Is my Baptism valid?

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kohai

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Hi all!

As I prepare for RCIA, one question that I have is whether or not my Baptism was valid. I was baptized around the age of 5-6 in the Independent Baptist Church. I’m not sure if they used the trinitarian formula and cannot locate my Baptism certificate. Do I need to be Baptized?

Thanks! God bless!
 
Clarification: I have read several places where they give a valid list of baptisms and I’ve seen a conflicting list. Some say Baptism is valid, others say it is doubtful. Others put it as probably invalid.
 
Was anyone present you could rely on as a witness? Perhaps a parent or grandparent who remembers the event and can attest to the method?
 
If you have a witness who can attest that you were baptized in the Trinitarian formula, that should suffice if all other options have been exhausted.
 
kohai said:
My mom was there and I could possibly ask her.
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Depending on your age, you might be able to locate the minister who did the baptism. And as a hint, you might ask someone else to inquire as to the formula the minister used. Not to be impolite, but among the Protestant denominations, I have found from personal experience that the Baptists tend to be fairly anti-Catholic; there is no good point in stirring up a hornets nest.

Just s simple question: “What do you say when you are baptizing someone?” should suffice.
 
kohai said:
Hi all!

As I prepare for RCIA, one question that I have is whether or not my Baptism was valid. I was baptized around the age of 5-6 in the Independent Baptist Church. I’m not sure if they used the trinitarian formula and cannot locate my Baptism certificate. Do I need to be Baptized?

Thanks! God bless!
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Interesting, that’s a little early for a Baptist church since they usually don’t allow baptism until age 7. Regardless, Baptist have valid baptism because they use water (in their case, full immersion) in the Trinitarian formula. So your baptism was most likely valid, of course some pastors go off on their own and introduce something alien into the ceremony, but that’s usually not the case.
 
Would you not just get a priest to baptise you in the trinitarian formula to be on the safe side?
 
AdamPeter said:
Would you not just get a priest to baptise you in the trinitarian formula to be on the safe side?
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No, since he knows he went through some type of baptismal ceremony.

If it is determined that he did not have the trinitarian formula, then he would be baptized.

If it is determined that he did have the trinitarina formula, he would not be baptized when entering the Church.

Only if there was reasonable doubt as to the two above, he would be conditionally baptized.

The OP indicates he has looked at several lists; there should only be one list that would apply. I have no idea where he found varying lists, but it is up to the parish priest, ultimately, to pass on the matter, and if the priest is unsure, he would normally boot the question up to the chancery. If the director and/or the priest is concerned that the baptism might not be valid, the Op could ask his parent, or if he is not that much older than when he went through the baptism at the Baptist church, he could try to reach (or better, have someone else reach) the minister, who should be available either at the church, or within other Baptist churches (likely).

I have worked in RCIA for about 25 years, give or take a few. we have only one list we use (and I presume it is from the chancery). If there are questions, there is plenty of time to do the necessary research.
 
As a member of an independent Baptist church until I was in my thirties, I have seen quite a few baptisms, both original baptisms and those who were being re-baptized. Every one, no matter the pastor, included the following words,
“I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.”
 
I believe in the initiation rites there is something called “Conditional Baptism” It is for this very situation where the answer may not be clear. Ask your Pastor and follow his advice.
 
kohai said:
Hi all!

As I prepare for RCIA, one question that I have is whether or not my Baptism was valid. I was baptized around the age of 5-6 in the Independent Baptist Church. I’m not sure if they used the trinitarian formula and cannot locate my Baptism certificate. Do I need to be Baptized?

Thanks! God bless!
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I would speak to the priest about this, and you might get conditionally Baptized. This is a Baptism where the priest indicates that he’s only doing it IF you were not baptized validly the first time. It’s an accepted traditional practice for when it’s hard to tell if the original baptism was valid / Trinitarian

I’d just speak to the priest 🙂
 
AdamPeter said:
Would you not just get a priest to baptise you in the trinitarian formula to be on the safe side?
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I have heard that where there is doubt, one can be conditionally baptized. It goes something like this:

“If you are not baptized, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

That takes care of any doubts.

