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The validity of Catholic Baptism

Opinion | Articles | Benjamin Chang | 27-Oct-2024

The Catholic Church has always understood baptism differently. It teaches that baptism is a sacrament that accomplishes several things, the first of which is the remission of sin, both original sin and actual sin—only original sin in the case of infants and young children since they are incapable of actual sin and both original and actual sin in the case of older persons. Peter explained what happens at Baptism when he said, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). But he did not restrict this teaching to adults. He added, "For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him" (Acts 2:39). We also read, "Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name" (Acts 22:16). These commands are universal, not restricted to adults.

The historic Christian Church has always held that Christ’s law applies to infants as well as adults, for Jesus said that no one can enter heaven unless he has been born again of water and the Holy Spirit (John 3:5). He asserted the children too have the right to enter the kingdom: "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matt. 19:14). Luke's account of this event provides more detail: "Now they were bringing even infants to him so he could touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them." But Jesus called them to him, saying, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the Kingdom of God." (Luke 18:15–16). Jesus said, "To such as these (referring to the infants and children brought to him by their mothers) belongs the Kingdom of Heaven." The Lord did not require them to make a conscious decision. He says that they are precisely the kind of people who can come to him and receive the kingdom.

Interestingly, the Bible makes no mention of restricting baptism to adults alone. Scripture recounts the baptisms of adults who underwent conversion. This makes sense because Christianity was just beginning—there were no "cradle Christians," people brought up from childhood in Christian homes. Even in the books of the New Testament that were written later in the first century, during the time when children were raised in the first Christian homes, we never—not even once—find an example of a child raised in a Christian home who is baptized only upon making a "decision for Christ." Instead, we always assume that children from Christian homes are already Christians, having already undergone "baptism into Christ" (Rom. 6:3). No references are found in the Bible to Christian parents' children joining the Church after they reached reason if infant baptism were not the norm. However, does the Bible ever advocate for the baptism of infants or young children? The indications are clear. Acts 16:15 records that Paul's preaching converted Lydia and baptized her along with her household. Paul and Silas baptized the Philippian jailer and his household that night. Acts 16:33 tells us that they baptized him and his entire family at the same hour of the night. And in his greetings to the Corinthians, Paul recalls, "I did baptize also the household of Stephanas" (1 Cor. 1:16). All these cases involved the baptism of entire households or families. This encompasses not only the spouse but also the children. The New Testament does not mention the baptism of the Philippian jailer and his wife in the same manner as the text of Acts does. Therefore, the baptism of his children is also necessary. The same applies to the other cases of household baptism in Scripture.

Through baptism, we claim a child to belong to God. During baptism, we select godparents to bring up the child in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church. When they grow up, the child renews its baptismal vows/profession of faith, which the godparents had made. We could also add a practical reason for baptizing infants. The parents take care of a child in every way from its birth. We provide them with food, clothing, and medicine when they fall ill, as these are essential for their physical survival. Why shouldn’t we provide for their spiritual needs as well? Why can’t the parents also give them spiritual food in the form of baptism? Both the church and the parents must fulfill this obligation. Can a child be considered a Christian without receiving baptism?

Catholics apply a sufficient amount of water to the head, following the Trinitarian formula. The priest sprinkles water to bless objects. The Catholic Church is universal. It was for a practical reason that the early Church started baptizing by pouring water on the head. It was a challenge to find flowing rivers everywhere. The Baptists of today could not unite the handicapped, the sick, the poor, and everyone into a single pond. In the early Catholic Church, some individuals were reluctant to enter the same pond as those who were sick or diseased.

Whatever the case may be, some pastors are repeatedly baptizing individuals. Is this necessary? A person's baptism with the Trinitarian formula is always valid. Who are we to judge its validity?

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Jesus did not say, "Go therefore to all the nation and baptize only the adults by making them merge or make them emerge from the river." Jesus gave the command to baptize in the name of the Trinity. That's it.

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(The Author is a Priest in the Diocese of Kohima, and can be reached on Benjamin.chang24@gmail.com. Views expressed are his personal)

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