Re-Baptizing

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alh5184

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If an adult is baptized but does not believe is the baptism still valid? Obviously an infant who is baptized does not have to believe in order for the baptism to be valid, but does an adult? If an adult who was baptized as an adult, but did not believe, decides to come into the Catholic Church would he need to be baptized again?

Hope this question is clear.

ALH
 
So another words the adult got baptized and did not believe?

If this person did not believe why did they get baptized?

I have no authority to tell you if this person would need to be rebaptized I am just trying to understand your question better.

Was this person baptized in the catholic church?

Kerri
 
HI ALH.

The baptismal ceremony includes a profession of faith. If a person made this profession of faith without actually believing what he/she said, one must assume that the baptism was not valid, and would have to be redone.

However, this is very theoretical. The Church does not receive someone for baptism without serious instruction and examination. And unless they have some hidden agenda, it is highly improbable that someone would go through this without actually believing. The person wishing to be “re-baptized” would certainly have to prove the fraudulent intent by showing motive. It could be just scrupulosity.

Some prospective converts have the idea that they must know everything that the Church teaches so they can make a true act of faith. This is a mistaken notion. Even "cradle Catholics. learn something every day. One must simply express belief in everything that the Church teaches, havîng received this mission from God. It is not necessary to know EVERYTHING the Church teaches to be received into it.

Verbum
 
I realize this is a highly theoretical question and the chances of it happening are low. My reason for asking were two reasons.
  1. Curiousity about what the teaching was
  2. I am considering converting to Catholism and if I do I will have to defend it over and over again to famiy and friends who think Catholism is wrong. I was raised with the belief baptism is for believing adults only so I know this is a possible question that will be raised.
Thanks for your responses.

ALH
 
Some prospective converts have the idea that they must know everything that the Church teaches so they can make a true act of faith. This is a mistaken notion. Even "cradle Catholics. learn something every day. One must simply express belief in everything that the Church teaches, havîng received this mission from God. It is not necessary to know EVERYTHING the Church teaches to be received into it.

I can attest to this. I am a cradle catholic and I wasnt practicing my faith for awhile. I have been researching the Catholic faith and realizing eventhough I went to catholic school my whole life that I didnt know half about the faith that I thought I did. I really do learn something new everyday that is why I love to read scripture I learn so many things.
**Kerri **
 
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alh5184:
I realize this is a highly theoretical question and the chances of it happening are low. My reason for asking were two reasons.
  1. Curiousity about what the teaching was
  2. I am considering converting to Catholism and if I do I will have to defend it over and over again to famiy and friends who think Catholism is wrong. I was raised with the belief baptism is for believing adults only so I know this is a possible question that will be raised.
Thanks for your responses.

ALH
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If you are already baptized and you come into the Church, you will not be re-baptized unless your baptism is from one of the few which are not accepted by the Catholic Church: LDS, JW, some “Jesus only” Pentecostals.

Since you are a “believing adult,” if your relatives believe baptism is only for believing adults, there should be no problem. There’s lots to learn. Have a ball.
 
I would agree that ALH would not have to be rebaptized because she believed before she was baptized…however, does anyone know if it is considered a VALID baptism if an adult is baptized without believing? In other words, is belief in Christ a necessity before an adult can validly be baptized?
 
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alh5184:
If an adult is baptized but does not believe is the baptism still valid? Obviously an infant who is baptized does not have to believe in order for the baptism to be valid, but does an adult? If an adult who was baptized as an adult, but did not believe, decides to come into the Catholic Church would he need to be baptized again?

Hope this question is clear.

ALH
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No.

