Posted on 10/20/2021 6:11:00 PM PDT by ebb tide
Catholic and Lutheran churches in Aotearoa New Zealand have approved a statement recognising the unity of each other’s baptisms.
The statement – Baptised Together in Christ – will be particularly helpful for families wanting to baptise their child where one parent is Lutheran and the other Catholic.
The baptism agreement is the first major work of the Roman Catholic-Lutheran Dialogue Commission. The commission has held regular meetings since being created by Lutheran Bishop Mark Whitfield and Catholic Cardinal John Dew in 2017, as part of New Zealand services marking the Reformation of European Christianity that began in 1517, when Martin Luther published his Ninety-five Theses in Wittenberg, Germany.
Bishop Whitfield says: “Catholic and Lutheran baptismal rites have much in common, and this work is a welcome opportunity to learn from each other’s practices.”
Cardinal Dew says: “This statement honours our commitment to seek the unity that draws us together, to be transformed by our encounter with one another, and to promote further expressions of our unity across our churches.”
The statement says: “The Catholic and Lutheran churches can learn from one another and speak with a common voice on issues of concern in modern society, with the conviction that they share one baptism and one faith."
Acknowledging there are differences in understanding and emphasis between the two churches, it adds: “Catholics and Lutherans both assert that through baptism a person becomes a member of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church.
“A parent couple that includes both a Catholic and a Lutheran partner are encouraged to bring their child for baptism in the church of their choice. They may seek to have both of their pastors/priests participate in the baptismal service.”
It also says: “Christians are encouraged to speak of being baptised into the Christian church, into the Christian faith, or into Christ. They may say that they were baptised in the Catholic or Lutheran church but are discouraged from saying that they have been baptised Catholic or baptised Lutheran.”
Members of the dialogue commission are: Pastor Jim Pietsch, Assistant Bishop LCNZ (chair); Fr Tom Rouse, St Columbans Mission Society (secretary); Fr James Lyons, Parish Priest Emeritus; Sr Kathleen Rushton, Sisters of Mercy; and Dr Petrus Simons, lay member LCNZ.
Ping
Who gave up what for how much?
We’ll know they’re serious if the Catholics give indulgences when a coin in the Lutheran coffers ring. LOL
I hope the LCMS doesn’t go along with this.
I don’t get it. Lutherans and Catholics have always recognized each other’s baptism sacrament.
Catholics have recognized Protestant baptisms as being valid for hundreds of years so it isn’t much of a stretch to have some kind of agreement related to the ceremony. Catholics have rejected Protestant communion because, unlike with baptism, a priest with valid holy orders is required.
What if the kid reaches the age of accountability and converts to Christianity and gets baptized ?
Lutherans and Catholics have always recognized each other’s baptism sacrament.
Yes. When I became a Catholic (raised lutheran), they not only recognized their baptism, but also their confirmation.
“I don’t get it. Lutherans and Catholics have always recognized each other’s baptism sacrament.”
That’s what I thought. In fact, my Lutheran baptism was recognized when I was confirmed Catholic as an adult. The Church only wants to know that it’s been properly done and witnessed. Lutherans, Anglicans and Episcopaleans keep records.
One couple in my family had their children baptized three times:
First, in the Catholic Church.
Second, in a Pentecostal Church
Third: Dunked by a Southern Baptist pastor.
If at first you don’t succeed...
I understand that. But why not just baptize the child in the religion you plan on raising him?
I think this will confuse the child and the parents may even take him to alternate Sunday “masses” as they raise him. It’s called indifferntism.
Baptism is a confession of faith. How can an infant confess their faith?
“What if the kid reaches the age of accountability and converts to Christianity and gets baptized ?”
Lutherans and Catholics accept a baptism as legitimate if it is done in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The age of the person does not matter as far as the validity of the baptism is concerned - however, both Lutherans and Catholics believe it is best for one to be baptized as a young child. They do not believe in an age of accountability. If, say, a Baptist (who has been baptized as an adult) becomes a Lutheran, his baptism would be accepted. They don’t believe in re-baptism. A baptism is “good” because of Christ’s promise - not because of your age or how well you understand the Bible, etc.
It is much more than that. The godparents make the promises in the baby’s name and in his place, and pledge to help him carry out the confession of his faith by assisting the parents in the chid’s religious training if necessary.
The very actions of the Sacrament, instituted by the Lord Jesus at the Baptism of His cousin John...the pouring of the water over the forehead and the saying of the words...immediately cleanse the child of original sin and open his heart and mind to the teachings of Jesus.
The ritual also prepares the child to receive the other Sacraments, and most importantly, calls upon the Father, Son, and Spirit to come into the child’s soul and stay with him forever.
You can learn more at Catechism of the Catholic Church Online.
They were very young parents, “searching” for the right church.
Each church they approached insisted on them receiving their own version of baptism, and refused to accept the other baptisms.
As far as I know, they are in their sixties and still “searching”.
If you really want the answer, both the Lutheran and Catholic catechisms are available online, and contain explanations which you may or may not agree with.
But the Catholic Church has always recognized as valid those Baptisms done in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. In emergency even a lay person may perform such a Baptism.
The part that won’t wash is telling people they must avoid saying they were baptized in a particular faith. That does matter (so far) when it comes to other Catholic sacraments such as Holy Communion. To encourage persons to deny they were Baptized into the faith is somewhat dismissive.
See post #12.
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