Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: HWT@bnr.ca (H.W.) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: re: Validity of Baptism Message-ID: Date: 28 Oct 90 08:43:18 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 24 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu David H. Wagner writes: >The validity of a baptism depends not on the faith of the baptized >individual, nor on the faith or doctrine of the one who baptizes, >but only on Christ's word, command, and promise: "Whoever believes >and is baptized shall be saved." So much so that I have been told that baptism administered by a non-Christian is considered true baptism (provided it is done sincerely). Typically, this only happens in childbirth, where the child is not expected to survive. Henry Troup - BNR owns but does not share my opinions | No humor available today uunet!bnrgate!hwt%bwdlh490 HWT@BNR.CA +1 613-765-2337 | try again tomorrow. [According to what I've heard before (and the Catholic Encyclopedia) Catholics authorize baptism even by non-Christians in emergency situations. Episcopaleans seem to allow emergency baptism, but based on comments here I assume they restrict it to Christians. Most Protestant groups consider emergency baptism to be superstitious, and do not permit baptism except by pastors. However (aside from the immersion issue) all of these churches accept each other's baptisms, so as far as I know Protestant churches would not rebaptize a Catholic who had been baptized by a non-Christian, as long as that person had been considered a baptized member of the Catholic Church. --clh]