Actually, you can, in case of emergency. In fact, ANYONE can, Catholic, protestant, Jew, atheist, pagan - anyone who intends to do what the Church does in baptism, whether they fully understand it or not.And if protestants in general can perform valid baptisims why can’t I as a Catholic perform baptisms?
Because the Catholic Church had determined in a Church Council, because of the necessity of Baptism for salvation, that anyone even a heretic could validly Baptize with the proper Form (words), Matter (water) and Intent (to confer Baptism).Sure would like an answer to this one that was posed by my Baptist brother-in-law. Why does the Catholic Church accept a valid baptism performed by protestant ministers? Protestant ministers have not been ordained in the Catholic Church. So if a protestant minister can perform valid baptisims, can protestant laity also perform baptisims? And if protestants in general can perform valid baptisims why can’t I as a Catholic perform baptisms?
You asked specifically about baptism, but the nature of each sacrament determines who can validly confer it.Sure would like an answer to this one that was posed by my Baptist brother-in-law. Why does the Catholic Church accept a valid baptism performed by protestant ministers? Protestant ministers have not been ordained in the Catholic Church. So if a protestant minister can perform valid baptisims, can protestant laity also perform baptisims? And if protestants in general can perform valid baptisims why can’t I as a Catholic perform baptisms?
Always remember that the Canon Law of the Church always reflects the infallible teaching of the Church.Canon Law governs each Sacrament. You can find Canon Law online.
All Trinitarian baptisms are valid because Canon Law grants the ability of any person to baptize when the norm of baptism by a priest cannot be met.
All marriages between baptized persons are also considered valid because the minister of the Sacrament of Marriage is the bride and groom, who form the intent and give their consent. This is also stipulated in Canon Law.
The other 5 Sacraments require a priest or bishop, per Canon Law.
Just a note two Catholics or a Catholic and non-Catholic Christian cannot just go out and Marry each other without first receiving a dispensation from their Bishop from the Law requiring a witness representing the Catholic Church be present.You asked specifically about baptism, but the nature of each sacrament determines who can validly confer it.
As has been noted in prior posts, anyone who intends to do as the Church does can be the minister of baptism. In the case of Matrimony the couple themselves (at least in the Western Church) are the ministers of the sacrament. Only a priest and/or bishop may administer the other sacraments.
But for the protection of the Church and the recipients of the sacraments the Church has additional laws about who may confer the sacraments and under what circumstances. Some of those laws are binding on all people. Others are only binding on Catholics.
So babies who are not baptised go to Hell if they die?But let’s say your house burns down the day you bring your baby home from the hospital, you and your spouse are killed, and your (pagan, protestant, muslim, jewish - pick a non-catholic) neighbor knows you would have wanted your seriously injured baby baptized, knows what to say and do, and does it. Your baby is indeed baptized. If he/she dies immediately afterward, salvation is assured.
No one really knows what happens to unbaptized babies. The Church has no official stance on it other than to say we trust in the mercy of God in this issue. Many people believe that unbaptized babies went to a place called Limbo, which was a place of no punishment but it wasn’t heaven either. It was an extension of the Limbo of the Just that ended with Christs death and his proclamation to the souls there.So babies who are not baptised go to Hell if they die?
Well, of course. I did not state otherwise.Always remember that the Canon Law of the Church always reflects the infallible teaching of the Church.
That was intended to just be a comment, not a correction in any way.Well, of course. I did not state otherwise.
Yes of course it would be a valid Baptism, but you would be violating the Canon Law of the Church unless it was under serious danger of death conditions and no priest or deacon was available. A 9 yr. old has the ability to ask for this Sacrament and attend a childrens RCIA. (with at least one parents permission) He should ask his mom to let him.My daughter is a lapsed Catholic and married to a protestant that does not believe in baptizing children. Their son - my grandson - attends Mass with me often and wants to be baptized. I have explained baptism to him and he really seems to undrestand the subject very well. My grandson just turned 9yrs. old. I am concerned about his soul, and since his parents won’t baptize him, then couldn’t my protestant brother-in-law perform this sacrament or even myself for that matter? It would be a valid baptism wouldn’t it?
If I’m not mistaken, the Vatican threw out the concept of Limbo just months ago. I might be wrong though.Nothing that is impure or stained can enter Heaven. Therefore unbaptized babies, although never having committed any sins, still have the stain of Original Sin and thus cannot enter Heaven. Some people believe that the concept of Baptism of Desire would apply to them, or in the case of the aborted Baptism of Blood. Some cultures believe that these souls and only these souls will be re-born shortly after death and have another chance at life and salvation…
It would be valid, but not licit, if you baptised your grandson.My daughter is a lapsed Catholic and married to a protestant that does not believe in baptizing children. Their son - my grandson - attends Mass with me often and wants to be baptized. I have explained baptism to him and he really seems to undrestand the subject very well. My grandson just turned 9yrs. old. I am concerned about his soul, and since his parents won’t baptize him, then couldn’t my protestant brother-in-law perform this sacrament or even myself for that matter? It would be a valid baptism wouldn’t it?
No the Vatican did not throw out the concept of limbo several months ago. It is not even an official doctrine of the Church. Yes Original Sin is and always has been an obstacle to getting into Heaven which is why we need Baptism. It cleanses the Original Sin. No we do not teach that everyone goes to heaven if they serve God the best they can no matter what they believe in.If I’m not mistaken, the Vatican threw out the concept of Limbo just months ago. I might be wrong though.
But can we really say that Original Sin is an obstacle like that? We do teach that people of any religion can get into heaven given that they serve God the best they can. This includes the Jewish people and the Muslims (not sure if Buddhists count, since their religion is atheistic), and people of those religion do not get baptised and do not get cleansed from Original Sin.
Then again I might just be totally wrong on this issue. I’m extremely bad at Theology.
My, how very rude.No the Vatican did not throw out the concept of limbo several months ago. It is not even an official doctrine of the Church. Yes Original Sin is and always has been an obstacle to getting into Heaven which is why we need Baptism. It cleanses the Original Sin. No we do not teach that everyone goes to heaven if they serve God the best they can no matter what they believe in.
You are right, though you are very bad at theology.
Sorry.
Yes, it could be valid but your grandson would then be a Baptized Methodist, or Baptist, Etc. Another issue however is that your daughter if still Catholic, is obligated to Baptize and raise any of her children in the Catholic faith. So maybe that is where you efforts need to be focused. Getting her to realize her obligations, both for herself and the child. Until he is Baptized satan has full access to his soul.I want to thank everyone again for helping me sort throug this issue. I have addressed this issue and some of these questions with my parish priest and he said that he could not baptize my grandson without the consent of my daughter. And of course at this time she does not want to cause conflict with her husband and his family, never mind what her family wants, but that is another issue. So it would be ilicit for me as a lay catholic to perform a baptism except in emergencies, but now what about my protestant brother-in-law. If the Church recognizes protestant baptisims as valid and licit, and since my grandson is of an age (9yrs.) where he understands what baptism is, then couldn’t my brother-in-law perform the baptism? Then it would be valid and licit wouldn’t it?