RCIA invalid baptism & confession

[Rachel_Kelsen]

I am in RCIA to join the Church in 24 days. I am super excited and I cannot wait for the Easter Vigil. I have been pondering a question and my priests and RCIA director have not really answered my questions to my satisfaction. So…I was baptized in a non denominational protestant church in the 90s. The church wasn’t affiliated with a mainstream denomination (loosely pentecostal i think), but they did baptize in the name of the Father, Son and holy spirit. I’m told that the spirit if the baptism makes it invalid so I am to be baptized again. I have been received thus far as a catechumanate not a candidate. I’m ok with that…just means I have a bit more experience.

My main concern is…what if that original baptism was valid? I’ve got some big mortal sins on my soul. I don’t want to move on as a Catholic in the wrong way and receive eucharist when I’m not washed of sin. Could I go to confession “just in case”?

My RCIA is quite good- I’ve read some of the horror stories and while I may not agree with everything they allow (ie blessings of non Catholics at mass) I can live with it for now.

Thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut, I just want to have all my bases covered as it were.

 

[peter26]

If you have fully explained the situation to a priest and he has told you the baptism was invalid, you can rely on that. However, although not necessary, there is no reason after you are received that you could not make a lifetime confession of all your sins. People do this at important occasions of their lives, not just when converting, and I’m sure if you make it clear before starting you he has enough time to hear your confession, your priest would be okay with that.

 

[1ke]

(loosely pentecostal i think),

The details matter. If this was a “Oneness Pentecostal” group, they deny the Trinity and their baptism is indeed invalid. If this group was another type of Pentecostal group, that does believe in the Trinity, then it’s not clear why their baptism would be invalid.

told that the spirit if the baptism makes it invalid

Is there perhaps a typo in this sentence? I don’t understand the basis on which your baptism was deemed invalid.

Could I go to confession “just in case”?

Yes, you can do a general confession after you are received into the Church.

 

[neophyte]

I was baptised in a protestant church with the proper form, but it was suspected that the matter was invalid. So I was conditionally baptised at the Vigil.

I received confession prior to the Vigil, and have been under the impression that that was typical.

It’s admirable that you’re taking these sorts of questions seriously. In the end, though, if you’ve done your best to make your situation known to the priest, you can proceed as he directs with a clean conscience. Holy obedience and all.

I love being Catholic. Welcome home.

 

[Gorgias]

Yes, you can do a general confession after you are received into the Church.

… and when you do, your valid baptism – whether it was valid originally or at the Easter Vigil – will certainly mean that you’re filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit!

 

[Alex_H]

The details matter. If this was a “Oneness Pentecostal” group, they deny the Trinity and their baptism is indeed invalid. If this group was another type of Pentecostal group, that does believe in the Trinity, then it’s not clear why their baptism would be invalid.

Yeah that would be my main concern as well. My town has a United Pentecostal Church that is oneness Pentecostal. They baptize only in the name of Jesus. However, if you read the OP, he says he was baptized in the Trinitarian formula. So I’m not sure!

 

[Rachel_Kelsen]

1ke - sorry, yes there was a typo. It should have said of, not if. All I remember are the words on the baptism certificate but it was 25 years ago and I don’t recall their perspective on baptism. I am not good at retaining info unless I’ve heard/read it repeatedly. Plus, when the second pastor started crying while preaching his sermons I’d just tune out completely.

I will carry on as if it was invalid and if after the vigil I don’t feel that I’ve been forgiven then I’ll go to confession. The vigil will be a powerful weekend…all my fears may be gone that night, who knows right?

Thanks for the info everyone!!

 

[neophyte]

I will carry on as if it was invalid and if after the vigil I don’t feel that I’ve been forgiven then I’ll go to confession.

The neat thing is that if your original baptism was invalid, then your Baptism at the Vigil will remove the stain of original sin AND cleanse you of all of your actual sins! There will be no need to confess the sins of your past life. Plus, aren’t they having you to go to confession prior to the Vigil? Between the two of those you’ll have certainly been forgiven and washed clean, no matter what your feelings tell you. Just breath easy and praise God for his boundless mercy!

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[InThePew]

1ke - sorry, yes there was a typo. It should have said of, not if. All I remember are the words on the baptism certificate but it was 25 years ago and I don’t recall their perspective on baptism. I am not good at retaining info unless I’ve heard/read it repeatedly. Plus, when the second pastor started crying while preaching his sermons I’d just tune out completely.

I will carry on as if it was invalid and if after the vigil I don’t feel that I’ve been forgiven then I’ll go to confession. The vigil will be a powerful weekend…all my fears may be gone that night, who knows right?

Thanks for the info everyone!!

From your original post it sounds like there’s doubt over whether or not your original baptism was valid and so you’re going to receive what’s called conditional baptism. In other words, if it turns out that your original baptism was valid, all ell and good; if not, then conditional baptism makes up for any shortcomings.

Basically, what’s required for validity is trinitarian formula (Father + Son + Holy Spirit), water which actually touches the person and and intention to baptise (and be baptised). With converts from some denominations this is clear cut - we’re familiar with their practices - but with others it can be more murky especially is they don’t have a standard baptismal ritual. Sometimes these gaps can be filled in with the recollections of those that were there - but the more time that’s passed, the more difficult this obviously becomes. conditional baptism is intended to resolve these sorts of problems.

 

[thistle]

I am in RCIA to join the Church in 24 days. I am super excited and I cannot wait for the Easter Vigil. I have been pondering a question and my priests and RCIA director have not really answered my questions to my satisfaction. So…I was baptized in a non denominational protestant church in the 90s. The church wasn’t affiliated with a mainstream denomination (loosely pentecostal i think), but they did baptize in the name of the Father, Son and holy spirit. I’m told that the spirit if the baptism makes it invalid so I am to be baptized again. I have been received thus far as a catechumanate not a candidate. I’m ok with that…just means I have a bit more experience.

My main concern is…what if that original baptism was valid? I’ve got some big mortal sins on my soul. I don’t want to move on as a Catholic in the wrong way and receive eucharist when I’m not washed of sin. Could I go to confession “just in case”?

My RCIA is quite good- I’ve read some of the horror stories and while I may not agree with everything they allow (ie blessings of non Catholics at mass) I can live with it for now.

Thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut, I just want to have all my bases covered as it were.

davenportdiocese.org/lit/liturgylibrary/Policies/litInvalidBaptism.pdf

 

[Horton]

Rachel Kelsen;13718055:

I will carry on as if it was invalid and if after the vigil I don’t feel that I’ve been forgiven then I’ll go to confession.

The neat thing is that if your original baptism was invalid, then your Baptism at the Vigil will remove the stain of original sin AND cleanse you of all of your actual sins! There will be no need to confess the sins of your past life. Plus, aren’t they having you to go to confession prior to the Vigil? Between the two of those you’ll have certainly been forgiven and washed clean, no matter what your feelings tell you. Just breath easy and praise God for his boundless mercy!

Only Candidates must go to confession before the vigil, not catechumens. As she will be baptized she is a catechumen not a candidate.

OP - Welcome to the Catholic Church!
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