Peace,

Dorothy
 
Monica4316 said:
I would speak to the priest about this, and you might get conditionally Baptized. This is a Baptism where the priest indicates that he’s only doing it IF you were not baptized validly the first time. It’s an accepted traditional practice for when it’s hard to tell if the original baptism was valid / Trinitarian

I’d just speak to the priest 🙂
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I hadn’t read your post when I posted mine. I am glad you posted about that as well.
 
People seem eager to recommend conditional baptism; however the first question, which has not been answered, is "What lists did the OP look at, and where did they come from? The list which is critical is the list which the diocese or archdiocese follows; and we have no information as to either what that list is, or where the others came from, and when they might have been compiled.

The question the OP asks is legitimate; but the legitimate answer lies with the pastor and/or RCIA director, neither of whom has waded in on the matter. Ao the OP should address the matter with either of them, rather than here.

And if the OP is not comfortable with the answer from either of them, the OP could inquire, or preferably have others inquire of the current pastor of the Baptist church where they were baptized as to what is S.O.P. in that denomination. If the answer comes back with the standard formula, then the question has been answered for the purposes of the Church and the validity of the baptism years ago.

If the answer comes back loosey goosey, then the pastor may entertain the issue of a conditional baptism. Or they may require that more investigation be carried out.

There was a period of time where some of the more avant garde were modifying the formula for baptism, but unless there is evidence that a particular pastor or particular denomination adopted that as standard practice, the Church does not presuppose that it occurred.

I have looked at several Catholic documents containing lists of baptisms recognized and not recognized, and every one of them recognizes Baptist baptisms. So I have no idea where they OP saw something calling his into question. It appears the Church does not question it, unless the OP can provide more information.
 
kohai said:
Hi all!

As I prepare for RCIA, one question that I have is whether or not my Baptism was valid. I was baptized around the age of 5-6 in the Independent Baptist Church. I’m not sure if they used the trinitarian formula and cannot locate my Baptism certificate. Do I need to be Baptized?

Thanks! God bless!
Click to expand...
colsdioc.org/Portals/0/Departments/DIVW/Valid%20Baptisms%20Reference%20List.pdf

dosp.org/chancellor/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/3.-Valid-and-Invalid-Baptisms.pdf

dob-tribunal.com/uploads/4/4/8/1/44818299/validity-of-baptisms-and-confirmation.pdf
 
otjm said:
People seem eager to recommend conditional baptism; however the first question, which has not been answered, is "What lists did the OP look at, and where did they come from? The list which is critical is the list which the diocese or archdiocese follows; and we have no information as to either what that list is, or where the others came from, and when they might have been compiled.

The question the OP asks is legitimate; but the legitimate answer lies with the pastor and/or RCIA director, neither of whom has waded in on the matter. Ao the OP should address the matter with either of them, rather than here.

And if the OP is not comfortable with the answer from either of them, the OP could inquire, or preferably have others inquire of the current pastor of the Baptist church where they were baptized as to what is S.O.P. in that denomination. If the answer comes back with the standard formula, then the question has been answered for the purposes of the Church and the validity of the baptism years ago.

If the answer comes back loosey goosey, then the pastor may entertain the issue of a conditional baptism. Or they may require that more investigation be carried out.

There was a period of time where some of the more avant garde were modifying the formula for baptism, but unless there is evidence that a particular pastor or particular denomination adopted that as standard practice, the Church does not presuppose that it occurred.

I have looked at several Catholic documents containing lists of baptisms recognized and not recognized, and every one of them recognizes Baptist baptisms. So I have no idea where they OP saw something calling his into question. It appears the Church does not question it, unless the OP can provide more information.
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Yeah, everything I’ve seen from Church documents and even here on Catholic Answers Forums affirms the validity of Baptist baptism. I have personally been to 2 Baptisms done in a Baptist church (one American Baptist, the other Independent Baptist) and all looked completely valid. The pastor would say, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” and then dunk the person underwater. I’ve never heard anything else coming out of a Baptist church.

The only thing I’ve seen cautioned against is not to confuse Baptist dedication ceremonies with baptism. They usually preform dedication ceremonies on young children under the age of 7 - which are not baptisms but something completely unique to them and the Church does not recognize it - while they preform baptisms on persons 7+ which are valid and fully acceptable by the Church’s standards.
 
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