The effectiveness of the Sacrament of Baptism is not dependent on the disposition of the Minister or the receipient. However the grace received would be linited for someone with little faith, but the Sacrament would be effective and remove sin as it was intended to do.
 
are u sure that is correct though? if you read the Catholic Answers tract on infant baptism it sounds as if it is saying that if you are an adult, u MUST believe in order to be validly baptized…it says towards the end:

“It is true that Christ prescribed instruction and actual faith for adult converts (Matt. 28:19–20), but his general law on the necessity of baptism (John 3:5) puts no restriction on the subjects of baptism. Although infants are included in the law he establishes, requirements of that law that are impossible to meet because of their age are not applicable to them. They cannot be expected to be instructed and have faith when they are incapable of receiving instruction or manifesting faith. The same was true of circumcision; faith in the Lord was necessary for an adult convert to receive it, but it was not necessary for the children of believers.”
 
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ST100:
I would agree that ALH would not have to be rebaptized because she believed before she was baptized…however, does anyone know if it is considered a VALID baptism if an adult is baptized without believing? In other words, is belief in Christ a necessity before an adult can validly be baptized?
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the original poster was not questioning belief in Christ, but belief in the efficacy of the sacrament itself. In the past there were often mass baptisms of people who were converted when their ruler converted, like various barbarian tribes or early kings of Europe - Clovis and the Franks for instance. It is impossible to say if each of those persons believed in all the Catholic church teaches, but the baptism were valid.
 
Faith and Baptism

1253 (CCC) Baptism is the sacrament of faith. But faith needs the community of believers. It is only within the faith of the Church that each of the faithful can believe. The faith required for Baptism is not a perfect and mature faith, but a beginning that is calld to develop. The actechumen or the godparent is asked: “What do you ask of God’s Church?” The response is: “Faith!”

So in my opinion maybe you may not have had the faith you wanted to have, but that doesnt mean you were validly baptized. We all have to grow in our faith everyday of ourlives, so if your faith wasnt strong at the time it can surely grow if you ask God to help you have more faith.

I hope this helps, Kerri
 
Here is some more…

1254 For all the baptized, children or adults, faith must grow after Baptism. For this reason the Church celebrates each year at the Easter Vigil the renewal of baptismal promises. Preparation for Baptism leads only to the threshold of new life. Baptism is the source of that new life in Christ from which the entire Christian life springs forth.

Hope this helps, Kerri
 
Here is something else I found…
1280 Baptism imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual sign, the character, which consecrates the baptized person for Christian worship. Because of the character Baptism cannot be repeated.

I hope this all helps. I am not an expert, but I just went look it up for you to give you some insight on baptism.

Kerri
 
If you were validly baptized using water and the Trinitarian formula…That is water was poured or you were immersed in water, saying I baptize you in the name of the Father, I baptize you in the name of theSon, and I baptize you in the name of Holy Spirit, you were validly baptized and cannot be rebaptized.
When joing the Catholic church:
You are asked to make a profession of faith at that time as well, if you were baptized Christian in another denomination. Your predisposition not mean you were not baptized. You are baptized. Sacraments are meetings with Christ…and are priest-proof. You will learn more about this if you go to an inquiry session at a local parish, and ask to speak to some who is involved in the preparation called the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults aka RCIA. God bless you on your journey.
 
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ST100:
are u sure that is correct though? if you read the Catholic Answers tract on infant baptism it sounds as if it is saying that if you are an adult, u MUST believe in order to be validly baptized…it says towards the end:

“It is true that Christ prescribed instruction and actual faith for adult converts (Matt. 28:19–20), but his general law on the necessity of baptism (John 3:5) puts no restriction on the subjects of baptism. Although infants are included in the law he establishes, requirements of that law that are impossible to meet because of their age are not applicable to them. They cannot be expected to be instructed and have faith when they are incapable of receiving instruction or manifesting faith. The same was true of circumcision; faith in the Lord was necessary for an adult convert to receive it, but it was not necessary for the children of believers.”
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What the passage “he who believes and is Baptized will be saved” indicates is that Baptism alone is not a “free ticket to Heaven” for an adult. It’s not magic and faith is also necessary for salvation for those who are capable of having faith and expressing it in works after Baptism. That however does not indicate that the Baptism is somehow ineffective in removing Original Sin and bestowing Sacramental Grace in whatever degree the recipient is able to receive it.
 
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