Validity of sacraments performed by a fake priest?

[cnon12]

The scenario is as follows:

An interesting question was asked of my by a friend the other week and I wasn’t sure how to answer it.

A person attends Mass and confession regularly at their Parish, however it is later discovered that the Priest at the Parish was never properly ordained/is pretending to be a priest (something along those lines).

What happens to all the sacraments performed by this “fake priest?” Baptisms, Weddings, Confessions? And what would people need to do afterwards?

Thanks and God Bless all

 

[Ben_Quincy]

Baptisms would be presumed valid because anyone can validly baptize.

All Masses said would obviously be invalid since only a priest can consecrate.

Confession would be invalid and all who confessed mortal sins should re-confess them at their earliest convenience. However given the innocent well-meaning intention of the penitents would most certainly be recognized and respected by God.

Confirmation and anointing of the sick would both be invalid because they require an ordained priest.

Marriages on the other hand would be questionable. If the imposter was the appointed pastor or was delegated authority for a wedding then canonical form might be considered to have been fulfilled. Witnessing vows does not require ordination, it only requires delegation by the Church. Though the delegation was obtained fraudulently it might still be considered valid delegation (canon 144). On this matter it might depend entirely on the circumstances.

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

Baptisms would be presumed valid because anyone can validly baptize.

All Masses said would obviously be invalid since only a priest can consecrate.

Confession would be invalid and all who confessed mortal sins should re-confess them at their earliest convenience. However the innocent well-meaning intention of the penitents would most certainly be recognized and respected by God.

Confirmation and anointing of the sick would both be invalid because they require an ordained priest.

Marriages on the other hand would be questionable. If the imposter was the appointed pastor or was delegated authority for a wedding then canonical form might be considered to have been fulfilled. Witnessing vows does not require ordination, it only requires delegation by the Church. Though the delegation was obtained fraudulently it might still be considered valid delegation (canon 144). On this matter it might depend entirely on the circumstances.