N
nolasmiles
Guest
Recently, something happened that disturbed me. I am not sure whether to be disturbed or not, but I feel uneasy with the situation.
My wife (a baptised protestant), attended a new, “evangeligal” church, at the request of her daughter. During the service, the preacher asked everyone in the congregation who had not been “properly” baptised (i.e., thoroughly immersed in water) to present themselves for baptism. The presentation was such that this was the only “true” way to be baptised, and give oneself to God. Since her daughter wanted to do this (age 15), my wife also presented herself. Both were previously baptised.
While I know the Catholic teaching that there is but one baptism (and know I cannot expect this necessarily to be believed by protestants), something still tells me that it is quite wrong for a church to knowingly rebaptise Christians of any denomination.
Am I wrong in this feeling? I feel that I cannot in good conscience (even as a guest or occasional visitor) set foot in a church that does this. I attend Mass weekly, but occasionally accompany my wife to her regular Church service, but have never had occasion to attend this church.
My wife (a baptised protestant), attended a new, “evangeligal” church, at the request of her daughter. During the service, the preacher asked everyone in the congregation who had not been “properly” baptised (i.e., thoroughly immersed in water) to present themselves for baptism. The presentation was such that this was the only “true” way to be baptised, and give oneself to God. Since her daughter wanted to do this (age 15), my wife also presented herself. Both were previously baptised.
While I know the Catholic teaching that there is but one baptism (and know I cannot expect this necessarily to be believed by protestants), something still tells me that it is quite wrong for a church to knowingly rebaptise Christians of any denomination.
Am I wrong in this feeling? I feel that I cannot in good conscience (even as a guest or occasional visitor) set foot in a church that does this. I attend Mass weekly, but occasionally accompany my wife to her regular Church service, but have never had occasion to attend this church.