was Baptised. It was not conditional. I´ll go to my grave not knowing which Baptism was the one and only valid Baptism. Both cannot be valid. God bless:thumbsup:👍👍
 
cause8191 said:
Would I have to be rebaptized by a priest?
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Yes, because you were baptized in a different denomination. Even if they both believe in Jesus. Because Jewish people and Christians both believe in the God of the Old Testament right? But there are differences. Christians aren’t Jewish (religious wise) and Jewish people are not Christians. Even if they’re both Abrahamic Monotheists.

Same way, that even though Baptists and Catholics are both Christians, they are two different faiths.

God bless :byzsoc:

David
 
If the Trinitarian was used (“I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit”) using water, the baptism was valid. In that case you can not be re baptized. If you are unsure of, or do not remember how it was done you can be baptized conditionally. With conditional baptism, if you were not properly baptized the conditional baptism is then valid. If you were validly baptized, the conditional baptism is not a baptism.
 
Paxvobis said:
A Sacrament is only valid if the one administering it has the proper matter (in this case water), form (in this case “I baptize thee in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”), and intent (in this case the remission of original sin + any personal sin and initiation into the Church).

I don’t understand how the baptism would be valid unless the Minister intended to remit original sin + any personal sin and initiate the neophyte into the Christian Church.
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1256 The ordinary ministers of Baptism are the bishop and priest and, in the Latin Church, also the deacon.57 In case of necessity, anyone, even a non-baptized person, with the required intention, can baptize58 , 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.59
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Catechism of the Catholic Church

In cases of emergency, non-Christian medical personnel validly baptize with only the intent to do what the Church intends, though they may have no idea of what that is.
 
followingtheway said:
Yes, because you were baptized in a different denomination. Even if they both believe in Jesus. Because Jewish people and Christians both believe in the God of the Old Testament right? But there are differences. Christians aren’t Jewish (religious wise) and Jewish people are not Christians. Even if they’re both Abrahamic Monotheists.

Same way, that even though Baptists and Catholics are both Christians, they are two different faiths.

God bless :byzsoc:

David
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I’m sorry, but that’s incorrect. The Catholic Church recognizes the trinitarian baptisms (in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit) of Protestants. Baptized Anglicans, Lutherans, etc. do not need to be ‘re-baptized’ if they become Catholic.
 
Ben_F said:
I was baptised by water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It was normal except for the fact that Baptist believe that it´s only symbolic. The Priest that was my spiritual counseler said that I could be Catholic and would not Baptize me again. About thirteen years later another Priest said that I must be Baptised. I was Baptised. It was not conditional. I´ll go to my grave not knowing which Baptism was the one and only valid Baptism. Both cannot be valid. God bless:thumbsup:👍👍
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I think in your case, you should cherish both baptisms because each decision drew you closer to our Lord. God gives us a lot of grace and love. Although the bible and catechism are very valid when it states that one baptism for the removal of all sins. I think what is important is that you are growing in your faith, you are answering the call of God and let your RCIA teachers decide if your previous baptisms are valid or not. I think in some respects you are lucky and blessed because you get to remember your baptism while most of us, only have pictures and perhaps a video of that important time of our lives.

If you have the proper documents, I see no reason why your first will not be counted.
God is awesome and the water that touches our body is renewing and cleansing.
Hope this helps,
SG
 
cause8191 said:
Would I have to be rebaptized?
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Not if when you were baptized using the Trinitarian formula (“I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit”) using water. If you were baptized this way it is valid and you can not be re baptized.

However if you were baptized differently (i.e. “I baptize you in the name of Jesus”), it would not be valid and you would have to be baptized in the Catholic Church.
 
Too bad a second baptism doesn’t wash away sins. I’d be the first on that baptism line. Would give me a cleaner first confession. :o
 
Trinitarian is recognized…my wife is going RCIA…she was Baptized SBC…she is not “rebab”🙂 She will be anointed of course…but no water
 
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