The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-09-04
Why does the Church insist on con
ditionaI hantisno for converts?

1t is not exactly correct to state that
the Church invariably requires condi-
tional baptism in the case of converts:
sometimes she insists on absolute bap-
tism, without any conditional clause,
when the non-baptism of the convert
has been reasonably established. I'm
der ordinary conditions the form to
be employed in the sacrament of bap-
tism consists of the words: Il baptiZe
thee in the name of the Father" etc.;
when conditional baptism is admins
tered the words pronounced are: IF
thou are not baptised, | baptize thee"
etc. Conditional baptism is not to be
used Unfortunately Church author
ity not only deprecates such a mode
of action, but calls it sacrilege. Bap-
tism can never be repeated. Just as
we can have but one physical birth. so
we can have but one spiritual regen-
Grafton. 1t is, therefore, mistake to
suppose that the Church lightly legis-
lates for the conditional baptism of
converts. The Church has always
taught that baptism is not repeated
when administered conditionally Eth
err one or the other administration of
baptism was valid, not both. There
is, therefore, no real repeating of the
sacrament. Conditional baptism is, as
a rule, administered for safety's sake
to all converts from Professionalism.
Many considerations justify this course
of action Baptism is absolutely neces-
q
real, valid baptism. Baptism is the door
to all the other sacraments. A person
who is not validity baptised can not re-
ceive the forgiveness of sins through
the sacrament of penance, is incapable
of partaking of the sacrament of the Eu-
charist, is deprived of the sacramento
graces of Extreme Unction, cannot be
ordained a priest. On account of its
paramount necessity, the goodness
and wisdom of the Lord decreed that
the conditions for valid reception of
baptism should be simple and easy.
A short formula is to be pronounced:
water, than which nothing can be more
common, is poured by the minister who
has the intention of doing what
Christ and the Church desire to do
When all these conditions are placed
lit matters not by whom, whether by
priest or layman, Christian or Jew,
hereto or schismatic-the baptism is
valid and cannot be repeated. How.
ever, if any of these conditions is alb.
sent the baptism is not valid and the
sacrament has not been received. One
of the conditions is that the minister
of baptism must have the intention OF
doing what the Church does. Now
in the instance of converts this con.
dition is very frequently lacking, or at
most doubtful. Many ministers of the
Protestant sects reject the doctrine OF
the Trinity in whose name baptism is
administered; they not infrequently
deny real divinity to Jesus Christ, the
author of Baptism: they often repudi
ate the notion of original sin, which
baptism washes away. When they adj
minister baptism, they have no inten
ton of doing what the Church does
Their intention is that of presiding al
mere external initiation into the
body of Christian fellowship" 1t is
on this account that there is always
present the element of reasonable
doubt as to the validity of baptism ad
ministered outside of the Catholic
Church. To obtain full information
about each and every case is almos
an impossibility. The only safe ant
feasible rule is to administer condi
tional baptism on their reception int
the Church. If in some particular
case, the priest, after diligent investi
CATION, is thoroughly convinced that {
person has been validity baptized, con
ditional baptism is to be omitted.
is Catholic obliged under pain o
mortal sin to make known to the prizes
an impeachment to matrimony tina
exists between two persons whom tn,
priest proposes to unite in marriage?
The question is answered most de
cidedly in the affirmative. 1t was tt
attain this same end that the Churcl
enacted the law which obliges Catho
lies who propose to be married to have
their names published on three Sun
days or festivals previous to the dat'
of the marriage. 1t had happened to-
frequently that man would put ava!
his wife, move to another communit!
where he was not known, and MARI,
another woman. The Church by he
law requires the names to be an
nounced publicly in both parishes
and, by the same law. she obliges, I'm
der pain of mortal sin, anyone awar,
of an impeachment to make it known
at the proper time and place. In |
case where one of the two, who pro
pose to be married, is not Catholic
this means of discovering an impedi
ment would not exist; and then tbs
obligation to make known the impedi
ment would not arise from the posi-
tive law of the Church. But it woulC
arise most certainly from the law o
justice and the law of religion.
would be grave injustice to ALLOW
one, without any word of protest, tt
contract what he supposes is a valit
marriage, but which in reality, is void
The one who would know of an i'm
pediment and remain silent, the Law
of religion would consider an accom-
plice to the state of sin into which tn
two enter. Indeed, the accomplic
might be the most guilty; for, it il
possible that the two would b.
Ignorant of the imnediment and cor