Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!bcm!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!porthos.rutgers.edu!christian From: hall@vice.ico.tek.com (Hal Lillywhite) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Validity of Baptism (Was Re: In Communion with Rome?) Message-ID: Date: 2 Nov 90 08:42:09 GMT Sender: hedrick@porthos.rutgers.edu Organization: Tektronix Inc., Beaverton, Or. Lines: 14 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu OK, I understand that the Roman Catholic Church will recognize a baptism performed by a non-Catholic, even a total atheist, if death appears imminent. Interesting theory, but I can't help but wonder if it is ever done in practice. If this person is such a non-believer why would he decide to baptize the person (usually an infant who can't ask for it)? If a believer is there to ask that the baptism be performed, why wouldn't the believer do it? Just curious. [The only concrete case I know of is when a newly born child is about to die. Presumably the doctor or nurse is trying to save the parents from unnecessary anguish. I'm fairly sure it has happened. Does anyone know how common it is? --clh]