Triple Bypass

No surprise this, from the Vatican, which is actually good news, of course: Valid baptisms are only those done in the "Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." There are plenty of churches we've all heard about where cheater strainer and beamer are used, or something like that, by clergy-impersonators, or something like that. One of those culprits splashing water would object if he called himself The Reverend Johnson but someone else called him the relevant john. Whatever. Just use a liquid, three times, and three nouns, and it's close enough for the cigar. Oops, no cigar (not-PC. What was I thinking?)

Comments

[Bobby Winters]

The Creater, Redeemer, and Sustainer formulation is hideous. There is one blasphemous joke that refers to Big Daddy, Junior, and Spook. While not acceptable by any means, it at least is human and would preserve the relationships better than any of the so-called PC formulations I've seen.

[Bill R]

"There are plenty of churches we've all heard about where cheater strainer and beamer are used, or something like that, by clergy-impersonators, or something like that."

Really? I guess I need to get out more....

[Seth R.]

Darn pesky rituals...

[SteveB]

I've actually witnessed, "Parent, Child, and Earth Sprit", in a "mainline" (sidelined?) church.

[jnorm888]

A heard of a methodist pastor baptising bikers in motor oil.

[Kathy Hanneman]

When my husband and I were Chrismated into the Orthodox Church (OCA) we had to produce our baptismal certificates. Mine was from a Methodist Church and my husband's from a Lutheran Church (LCMS). As our Baptisms took place in the 1950's our priest had no reason to doubt that they were performed with water and in the "Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." I am not sure what priests will have to do if they have converts from a number of denominations (including Methodist but not likely a problem with LCMS) baptised in the 70's and beyond. There is no guarantee that the Baptism was valid.

[Kathy Hanneman]

When my husband and I were Chrismated into the Orthodox Church (OCA) we had to produce our baptismal certificates. Mine was from a Methodist Church and my husband's from a Lutheran Church (LCMS). As our Baptisms took place in the 1950's our priest had no reason to doubt that they were performed with water and in the "Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." I am not sure what priests will have to do if they have converts from a number of denominations (including Methodist but not likely a problem with LCMS) baptised in the 70's and beyond. There is no guarantee that the Baptism was valid.

[Mike Melendez]

I guess some don't think the risen Jesus meant what he said in Matthew 28:19 or they, at least, think they can read His mind and think they know what He meant even if He didn't quite say it.

As to the uncertainties of prior baptisms, I believe the Catholic church uses a conditional formulation around the words.

[JohnH]

Yes, if it is unknown if a person has been validly baptized in the past, the Catholic Church uses a conditional formula. These baptisms are also always private.

[Matt]

It was seeing a baptism service at my "conservatve" protestant church in San Francisco, where the Trinity was not mentioned, and professions of faith were whaterver the baptizand happend to be feeling at that moment, that finally pused me into Orthodoxy. I'm glad to read the Roman Catholics have clarified the issue for their church.

While never hearing the cheater, the strainer, and the bemer, I did once here in a church (I won't mention the denomination out of respect for the denominations founder who is probably spinning in his grave at Wesley's Chapel) the Holy Trinity refered to as the "Source,the Particle, and the Wave". Not having any acquaintance with that denomination, except for the sermons of its founder, I was completely shocked.

[Michael]

"I won't mention the denomination out of respect for the denominations founder who is probably spinning in his grave at Wesley's Chapel"

Gee, I wonder which denomination it is... ;-)

[Homer (the other one)]

Cigars .... MMMMMMMMMMM!

[Bobby Winters]

In the Opolis Methodist Church we baptised two last week in water brought back from the Jordan River. Both were baptised in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There are still 5000 who've not bent a knee before the altar to Baal.