Chapter I: Of the Minister of Baptism

§ 1. The ordinary minister of solemn baptism is a priest; but its conferral is reserved to the pastor or to another priest with the permission of that pastor or of the local Ordinary, which permission is legitimately presumed in a case of necessity.

§ 2. Even a traveler is to be solemnly baptized by his own pastor in his own parish, if this can be done easily and without delay; otherwise any pastor can solemnly baptize the traveler in his own territory.

In another territory it is lawful for no one, without due permission, to confer solemn baptism, not even upon inhabitants of his own place.

Where parishes or quasi-parishes have not yet been constituted, account must be taken of particular statutes and received customs, so that it may be clear to which priest, besides the Ordinary, the right of baptizing belongs in the whole territory or in part of it.

The extraordinary minister of solemn baptism is a deacon; nevertheless he is not to use his power without the permission of the local Ordinary or pastor, to be granted for a just cause, which, where necessity urges, is legitimately presumed.

§ 1. Non-solemn baptism, of which in can. 759, Sec. 1, can be administered by anyone, with due matter, form, and intention preserved; insofar as it can be done, however, two witnesses or at least one are to be used, by whom the conferral of baptism can be proved.

§ 2. If, however, a priest is present, he is to be preferred to a deacon, a deacon to a subdeacon, a cleric to a lay person, and a man to a woman, unless for the sake of modesty it is fitting that a woman rather than a man baptize, or unless the woman knows better the form and manner of baptizing.

§ 3. It is not lawful for a father or mother to baptize their own offspring, except in danger of death, when another who may baptize is not at hand.

The pastor is to take care that the faithful, especially midwives, physicians, and surgeons, thoroughly learn the correct manner of baptizing for a case of necessity.

The baptism of adults, where it can conveniently be done, is to be referred to the local Ordinary, so that, if he wishes, it may be conferred more solemnly by him or by his delegate.