Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: mike@unmvax.cs.unm.edu (Michael I. Bushnell) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Protestantism as Church Message-ID: Date: 13 Sep 89 08:12:45 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of No Money, Albuquerque, New Mexico Lines: 25 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu I was quite pleased to see that the Roman church accepts baptisms performed by Protestant denominations. I find the unity of the baptism to be one of the most important things about the church today, and I'm greatly saddened by denominations which refuse to accept baptisms performed by other churches under certain circumstances. On further reflection, I think this attitude holds for me for both sacraments. The Lord's Supper is accepted as a valid sacrament by almost every Protestant church...and they all use a virtually identical ceremony when repeating the words of institution. It's a shame the Catholic church cannot accept Protestant communions, though I understand why. On still further reflection, I think this does actually hold more for baptism than the Lord's Supper. Both the Nicene and Apostles' creeds specify "one baptism", so perhaps that is more essentially unique. -- Michael I. Bushnell \ This above all; to thine own self be true LIBERTE, EGALITE, FRATERNITE \ And it must follow, as the night the day, mike@unmvax.cs.unm.edu /\ Thou canst not be false to any man. Telephone: +1 505 292 0001 / \ Farewell: my blessing season this in thee!