Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: mangoe@mimsy.umd.edu (Charley Wingate) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Validity of Baptism (Was Re: In Communion with Rome?) Message-ID: Date: 13 Nov 90 09:13:25 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: U of Maryland, Dept. of Computer Science, Coll. Pk., MD 20742 Lines: 17 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu Jeff Carroll writes: >Baptism is the only one of the seven/two (depending on whom you ask) >sacramental rites which can be validly administered by a layman[.] Actually, this isn't so. Of the sacraments, ordination, eucharist, anointing the sick (aka Unction) and confirmation are reserved for priests and bishops. Reconcilation (aka confession) can done by a layperson in a modified form, baptism may be done by any christian, and marriage may be done by anyone (although the blessing may be given only by a preist or bishop, and a marriage in the church may be performed only by ordained clergy). -- C. Wingate + "Our God to whom we turn when weary with illusion, + Whose stars serenely burn above this world's confusion, mangoe@cs.umd.edu + Thine is the mighty plan, the steadfast order sure mimsy!mangoe + In which the world began, endures, and shall endure."