Question Six: Concerning Those to Be Rebaptized Under Condition

I. Baptism can and must be repeated under condition whenever there is some positive, serious, and prudent doubt, not to be despised, concerning its validity, founded on reasons of some gravity, not on scruples; e.g., as always happens when Baptism has been conferred in the uterus, the head not yet having been emitted (can. 746, § 2 and 5). Otherwise it cannot be repeated without grave sin. For in the first case the law of charity of procuring eternal salvation prevails over the law of religion which forbids exposing the sacrament to nullity; in the second case it is sacrilege to administer the sacrament to one incapable.

Because of the practical importance of the matter in the sacred ministry, it may be pleasing to apply these principles not only to Baptism administered by a lay person in necessity from an embryological event or because of another danger, but, so that they may be more fully manifest, universally to all the various other cases which occur.

II. According to the principles enunciated, of themselves children baptized by midwives, physicians, or the faithful are not to be rebaptized; but in practice they are rather often to be rebaptized, because some suspicion is generally present, unless the testimony of the baptizer is confirmed by the testimony of educated witnesses, even of one wholly trustworthy witness, or unless the baptizer himself is wholly trustworthy. Therefore, where a wholly serious person, even a mere midwife, who is trustworthy, circumspect, and instructed in the rite of baptizing, asserts that the infant was rightly baptized by her, there would not be reason for serious doubt about the validity of Baptism; nevertheless trust is not easily to be given to the declarations of midwives, because they do not dare confess that they baptized badly lest they lose the confidence of the parents, or because, on account of agitation, or sometimes also of drunkenness, they were not in possession of themselves at that moment.

An examination is to be instituted concerning such Baptism, unless someone is certain that he cannot arrive at certitude, or knows that the manner of acting of the baptizer is doubtful, or the parish priest who examined the matter, or another trustworthy person, testifies that the Baptisms conferred are to be held doubtful, etc. In this examination one must ask:

a) who baptized and in what circumstances; for if Baptism was conferred by a person who is accustomed to be anxious, disturbed, and perplexed, or if Baptism was conferred by a prudent person but in more difficult circumstances, in which, because of the danger of a sudden case, all things had to be done hastily and in disturbance, there is more easily room for doubting;

b) what form he pronounced, and whether he pronounced it vocally, and not only in the mind;

c) what water and how much water he poured out, and where;

d) whether he at the same time uttered the form and washed;

e) what intention he had.¹

¹ The examination will be chiefly about the matter and form, because a right intention is presumed, unless there is a special reason for doubting.

III. Exposed children are to be baptized under condition, even if a note is attached attesting their Baptism, unless certain knowledge is had of the person by whom the note was written, or unless it indicates who baptized. Whence can. 749: "Exposed and found infants, unless, the matter having been diligently investigated, their Baptism is established, are to be baptized under condition."

IV. One who was educated among Christians and does not have testimony of Baptism, written or oral, generally can be judged and is presumed baptized in a region where all are altogether baptized. If nevertheless serious doubt, from positive indications, arises because of some circumstance, e.g., because the parents, indifferent or negligent, or wandering, or altogether disturbed, led their life at the time of birth, etc., let him be baptized under condition.

V. An examination is to be instituted, the bishop having been consulted, concerning Baptism conferred by a heretic or schismatic.

But if:

1. it has been judged valid, it is not renewed, but the abjuration or profession of faith is received before two witnesses, and absolution from censures in the external forum is given by the bishop or by a cleric specially delegated for this, and the sacrament of Penance is administered.

2. If Baptism has been invalid, let it be conferred again absolutely,² and no abjuration is made, nor is confession made, nor is absolution given.

² Thus in order to reception into the Church; for as Noldin notes, Th. M., III, n. 75, in the case of a mixed marriage Baptism is not repeated under condition if someone would wish to remain in heresy: for in order to marriage certitude concerning the validity of the Baptism received is not required (S. Off., 13 Apr. 1878).

3. If Baptism is doubtful, or if no inquiry can be instituted or nothing can be learned concerning the validity of the sacrament, it is to be presumed doubtful and repeated under condition (S. Off., 20 Nov. 1878). In this case this order is to be observed:

a) abjuration or profession of faith, with absolution from censures in the external forum, for those of puberty;

b) hearing of sins, and excitation to contrition;

c) conditional Baptism;

d) confession summarily repeated and conditional absolution (Instr. S. Off., 20 Jul. 1859 and 2 Dec. 1874).

VI. Epilogue. These are the most certain principles and safest safeguards which our mother, the Church, places before the eyes of ministers of the sacraments and inculcates. In the course of the ages, as vindicator of morality and justice, she has protected human life; but much more, indefectibly, as the best mother, has she shown herself solicitous for the eternal life of men. Mindful of her doctrine, and relying upon salutary principles, priests will labor, as much as is theirs, watchful over the salvation even of every smallest creature of God, for the building up of the body of Christ and the flowering of the kingdom of God.