The Sacrament of Baptism
Emmanuel Mulu
This Monday we had wonderful power point presentation from Fr. Kocholickal on the East- West Schism: The Orthodox Churches. After this presentation, we discussed part four of the Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms of Ecumenism (92-101) which deals with the Sacrament of baptism.
PART IV: Communion in life and spiritual activity among the baptized (92-160)
The sacrament of baptism (92-101)
Two things are essential for the validity of sacrament of Baptism: First, Baptism must be conferred with natural water. Secondly, it must be conferred using the Trinitarian Formula; in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (93).
The ecumenical dialogue on the sacrament of Baptism between Catholic authorities and other Churches and Ecclesial communities can take two dimensions: 1. concerning the significance of the sacrament of Baptism; 2. the valid celebration of Baptism.
About accepting the validity of the Sacrament of Baptism of other Christian communities, the three points to be kept in mind include;
a. Baptism by immersion or by pouring of water and the Trinitarian formula.
b. The minister’s sufficient intention.
c. Serious investigation of the practice of the community concerned to be made before any judgment is passed on the validity of its baptism.
The Churches or Ecclesial Communities whose Baptism is recognised as valid by the Catholic Church in Kenya include; The Anglican Church, The Lutheran Church, The Methodist, Orthodox and Coptic. There are others whose recognition depends on a particular bishop like the African Inland Church is recognized in Machakos diocese but not in Nairobi.
Those whose Baptism is not recognised in Kenya include the Seventh Day Adventist, Jehovah Witness and the Salvation Army.
The guideline on Catholics standing as God-parents at the Baptism of a person in one of the Communities of the Reformation states that it is not allowed because there is no close bond between these communities and the Catholic Church. This proves difficult for the Catholic god-parent to provide Christian education to the person being baptized (98).
The guideline on Catholics standing as God-parents at the Baptism of a person in one of the Eastern Orthodox or Oriental Churches states that; Due to the close bond between the two Churches a Catholic is not forbidden to do this, if he/she is invited. In this case, the duty of providing for the Christian education binds in the first place the god-parent who belongs to the Church in which the person is being baptized (98b).
Non-Catholic Christians are not allowed to stand in as God-parents in Catholic Baptism. The god-parents should be members of the Church. This for the sake of taking responsibility for Christian education of the person being baptized and at the same time they represent a community of faith, standing as guarantees of the candidate’s faith and desire for the ecclesial communion. This cannot be achieved through a god-parent who is not a Catholic (98).
Guideline for receiving a Christian from the Eastern Churches is; Eastern churches confer all the sacraments of initiation together at baptism. While receiving a Christian from the Eastern churches for the sacrament of confirmation, a Catholic minister has to observe that the one to be received presents valid baptismal certificate and professes the faith of the Catholic Church to embrace fully the faith of the church. Therefore, the person is not reconfirmed.
Under the present circumstances, persons entering into full communion with the Catholic Church from one of the Reformation Communities are to receive the sacrament of Confirmation according to the doctrine and rite of the Catholic Church before being admitted to Eucharistic communion (101).
The current practice in Kenya in receiving a Baptised non-Catholic to full communion in the Catholic Church is that; they undergo the process of catechetical instructions; they then profess the Catholic faith. They are received in the Church and the other sacraments of initiation namely Confirmation and Eucharist are conferred on them.
The sacrament of Baptism cannot be jointly conferred by two ministers belonging to different Churches or ecclesial communities because baptism is done in a given Church or ecclesial Community and so it is celebrated by just one celebrant according to the Catholic liturgical and theological tradition. The only part a minister of another Church may take in the celebration is reading a lesson or offering a prayer and this is after obtaining permission granted by the local ordinary (97).
Sacrament of baptism incorporates a member fully into the Mystical Body of Christ. However, in the Catholic Church, the process of incorporation is complete after the reception of the other two Sacraments which comprise the sacraments of initiation. These sacraments are Confirmation and the Eucharist. The understanding of the Catholic Church is that baptism cannot be repeated while the communities of reformation insist on re-baptizing. 
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