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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 12/26/2008


Question
QUESTION: Hello I was baptized catholic when I was born in a catholic hospital  i didn't grow up going to a catholic church and I didn't get baptized any where else  I was told that because i got baptized catholic that makes me a roman catholic until I get baptized some where else is this true?

ANSWER: Hi, Lorrainr:
Thanks for the question, and Merry Christmas!

Getting baptized in one of the denominations of an ecclesial community (protestant) would be an external and formal act of departure from full communion with the Catholic Church; nevertheless, there could be other ways to declare a public formal act of departure from full communion with the Catholic Church.
Everyone that is baptized is in some sort of relationship spiritually with the Catholic Church, as it is the Church that Jesus Christ established, whether they are in full communion with her or not is another matter.  There is only ONE baptism, and it is a Sacrament that if validly administered is not to be repeated.


Fr. Timothy Johnson

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello I didn't quite understand your answer but i need to know if I am a roman catholic

Answer
Hi, Lorraine:

I suppose that I don't fully understand your question; but I will give you an anwser with suggestion for concrete action.
YES - you are a Roman Catholic.
Go to the local Roman Catholic Church and present yourself to the Priest at scheduled Confessions.  Tell him that you are in the process of coming to Faith in Jesus Christ, and you desire to be in full communion with the Catholic Church and to start practicing your Faith.
Good luck, and God's blessings.  Welcome to back to the Church that Jesus Christ established, and Merry Christmas.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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Fr. Timothy Johnson

Expertise

A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.

Experience

I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.

Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)

Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology; MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary; 2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality. BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy; BA - Liberal Arts; AA - General Studies.

Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15. Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office. I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church. Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.

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