Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 7/24/2009

Question
QUESTION: Fr, I have heard some very disturbing new recently from an extended family member who was raised Methodist and converted to the Catholic Church when she married her husband. She was 'baptised' as an infant but we know that there was no flowing action at her baptism. The minister dipped his hands in water and placed his hand on her head saying the correct form. The reason this alarms me is that she was not baptized even conditionally by the priest who received her into the Church.

From the best I understand this sacrament, baptisms which have the correct virtual intention of the Church(unlike Jehovah's), have the correct Trinitarian form, but Lack the flowing/pouring action(proximate matter) of water are Not in fact Valid Baptisms.

Can you confirm, with this information, whether she still needs to be baptized. This family member has received confirmation and regularly receives the Eucharist.

ANSWER: Hi, Kevin:
Thanks for the question.
Considering that Baptism is necessary for salvation, no question about the matter ought to be taken lightly or dismissed.  It is too bad we live in a time that even Priests do not want to delve too deeply into the matter you describe out of a sense of fear of offending Protestant ecclesial communities who may tolerate such practices as not having the water flow in Baptism, as it ought to, and is described in the earliest Catholic writings of the witness of the Church in the first centuries.  Another matter, which is similar to this, is that of doing a Baptism by immersion with an infant were water flows over just about everything except the head.
Either this family member IS or IS NOT baptized: often one will encounter responses that vary on a basic theme of "feeling like" they have or not have been baptized, and this kind of approach is even taken or tolerated by Catholic Priests who should know better.
If there is a real danger that this family member has not been validly baptized, then she really ought to be at the least conditionally baptized.  You may have to search quite a lot to find a Priest actually willing to face up to and work to remedy this situation.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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

QUESTION: Thank you Fr. Tim, our 4 priests, in residence, spend so much time administering the sacraments that I thank you for your time with my question. This confirms that I should now bring this to Fr.'s attention for further direction on this issue. I am a convert to the RC Church, thankfully under a very Orthodox Priest that teaches what the Church teaches. I see no issues with his willingness only with the fact that this family member is now 500 miles away. I am currently working on my Degree at Christendom College VA, are you familiar with this school at all?

Answer
Hi, Kevin:

Thank you.  Yes, I have some familiarity with Christendom College.  I think they have a good program that is integral while allowing for some diversity of focus of studies.
I wish you the every best with everything.

Fr. Timothy Johnson