Is my Baptism Valid?

[ariener]

Hello, I’m currently in the process of trying to become Catholic and met with an RCIA leader and she asked me if I was baptised… I said Yes but I wasnt sure what religion I was baptised in. I went through my documents and found my baptismal certificate of the The Church of Latter Days Saints when I was 9 years old. I called the LDS Church head quarters and confirmed that I was baptized on the date on the document and that it was valid as I have only fragment memory of being baptized. My questioned is…Does the Catholic Church accept this as a valid baptism? If not does that mean if I were to die tomorrow am i not saved according to Catholic teachings? If not how do I recieve a valid baptism into the catholic church? I plan on calling the leader of the RCIA program tomorrow and let her know what found but I am just curious of what I can do to help speed up the proccess as I accept and believe in the Catholic Church and its teachings.

Thank You and God Bless.
Andrew

 

[Marie5890]

Address your specific situation, no your LDS baptism is not considered valid by Catholic standards.

But what you are expressing is a desire for a valid baptism so if you were die before that could take place, what is known as “Baptism of desire” would replace baptism by water.

And that is valid.

In other words, dont worry .

 

[TheosisM]

If you were baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons, you will have to be baptized through RCIA. The Catholic Church does not accept Mormon baptism as valid.

Catholics believe in something called baptism of desire. So, if you happen to die tomorrow, that does not mean that you are necessarily unsaved. Here is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church (an official book that contains Catholic beliefs on practically every important subject) says on this, specifically for you:

**1257…God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments.

1259 For catechumens who die before their Baptism, their explicit desire to receive it, together with repentance for their sins, and charity, assures them the salvation that they were not able to receive through the sacrament. **

You should meet with the RCIA director and see what he/she says about the process. Do you belong to any church (Anglican, Lutheran, Evangelical, Eastern Orthodox, etc) now? The RCIA process can be shortened if you belong to the Anglican or Lutheran churches I believe. If not, you will most likely have to go through the entire RCIA program, where you learn about the Catholic faith, will participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession), and finally will be received into the Catholic Church on Easter Vigil (the Saturday evening before Easter Sunday, a wonderful liturgy) through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.

Welcome home!

 

[jmcrae]

…] t how do I recieve a valid baptism into the catholic church?

Actually, the whole purpose and point of RCIA is to prepare you for Baptism. What will happen is, after you have received the Rites of RCIA and the instruction given in the classes, you will be brought to the Church on the Easter Vigil to be baptized, Confirmed, and to receive your First Holy Communion.

Welcome to the journey! There is nothing for you to worry about.

 

[twopekinguys]

Hello, I’m currently in the process of trying to become Catholic and met with an RCIA leader and she asked me if I was baptised… I said Yes but I wasnt sure what religion I was baptised in. I went through my documents and found my baptismal certificate of the The Church of Latter Days Saints when I was 9 years old. I called the LDS Church head quarters and confirmed that I was baptized on the date on the document and that it was valid as I have only fragment memory of being baptized. My questioned is…Does the Catholic Church accept this as a valid baptism? If not does that mean if I were to die tomorrow am i not saved according to Catholic teachings? If not how do I recieve a valid baptism into the catholic church? I plan on calling the leader of the RCIA program tomorrow and let her know what found but I am just curious of what I can do to help speed up the proccess as I accept and believe in the Catholic Church and its teachings.

Thank You and God Bless.
Andrew

Unfortunately, the Catholic Church does not recognize a LDS baptism as valid. (there have been numerous threads and posts discussing this.)

Now, as far as you dying tomorrow. (Let’s all pray that doesn’t happen) There is really no definitive way to answer that question.

From a Catholic point of view, you are an unbaptized individual, with the intent of becoming Catholic, and you are responding to the teachings of the Church. The only definite answer we could give is that we would pray that God show his mercy based on where you are in your faith journey.

The best thing to do is to enroll in the RCIA, receive all of the instruction, and join the Church at the Easter Vigil.

There are exceptions if you are in danger of death, or extremely ill health. There are also special circumstances in which the priest can bring an individual into the Church before Easter Vigil, but that would require you to meet with the priest and review you situation.

By the way, I am the Lay Director for RCIA in our parish. I often encounter people that want to be baptized tomorrow so to speak, and unfortunately, in most situations, that won’t happen. We want an individual to make an informed decision. If I can answer any more of your questions, just send me a PM

God Bless, and good luck.

 

[ariener]

Thank you everyone for your reply’s. I know my question about dieing tomorrow was kinda extreme but you never know now a days. I plan on meeting with my RCIA director hopefully tomorrow if not monday to start the process. I am worried though that the classes through RCIA have been going on for a while so I hope I can still be baptised during the time of Baptisms. Is it ok even though I am still in the process of becoming Catholic to attend Masses and is it ok to go even though I don’t know anyone. I am just afraid I might do something wrong or something lol

But Thanks everyone!

 

[TheosisM]

Thank you everyone for your reply’s. I know my question about dieing tomorrow was kinda extreme but you never know now a days. I plan on meeting with my RCIA director hopefully tomorrow if not monday to start the process. I am worried though that the classes through RCIA have been going on for a while so I hope I can still be baptised during the time of Baptisms. Is it ok even though I am still in the process of becoming Catholic to attend Masses and is it ok to go even though I don’t know anyone. I am just afraid I might do something wrong or something lol

But Thanks everyone!

Yes, it is completely okay for you to go to any Catholic parish to attend Mass, or any of the other liturgies that go on throughout the week. Many parishes also have various classes besides RCIA that you may attend. Just remember that you should not partake in the Eucharist until you are Catholic.

 

[twopekinguys]

Thank you everyone for your reply’s. I know my question about dieing tomorrow was kinda extreme but you never know now a days. I plan on meeting with my RCIA director hopefully tomorrow if not monday to start the process. I am worried though that the classes through RCIA have been going on for a while so I hope I can still be baptised during the time of Baptisms. Is it ok even though I am still in the process of becoming Catholic to attend Masses and is it ok to go even though I don’t know anyone. I am just afraid I might do something wrong or something lol

But Thanks everyone!

By all means, attend Mass.

Don’t worry about doing something wrong. Even priests mess up once in a while. After all, we are all human.

I’ve noticed alot of RCIA programs have their classes on Sundays, before or after Mass. . If that is the case, you may all be sitting together.

If classes are on a different day, maybe you could ask your RCIA director if you could sit with them at Mass. Our RCIA team members all wear nametags to Mass, so the class can identify us and come sit with us instead of being alone. Not to mention, if you do start classes, you will given a sponsor. Who will also help you through things.

God Bless, and Good Luck